Considering that the United Kingdom (UK) is no longer a part of the European Union (EU), the procedure through which British citizens can relocate to Germany or to any other EU country will also modify. At the moment, British citizens can follow the same rules available for EU citizens, under the regulations of the Withdrawal Agreement.
The Withdrawal Agreement is enforced up until the 31st of December 2020 and persons who are already living in Germany on a short-term basis are covered by its regulations. Those interested in moving to Germany in the near future must follow specific procedures, which can be presented by our immigration lawyer. With our help, you can also obtain a residence permit in Germany as a UK citizen.
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What should a British citizen do when moving to Germany?
As a UK citizen relocating to an EU member state, it is legally required to apply for a residence permit. This regulation must be met if the stay in any of the EU member states is longer than three months. For this purpose, a foreigner from the UK must register with the local registration office in the region where he or she lives in a period of maximum 14 days since the arrival day.
It must be noted that the right to relocation to Germany will be maintained after the Withdrawal Agreement is ended, but the procedures may involve new steps. For example, UK citizens will need to have a passport when moving to Germany, as this is a compulsory document when applying for a residence permit.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Visa requirements for UK nationals | British citizens do not need entry visas for Germany if the stay is less than 90 days |
|
Special conditions applicable (YES/NO) |
German residence permits must be obtained by UK citizens |
|
Relocation options |
– Work visas; – student visas; – investor visas; – temporary and permanent residency permits |
| Temporary residence options | Temporary residence permits are required for British nationals staying in Germany for more than 90 days |
| Permanent residence requirements |
UK citizens must live here for 5 uninterrupted years to qualify for permanent residency in Germany |
| Access to investor/citizenship by investment visa |
YES, UK citizens can apply for investor and self-employment visas |
| Timeframe for obtaining a residence permit (approx.) |
German residence visas are issued in approx. 20 business days |
| Family reunification visa availability (YES/NO) |
YES, family reunion visas are available for UK nationals bringing family members to Germany |
| Investment visa requirements |
EUR 250,000 is the minimum amount necessary to move to Germany based on investment |
| Special permanent residence programs | NO, Germany does not have special residence schemes |
| Citizenship requirements |
– 3 years through marriage; – 8 years through naturalization |
| Possibility to acquire real estate (YES/NO) |
Yes, real estate acquisition is available for British nationals |
| Germany-UK double tax treaty (YES/NO) |
YES, Germany and the Uk have a double tax treaty |
| Immigration services (YES/NO) |
– Temporary residence application support; – employment relocation services; – German citizenship application solutions. |
| Post-immigration support (YES/NO) | YES, we offer support in document renewal, and registration with the local authorities. |
Currently, British citizens already living in Germany have to apply for a new residence permit, as per the regulations of the Withdrawal Agreement; this is done with the purpose of securing their rights of residing in this country. At the moment, persons living in the UK interested in Germany immigration can apply for a residence permit up until the 30th of June 2021. After this, new rules will be imposed. The regulations have not yet been finalized by the authorities of the German state, but they will be made available in due time.
We can also advise on how to relocate and obtain German citizenship. If you want to immigrate to Germany from UK, our team is ready to assist you.
How many British people live in Germany?
Germany is one of the leading economies of the EU and one of the most developed economic markets in Europe. Although the UK is a strong economy also, ranking as one of the wealthiest countries at a global level, numerous UK citizens have relocated to Germany due to various reasons.
As a general rule, a large share of the British persons moving to Germany is made of professionals in their field of expertise, being high earners in the UK, as well as in Germany. Regarding the number of UK citizens living in Germany, we present the following data:
• at the level of 2016, there were approximately 107,000 UK citizens living in Germany, according to the German Statistics Institute;
• in 2017, their number increased at 116,470 persons, as revealed by the data of the same institute;
• the largest number of Britons was registered in the region of North Rhein – Westphalia (26,205 persons);
• the region of Bavaria accounts for 18,400 persons and Berlin for 12,355 persons;
• the average age of the British persons living in Germany is of 46,6 years;
• 74% of the British migrants have a professional qualification.
We can guide you through obtaining a residence permit when immigrating to Germany. We can also help those who want to move to Germany from Canada.
How can a foreign person apply for a residence permit in Germany?
There are various types of residence permits, depending on your goals and planned length of stay in Germany. It is vital that you make the appropriate residence permit choice. The sort of German residence permit you apply for will determine your entire application process, including the paperwork and expenses.
Considering that the residence permit is the main document that allows a foreigner to live in this country, our immigration lawyer in Germany has prepared the basic information one should know when applying for this type of document. Residence permits can be issued for a temporary stay or for a permanent stay, and they can be obtained on legal grounds such as employment in Germany, studies, getting married to a German citizen or for family reunification programs. A German investment visa is also possible, under certain conditions. Currently, a foreigner who wants to immigrate to Germany from UK under this type of visa should prepare the following papers:
• present the valid passport issued in the country of residence;
• have a valid reason for staying in this country, as presented above;
• provide information on the financial situation, which should be sufficient in order to live in Germany;
• the Germany migration rules stipulate that if a person arrives here for employment purposes, the application should contain a letter on the job offer obtained from a local employer;
• a similar letter must be obtained from a local university, in the case of those applying for a residence permit issued for study purposes.
The German immigration law prescribes that a foreigner can apply for a residence permit from his or her home country, if the duration of the stay is longer than 90 days and the person is aware of this fact prior to leaving the country, or it can be done from here, upon arrival. More information on the steps for the issuance of a residence permit can be obtained from our immigration lawyer in Germany, who can advise UK citizens upon other matters as well, so do not hesitate to contact us. We can also help you apply for citizenship.
Having German citizenship grants you rights and freedoms that non-citizens do not have. As a German citizen, you will have access to the freedom of movement, to the German labor market without restrictions, and voting rights. So, if you want to obtain it, make sure you qualify for it and get in touch with our lawyers for support.
We are at your service if you want to immigrate to Germany from UK.
