Munich offers more than just the famous Oktoberfest. As one of the biggest cities in Germany, Munich offers excellent opportunities, one of the best economies and most relaxing environments. If you have found the place appealing and considering to move to Munich, you should read this article and take a look at our guide to moving to Munich. We will offer information on the area, visa application, documents, and the housing market.
In this article, we will cover information on how to move to Munich, the visas and legal permits required in the city, housing in the city, and companies that can help you move to the area.
Moving to Munich
The city is definitely not among the most costly in the world, but in Germany, it is considered quite expensive. There are many things to do in the city, particularly because it has lots of geographical sites. One of these is the Alps.
Application of the visa will depend on several factors. These include your country of origin, the purpose of your visit, and the length of your stay.
Accommodation in the city is costly, and competition in this sector is stiff. You will have to spend a long time searching for a house which suits you. Munich is a large cosmopolitan city, and it brings together people from all over the world. At the centre of the city is a place called Bavaria. This area is currently experiencing a boom in population, and this is because of immigration and a high birth rate. As you might expect, people are relocating to the Munich because of the quality of life in this city.
Get Your Finances Ready
Being a large and highly developed city, Munich has become quite expensive to live in. However, it is worth noting that it does not rank highly in the most costly cities for expats in the world. Data from researches indicates that the city is not even in the list of 50 most expensive places for expats. But in a national sense, the city is quite expensive. It has been noted to be even more costly than big German cities like Frankfurt.
Immigrants in the City
Almost 25 per cent of the people living in Munich are not citizens of the country. This makes it one of the German cities with the highest population of foreigners. The high quality of life in the city has made it popular with Germans and non-Germans. A good percentage of the population is also made up of second-generation immigrants who have been able to gain citizenship. A part of them holds dual citizenship.
Most immigrants in the city are from Turkey, Austria, Iraq, and Greece. Many others are from several countries in Eastern and Southeastern Europe, and others from France, USA, and Britain. You can almost be sure that you will find people from your home country when you relocate to this large city.
The question here is how you can get the visa you need, the legal permits to live in the area, and the best housing options. In the next section, we will cover some information on moving to Munich.
Travelling Visas and Permits
To live in the city, you will have to get a visa and legal documents showing that you are allowed to work or live in Munich. Getting a visa and the legal documentation will be determined by a few factors. These include the length of your stay, your country of origin, and the purpose of your visit.
This guide will only apply to people who intend to work in the city. The type of visa you apply for will vary if you intend to travel to the city for other purposes. You can contact the German embassy near you for more information on this subject.
Visa for Brief Visits to Munich
If you are planning to live in the city for less than 90 days, you may not need a visa. This is especially true for people who are not planning to make any money in the city. It is worth noting that people from the EEA and Switzerland do not need to apply for a visa, regardless of the purpose of visit or the duration of their stay. If you are from these places, you only have to worry about housing, but you should visit the registry.
Visas for Longer Visits
People who want to reside and get employed in Munich will have to follow a different route when applying for a visa. We will cover the procedures based on the countries of origin.
EEA and Switzerland
People from these places do not have to get a visa, even for long visits. They can live and work in Munich without a visa. Previously, people from Croatia were restricted from visiting Germany for long visits without visas, but now, they can freely visit the country. If you are from Switzerland, you will need to apply for residence documentations. This can be done in the first months of the visit. This is not usually a problem and is generally considered a formality.
Underdeveloped Countries
If your country of origin in underdeveloped, you may be able to apply for a visa when you land in Germany. You can go to the office of foreigners site to check if this applies to your country.
If you are from other countries which are not part of the European Union or EFTA, you have to get a visa. You can consult your local embassy to find out the papers needed in order to process the visa. Also, make sure you enquire on a possible date for an interview. You should make the preparations early.
Also, find out if you are eligible for the Blue Card Scheme. This usually applies to people who earn more than 56,400 Euros every year. If you work in a profession that is considered “in shortage”, the minimum salary may be lowered to €43,992/year. With this program, you will be able to get your work permit and visa easily, and you may even be able to live with your family in the city. If your salary is a little lower, you can work in areas that have labour shortages.
Moving to Munich for Work
People from outside the EEA and Switzerland will have to apply for housing and working documentations as they get their visas. In addition to showing proof of a job opportunity in Germany, you will also have to show that the company was unable to find people from the EEA and Switzerland to take the job. Note that the office does not have to give you a permit.
It is still highly unlikely that your request will be denied, as long as you meet the requirements. Once you get the visa, the rest of the procedure is more of a formality.
Registration Certificate in Germany
This is a requirement for all people visiting Munich. You will have to visit the registry office to get a certificate, in addition to the living permit. This is a requirement even for people from other cities in Germany. There are many registry offices around the city and in many municipalities.
Residence Permit
If you live in the EEA region, you will have to get a registration certificate, and this is all you have to worry about. But for people from outside the region, it is a little more complicated. They have to visit the Foreigner’s Registration Office and make an application for the residence and work documents. People from Switzerland also have to deal with this problem.
Residence Permit
For people from the EEA region, getting a registration paper is the key thing they need to do. Those from other places can visit the Foreigners’ Registration Office to get their housing and employment permit. Note that this rule also applies to people from Switzerland.
Extra Details
Housing for People Relocating to Munich
If you plan to reside in the city or in the areas around it, you will have many different choices. But you should note that relocating to Munich is not an easy process. The housing market is quite competitive and will set you back a lot of money. The place you choose to live in will have to match your financial state. In 2021, rents in Munich averaged at about 17.61 Euros for every square metre. This cost goes down as you move away from the city.
