All you need to know before moving to Munich

For gadgets, the two-pronged cylindrical ones are used in Munich, so make sure to have your electronic appliances ready with an adaptor for immediate use.  

 

Expats get attracted to Munich because of the splendid sights, the great beer and beer fests, and the robust economy. Indeed, an irresistible combination.  

 

 

Munich is Germany’s third largest city and boasts itself for having a charming ambience and prosperous economy. Walking its streets is like being on two different timelines at the same time. While you marvel at its modernised infrastructures, you will also deeply feel the city’s beautifully preserved culture. Amidst the towering multinational business, offices are historical sites and museums that showcase Munich’s colourful heritage. You can also look forward to countless possibilities that can be achieved in Germany’s strongest business hub, where there is a job opening in the main sectors such as software development and biotechnology. With all these reasons, how can you possibly not believe and get enticed with the city’s motto: “Munich Loves You”? So if you’re ready to love this city back, read the following helpful guidelines that can help you in relocating.

Preparations

Finding a house/apartment in Munich is a bit hard, so it's best that you start your search even before you relocate. There are online portals that contain rental advertisements in the city including their locations and prices. You can start going through these websites and creating your list so when you arrive, you have an idea where to start and how much to prepare. Once you get to the city, you can contact local realtors to help you with your search. They can also assist you in communicating with the landlords if you do not speak fluent German. You need to give the real estate brokers a document that states what particular type of property and neighbourhood you are looking for. If they find any that matches your needs, they will contact you to schedule a viewing along with other people who are looking for rentals as well.

Your utilities like water, gas, electricity and garbage collection are not usually included in the rental payments and can cost around €250 monthly. There is also another service like an Internet connection which is around €25 per month and mobile connection where local prepaid calls are billed at €0.10 per minute.

House and Apartment Hunting

The competition in Munich’s housing market is a bit tough because of the growing population of expats. So once you find a place that best suits your needs, it's best that you schedule a viewing or talk to the owner right away since many others are on the waitlist. Landlords pick a tenant on the pool of applicants, and you need to provide certain documents like a copy of your passport/ID, pay slip or work permit and your contract of employment. To secure a unit, you need to pay a security deposit which usually amounts to one or three month’s worth of rent. The typical lease agreement lasts a year, but you can negotiate between a short term and long term rental depending on your planned length of stay.

Most expats in Munich are living in modern, westernised apartments in the city centre where the cost of a one bedroom unit starts at €980 per month and €2000 for a three bedroom flat. You can also find accommodations on the outskirts where a one bedroom apartment typically costs €750 monthly, and a three bedroom unit is around €1400 per month.

International and Local Schools

A huge number of expats are studying in international schools like the Munich International School because of the language barrier. Most of these institutions are equipped to continue the curriculum from your home country and only accommodate a small number of classes which ensures that your children will get the right amount of attention for learning.

Education in Munich is mandatory for all children between the ages of 6 and 15. There are also public and local schools in the city that uses both German and your mother tongue in teaching. One of the most established local institutions in the city is the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich which was founded in 1472.

Moving Your Belongings

Once you’re finished going through your belongings and deciding which ones to bring, it's best that you contact experienced movers to help you in bringing your stuff to Munich. Many international shipping and removal companies provide door to door service where they will pick up the packages from your address and ensure its efficient to delivery to your new home abroad. Munich is a landlocked city so all containers are scheduled to arrive in the Port of Bremen within 9-17 business days, depending on your country of origin. To learn more about the city’s import procedures, click here.

Your pet needs to be identifiable by a microchip when entering the Munich territory. You also need to secure its Rabies Vaccination Certificate, International Health Certificate and EU Health Certificate for customs purposes. Make sure that these documents are filled up and signed only by a licensed veterinarian from your origin country.

Travelling by public transport in Munich is considered to be easy because buses, trains and trams are all operating under MVV where there is only one ticketing system that you can use for all services. Driving, on the other hand, is not suggested because there are constant road works in the city which usually causes heavy traffic, especially during rush hours. But if you prefer this method and want to bring your vehicle, here are some of the documents that you need to prepare for import:

• Residence Registration Confirmation
• Copy of Passport’s Picture Page
• Original Title and Registration
• Purchase Invoice
• Insurance Policy from your home country

You can experience a very exciting lifestyle once you arrive in the city. After being busy the whole week for climbing the corporate ladder, you can spend your weekends and spare time going around Munich’s many attractions like high-end shopping malls, world-class restaurants and famous nightlife. But if you prefer a more relaxed vibe, there are also the beautiful outdoor scenes that you and your family will enjoy.

How to live like a local

 

 

Munich has always been regarded as one of the most liveable places in Germany which explain why more than a fifth of its inhabitants are foreign-born. The capital of Bavaria is not just an economic powerhouse but also a place famed for its ability to maintain its rich cultural heritage. Expats bound to Munich will soon find out why it is fondly called by many as the city of ‘laptop and lederhosen’.

The third largest and capital city of Germany is home to 5.8 million people. Its most popular event is the Oktoberfest which attracts tourists from all over the world. The city is also known for having most of the major historical museums, theatres and oldest universities in Germany. Aside from those, Munich is also the headquarters of some of the world's leading multinational technology companies such as Siemens AG and Red Hat. As mentioned earlier, this city is highly diverse, and almost 37.7 percent of the population is composed of individuals with an international background which makes it an attractive place for living for expatriates.

Famous Attractions for Kids

We may know Munich as a place good for beer and a good place for friends to hang out but, it is also, in fact, a place for families to spend some time together. The world-famous, Legoland is located in Munich together with all other theme parks such as the Playmobil Fun Park, Bayernpark and Marchenwald fairytale forest. Aside from the many theme parks to discover in Munich, kids who also love Disney would be thrilled to see the real-life Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle known as the Neuschwanstein Castle.

Helpful Tips

The three ring roads in Munich are the autobahn, A99, Altstadring and the Mittlerer Ring. However, for expats, it is not advisable to get around in the city by car since traffic is heavy most of the time particularly during rush hour. Foreigners who are new to living in the city and would like to meet new people to alleviate their culture shock may also consider car sharing or carpool which is an alternative that is becoming popular in Munich lately.

For a foreign national to open a bank account in Munich, it is necessary to secure a resident card first. Expats would find it that banking in Germany is sophisticated and relatively easy. Because of this, many of them opt to open a local bank account in the city. Aside from the resident card, expats are also required to provide a proof of address and their passports. The major banks in Munich are Bayerische Vereinsbank, Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank, Dresdner Bank, Landesbank, and Postbank.

 

Overcoming the Language Barrier

Expats coming from Europe and other Western countries may find it easier to adjust to life at Munich compared to others for its similarities in culture and social norms. The very first thing that an expat will encounter when in Munich would be the language barrier. Many of them may know how to speak English, but it is not guaranteed in the entire city. It would also take the time to get along with Germans as they appear unfriendly and uncaring at first. Foreign assignees that are about to live in this city can use the following basic German words for starters:                      

• Hello - Guten Tag
• How are you? - Wie geht es Ihnen?
• What’s your name? - Wie heissen Sie?
• My name is.. - Ich heisse..
• Good Morning - Guten Morgen
• Goodnight  - Gute Nacht
• Cheers! - Prost! (must be mentioned before drinking)
• Have a nice meal - Guten Appetit!