Category Archives: Berlin

Flat or holiday apartments Berlin

Posted on by

New decision concerning holiday apartments in Berlin!

About 16000 flats are now allowed to be rented as holiday apartments as they are used only rarely by their owners. The administrative court of Berlin decided that secondary residences may be rented out to tourists and are not covered by the “Zweckentfremdungsgesetz” (law of misappropriation).
What consequences does this decision have for the already tense housing market?

Berlin’s housing market is tense since several years and will be tense in future. It needs to be awaited whether and how the decision influences the market. However, only flats which are used as secondary residence are allowed to be rented out, and are only allowed to be rented for several days or a few weeks a per year. The owners need to proof their own usage of the flat. Hence, the flat wont be on the housing market, even without the decision.

Berlin goes happy pride

Posted on by

Every year the biggest Christopher Street Day in Germany takes place in Berlin. Next weekend the event is coming up again!

CSD will turn Berlin into one big street party again – including a political background.
The march starts at 12 pm at Ku’Damm/Joachismthaler Str. and runs via Wittenbergplatz, Nollendorfplatz and Lützowplatz to Siegessäule and Brandenburger Tor. The final party takes place between Siegessäule and Brandenburger Tor from 2 pm onwards and offers party, music, entertainment as well as politics, speeches and actions.

“Thanks for nothing” – This years’ rather radical theme aims at raising awareness that it is still a long and winding road to achieve full gender equality. Marriage; adoption for everyone, rehabilitation of condemned based on §175? – not at the moment, therefore this year sets an and to being thankful for minor changes.

Find more information

Pathways to Germany from outside EU – Part4 self-employed

Posted on by
This entry is part 4 of 4 in the series Pathways to Germany

You want to establish yourself in Germany as self-employed or freelancer and can prove sufficient financial means as well as a permit to exercise the profession? You are economically worthwhile in Germany and impact the German economy positively with your self-employment?

What do I need to do before going to Germany?

You first need to make an appointment at the German embassy in your country in order to apply for a visa. The visa is granted for 1-3 months. Bear in mind waiting and processing times at the embassies and do not do it last minute before leaving to Germany.

What do I need to do once I entered Germany?

After having entered Germany it is of utmost importance to register with the municipality of the city as soon as possible. This is a condition to register the with foreign nationals’ registration authority, which is responsible for you in Germany.

Registration at the municipality office – why is it that important?

Handy hints:

  • make appointments early in time in order to circumvent long waiting times and delays.
  • in order to facilitate and accelerate the process you can inform yourself about the forms you need online at various platforms such as gohelp.y. You can print all forms and checklists at home and take them with you for your appointment.

 

Pathways to Germany – Part 3 Students

Posted on by
This entry is part 3 of 4 in the series Pathways to Germany

You want to move and reside in Germany in order to follow your studies? You have a school-leaving certificate and a proof of admission to a German University? Or you want to apply for course of study in Germany?

What do I need to do before going to Germany?
For both cases you first need to make an appointment at the German embassy in your country in order to apply for a visa. The visa is granted for 1-3 months. Bear in mind waiting and processing times at the embassies and do not do it last minute before leaving to Germany.

What do I need to do once I entered Germany?
Even if you do not have an admission to a German university before entering Germany you can still apply for a residence permit.
After having entered Germany it is of utmost importance to register with the municipality of the city as soon as possible. This is a condition to register the with foreign nationals’ registration authority, which is responsible for you in Germany.

Registration at the municipality office – why is it that important?

They tell you which documents you need in order to apply for a residence permit and you apply here for the residence permit.

Handy hints:

  • make appointments early in time in order to circumvent long waiting times and delays.
  • notice: the relevant immigration authority for students in Berlin is located at Keplerstraße 2, 10589 Berlin now
  • in order to facilitate and accelerate the process you can inform yourself about the forms you need online at various platforms such as gohelp.y. You can print all forms and checklists at home and take them with you for your appointment.

Pathways to Germany – Part2 Employees

Posted on by
This entry is part 2 of 4 in the series Pathways to Germany

You have a recognized or comparable university degree or a vocational diploma in an understaffed profession? Or you already have a job offer for skilled or highly qualified employment in Germany, which you want to take up?

What do I need to do before going to Germany?
For both cases you first need to make an appointment at the German embassy in your country in order to apply for a visa. The visa is granted for 1-3 months. Bear in mind waiting and processing times at the embassies and do not do it last minute before leaving to Germany.

What do I need to do once I entered Germany?
After having entered Germany it is of utmost importance to register with the municipality of the city as soon as possible. This is a condition to register the with foreign nationals’ registration authority, which is responsible for you in Germany. They tell you which documents you need in order to apply for a residence permit and you apply here for the residence permit and work permit.

