Aachen Travel Forum

Hello Everyone,

My family and I (myself, my wife, and 3-year old son) will be relocating to Aachen in mid-October (i.e. in the next two weeks!) for a six-month contract with my employer. I will be arriving first in mid-October in order to get everthing set up and my wife and son will follow at the end of November. I would appreciate any assistance and/or information you would be able to provide me with related to the following:

1. I will be looking to rent a flat for the six-month period. Where do I start in finding a flat? How much should I be budgeting based on the criteria below:

- Public transportation within walking distance to take me to Charlottenburger Allee 61 (my employer's office site).
- Close to pre-school for my son.
- Close to shopping and food markets for my wife.
- 2-bedrooms
- furnished/service including all utilities, kitchen utensils, bed linens/towels, tv/dvd, stereo, etc.
- extendable should my stay be extended
- nice area
- approximately 80+ square metres
- fitness facility within walking distance (preference - not required)

2. Bank account - I need to open up a bank account there. Any suggestions? What is the process and what information will I be required to provide?

3. Address for local "foreigners" or "alien" immigration office for me to obtain my work permit/visa.

4. Is there a website that I can view/download a public transportation route map? What is the cost for a monthly bus pass?

5. Any suggestions for pre-school for my 3-year old son?

6. How do I obtain a phone line? Internet access? Suggestions on provider companies?

7. Mobile phone - how do I obtain a local SIM card for my phone? Suggestions on provider companies?

8. Nice (but also reasonably priced) hotel to stay at for the first week while I locate a flat.

9. Any other pertinent information you feel I may require in order to make my relocation more comfortable.

Thank you so much for your assistance and I look forward to hearing from you and potentially meeting some of you during my stay :)

Amyn

I strongly suggest that you ask your EMPLOYER for assistance, as he surely entertains a "special office" for these type of standard questions....

I will repeat what they have said, but I would contact the company/personel dept. for all these questions.


Where do I start in finding a flat?

This is difficult because the vast majority of houses/flats in germany are unfurnished and literally have nothing in them (cabinets, lights, etc.). Some places require a lease as well (in Bremen for example, on average 3 years!). There are exceptions, and you should check with your company for a list of some landlords.

Address for local "foreigners" or "alien" immigration office for me to obtain my work permit/visa

This should be located in the Rathaus and the department is called Auslanderbehorde. I think things have changed since January 1, but in the past you had to get a residence permit there, and go to the Arbeitsamt for the work permit. It is possible to get the permits once you have already entered Germany if you are from a 'rich country' like Canada, Australia, US, Japan, etc. There is a list for these countries if you look at the german cousulate website. The company will have to fill out all these papers anyway, so you shouldnt have to worry too much about it.

Bank account

This may be difficult, depending on the bank. Since you are on a 6 month contract, I am assuming you are continuing to get paid in Canada. Many banks are wary of opening accounts for foreigners for short times, and also when there is no money continously coming in (i.e.-no monthly transfer from the company for your pay). You will have to check with the bank individually on this.

how good is your german? If you dont speak that well, you will have to get someone to come with you and translate when you set everything up anyway, so this translator can probably give you some good local advice and may even know some tricks for getting some of these things done.

Viel Glueck!

Hi everyone!

Thanks for the information so far. It is VERY helpful! Some points of clarification:

1. My employer is a local German company - not a Canadian company sending me to Germany. They have never hired an international candidate so they are as new to this as I am. Although they have provided some information they are more focused right now on ensuring that all the HR stuff/paperwork is correct.

2. I contacted the German Consulate in Vancouver, Canada. They informed me that as a Canadian I would be able to arrive and commence work without any paperwork. Within the first two weeks of my arrival I am to visit the Ausländerabteilung showing adequate travel/medical insurance and a police clearance certificate. This will enable me to get my work permit/visa.

3. I will be getting paid locally in Euros - hence it is imperative for me to have a bank account there. Do banks typically have lots of ATM machines around the city?

4. I contacted the landlord for http://www.ferienhausmiete.de/ferienhaus_details.php?obj_nr=3878 and he informed me that the place is not available till early December (even though the website does not indicate it being booked at all). So still have to look for a flat.

5. I speak no German at all. Is anyone volunteering to be my translator for getting set up???? :)

Thanks again for the help and keep the information coming!

Amyn

I am writing you an email now with some information of some things to think about....

Not as familiar with Aachen, but some things to think about.

1. LOOK FOR AN APARTMENT NOW!!! It may take a very long time to find an apartment and the selection will not be great. I suggest following the above suggestions about holiday apartments.
2. If you have a Citibank account, consider opening one in Germany. I don't know if they have any in Aachen, but it is FREE transfers from one Citibank account in one country to another Citibank account in another country.
3. You might need to provide your contract or Anmeldebestaetigung (residence permit) when you open a bank account.
4. I suggest T-com phone and GMX internet.
5. If no Citibank, then I suggest Sparkasse.

Hope this helps.
Good luck moving to Germany.

http://aachen.homecompany.de
aachen@homecompany.de
has a number of furnished flats in Aachen on offer.

Sparkasse has the most branches and ATMs.
If you move into a flat you have to register and receive a "Anmeldebestätigung". With this paper it's pretty easy to open a bank account.

Thanks again for all the info. I have been in contact with HomeCompany and they are also searching for a suitable flat for me (albeit at a ridiculous commission).

Can anyone provide me with some cost-of-living information? Things like:
- cost of petrol
- cost of dining out
- cost of beer and wine
- approximate cost of groceries for a family of three
- taxis
- cost of beef (steaks, ground beef, roasts)

Anyone know of a good cigar store in Aachen?
Can I get self-lighting coal/flavored tobacco for a hookah (hubbly bubbly) in Aachen? :)
Do theaters show movies in German dubbing with English titles?
Does the weather in Aachen allow for year-round motorcycle riding?

Amyn

Haven't you thought of living accross the border in (or around) EUPEN, Belgium ? Maximum driving time from Eupen to Charlottenburgallee 30 minutes if traffic heavy ...Everything is cheaper and people are VERY friendly. Many Germans do in fact live accross the border here....

Well - my arrival has been postponed for a couple of weeks due to further contract negotiations between the employer and their customer. My position was contingent upon the employer being awarded a contract with their customer. So I have some more time to prepare but at this point there is no guarantee of a position for me. I will know more in a couple of weeks and will post an update at that time.

Thanks again for all of your help and I am hopeful that I can still use this information in a couple of weeks :)

Amyn

I'm in a similar boat. We're looking in to relocating to Aachen. Our son is 31/2 and what did yo find so far for PreSchool. Is there an international school in the area ?

There was a similar discussion in a Polish forum about schools for children. Instead of sending them to an international school, why not do a local german school? It will be either much cheaper or free and then your child will learn german and be integrated into the german system rather than being an 'outsider'. Language really isnt a problem, as children pick up language very quickly.