6 helpful resources for expats moving to Germany
Moving to Germany is exciting. It's also (if you're being honest) a lot. Between registering your address, finding a flat, and figuring out why the bakery won't take your card, it can feel like there's an entirely new rulebook to learn.
6 handy resources to help you out
Here are six resources that make the transition a little easier.
Health insurance: Feather
Health insurance is legally required in Germany, and working out which type is valid for your visa can get confusing fast. Feather offers visa-compliant expat health insurance to get you covered from day one. Once you're settled, Feather also helps you transition smoothly into either the public or private health insurance system, based on your income and circumstances. Everything's in English, and you can sign up online in a few steps.
Taxes: Wundertax
You'll probably need to file a German tax return, and it often results in a refund, so it's worth doing properly. Wundertax is fully in English and has a dedicated "Moving to Germany" section that prompts you to claim relocation deductions such as flights, visa fees, and temporary accommodation. It only takes around 17 minutes to complete, and €34,90 to submit. The deadline for the 2025 tax year is July 31, 2026.
Language learning: Deutsche Welle's Nicos Weg
Nicos Weg is a free, video-based German course from Deutsche Welle (A1 to B1) following the life of a fictional expat in Germany. It's genuinely well-made and costs nothing. Pair it with Duolingo for daily practice, or the Goethe-Institut if you need an officially recognised qualification.
Housing: ImmobilienScout24, WG-Gesucht, and Home Company
Here are three platforms for three different situations:
- ImmobilienScout24 is Germany's biggest rental platform. Start here when looking for whole apartments.
- WG-Gesucht is the go-to for furnished rooms in shared flats, ideal if you're not yet sure of your long-term plans.
- Home Company specialises in furnished apartments for medium-to-long stays, and listings typically allow Anmeldung, which matters more than it sounds, since you'll need it to open a bank account, register with health insurance, and more.
Understanding Germany: Radical Living on YouTube
Some of the best preparation for life in Germany is just watching someone live it. Radical Living is a Berlin-based YouTube channel covering everything from cultural quirks to bureaucratic realities. Their video "When people from the US visit Germany" has nearly four million views for a reason; it captures the culture shock that no guidebook quite prepares you for. It's the fastest way to absorb things like Pfand, Ruhezeit, and why Sundays feel so eerily quiet.
Building a social life: InterNations & Meetup
Starting a social life from scratch is one of the harder parts of expat life that people don't talk about enough.
InterNations has communities in 26 German cities, from Berlin to Karlsruhe, and runs regular events including hiking groups, language exchanges, book clubs, and professional networking nights. Basic membership is free. It's one of the most reliable ways to meet other internationals when you're new.
Meetup.com is a good complement for interest-based groups once you know what you're looking for.
Where to start
If you're feeling overwhelmed, focus on the following three things first: health insurance, Anmeldung, and a bank account. For a bank account, N26 offers the fastest online setup we've come across, which is useful when you need an IBAN quickly. Get those three sorted, and the rest starts to fall into place. And of course, if you're still working out your insurance options, Feather is the best place to begin.