If you have a university degree or a vocational diploma in an understaffed profession you do not need to have a concrete job offer in order to apply for a residence permit, in this case you apply for the EU Blue Card which enables you to reside in Germany.

Handy hints:
– make appointments early in time in order to circumvent long waiting times and delays.
– in order to facilitate and accelerate the process you can inform yourself about the forms you need online at various platforms such as gohelp.y. You can print all forms and checklists at home and take them with you for your appointment.

Pathways to Germany Part1 Job-seekers

Posted on by
This entry is part 1 of 4 in the series Pathways to Germany

You have a recognized or comparable university degree? You want to work and live in Germany, you want to seek employment here and you can prove sufficient financial means?
In this case you can entry Germany and reside here. However, administrative work is to be done as well.

What do I need to do before going to Germany?
Generally, you should find out about special and intergovernmental agreements between your country and Germany. Make an appointment at the German embassy in your country and apply for a visa (if necessary). Bear in mind long waiting times for appointments and processing time for the visa! The visa is valid for 1-3 months.

What do I need to do once I entered Germany?
After having entered Germany it is of utmost importance to register with the municipality of the city. This is a condition to register the with foreign nationals’ registration authority, which is responsible for you in Germany.

They tell you which documents you need in order to apply for a residence permit and you apply here for the residence permit.

Handy hints:
– make appointments early in time in order to circumvent long waiting times and delays.
– in order to facilitate and accelerate the process you can inform yourself about the forms you need online at various platforms such as gohelp.y. You can print all forms and checklists at home and take them with you for your appointment.

Summer in Berlin

Posted on by

Summer in Berlin has started and so has the festival and event season. Berlin does not only provide for usual leisure activities during summer such as many open-air pools, lakes and outdoor cinemas but many events take place.
The most important current events this summer are:

EM-Fanmeile at Brandenburger Tor (until the Final)
Sport: Public Viewing during the European Football Championship at the international Fan Fest in Berlin – follow the German matches at an intercultural party-mile filled with happiness and cheering fans.

Berlin Fashion-Week (28.06-01.07.2016)
Fashion: tomorrow Berlin Fashion Week starts and brings fashion back into the centre of the town. Providing the recent trends and alternative events, for which you can register, it is not only interesting for professional buyers.

Biennale (04.06-18.09.2016; multiple locations)
Culture: Summer of Art – already for the 9th time you can attend events and exhibitions of contemporary art in Berlin during Biennale

Staatsoper für Alle (09.07.2016; 18 Uhr, Bebelplatz)
Classical Music: follow the Staatskappelle Berlin directed by Daniel Barenboim – open air and for free.

Christopher Street Day (23.07.2016)
The biggest gay-lesbian “holiday” will be celebrated by up to 500000 on 23.07.2016 in Berlin. As every summer the parade and the subsequent parties will attract not only the gay-lesbian scene

Berlin: Registration at the municipality office – procedure

Posted on by
This entry is part 2 of 4 in the series Authorities

You can do your registration in every municipality office in any district hence, in entire Berlin regardless in which district you live. It is better to arrange an appointment at the office, but sometimes it is hard to get one.

If you go there directly without having an appointment for registering, often this implies long waiting times. Another possibility is to make an appointment beforehand, this is possible via internet or by phone.

For the registration procedure you have to take the completed form and your identity card or passport with you. If you want to register your family as well, you have to take your marriage certificate and your children’s birth certificates with you (only first registration in Berlin). If you want to register someone moving in the flat together with you, you need a letter of attorney and the identity card or passport of her/

Berlin: Registration at the municipality office – why is it that important?

Posted on by
This entry is part 1 of 4 in the series Authorities

Registration at the municipality office – why is it that important?

You are legally required to register your place of residence in Berlin. That is one important reason. The second reason is that as you are coming from a third country and want to apply for a residence permit as well as a working permit, it is essential to register. The national registration authority “LABO” in Berlin is only responsible for you once you are registered in Berlin. Your application cannot be processed without registration in Berlin.

The next very important reason for registration is: once you start your employment, your employer needs your tax id “steuerliche Identifikationsnummer” otherwise he is not able to do your monthly play slip. This tax id is organized by the municipality office once you are registered. After a few days your tax id will be sent to your address.

Lastly, if you want to apply for child benefit in Germany you need to be registered as well. You have to provide, in order to fill in the form, your name, address etc. you have to fill in your tax id as well.

 

Berlin Green Market

Posted on by

The „Green Market“  in Berlin takes place on 18th and 19th of June this year.

The 2-day lifestyle market in Berlin offers street food, fashion, cosmetic and little gifts all without animal components. This year special vegan market opens its doors in the area of the “Alten Kindle Brauerei”.More than 30 market trader offer beside regional food and drinks also little gifts, fashion and cosmetics. All presented products are without animal components. You will find international vegan food specialties and live music.

The Green Market will open on both days from 12 am to  22 pm.