All you need to know before moving to Frankfurt

Many expats love the idea of moving to Frankfurt because of its dynamic economy and significant role as Germany’s business centre. It is the heart of the country’s industrial, commercial and largest banking sectors so it’s no doubt that you will also entertain the thought of pursuing your career here. Aside from its high profiled employment reputation, Frankfurt is also famous around the globe for its rich history that is strongly felt in its enchanting attractions and vibrant communities. Here are some important guidelines that will help make your relocation in this multi-cultural city a real success.

Preparations

Owners usually post their properties in online portals including the locations, prices and photos. You can browse through these websites even before you arrive so you’ll have an idea of what to expect in Frankfurt’s housing market. Once you get in the city, you can look for rentals in newspapers or ask around some of your fellow expats if they have any referrals. But if you are not yet fluent in speaking German, the best way for you is to hire a local realtor that can help you communicate with the landlords and make your search faster with their wide range of options.

There are two types of rentals in Frankfurt: ‘warm rent’ which includes the miscellaneous and heating fees and ‘cold rent’ where you have to pay extra for your utilities. The average monthly cost for your necessities (water, gas, and electricity) is €230. You can also apply for an unlimited internet connection which is roughly €25 per month and make local mobile calls at €0.10 per minute.

House and Apartment Hunting

Renting a property is more common to expats in Frankfurt than buying one. You can always choose between a short term and long term lease agreement depending on your planned length of stay. Compared to other cities in Germany, the rental cost here is higher and most modernised apartments are situated in the city centre where the price of a one bedroom flat starts at €770 per month and €1550 for a three bedroom unit. You can also find accommodations outside the metropolitan where a one bedroom apartment usually costs €500 and a three bedroom unit is around €1100 monthly.

International and Local Schools

A huge number of expats send their children to private or international schools where they are using English of bilingual in teaching. One of the most prominent international institutions in the city is the Frankfurt International School, which is currently handling the education of children from 50 different nationalities. There are also many public and state schools that you can choose from if you want your child to learn the German culture and language. The Goethe University Frankfurt is a leading local school known for providing excellent education since 1914.

Moving Your Belongings

Though there are many shopping malls in Frankfurt where you can buy almost anything that you need, it’s still advisable to bring some of your essential belongings so you won’t fall out of budget especially in the first critical months of your relocation. You can seek help from international shipping and removal companies to aid you in the moving process. They have a door to door service to Frankfurt where they will oversee the delivery of your packages until it reaches your new home. It takes about 9-17 days for the containers to arrive in the Port of Bremen where the cargos will be delivered by land to Frankfurt after customs clearance. Follow this link to know more about the city’s import regulations.

All pets entering Frankfurt should have a microchip as a form of identification. You also need to provide the original copies of your pet’s Rabies Vaccination Certificate, EU Health Certificate and International Health Certificate both issued ten days prior to import.

The Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund or Frankfurt Public Transportation System is the most common type of transport in the city. Trains, trams, buses, S-Bahn and underground lines are all operating under the RMV so there is only one ticket used for all of these. But if you prefer to drive and plan on bringing your vehicle to the city, make sure that you have these documents handy:

• Copy of Passport (Picture Page)
• Original Title and Registration
• Purchase Invoice
• Insurance Card from your home country
• Residence Registration Confirmation

Once you’ve covered all these initial preparations, everything will eventually fall into place. Frankfurt is a beautiful place filled with many possibilities, so breathe and patiently wait as you begin living the time of your life in Germany’s largest city.

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