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Europe · German · updated 2026-10

Moving to Germany: visas, cost of living & citizenship

A single person needs about $2,450 a month to live in Berlin, and a family of four about $5,350, including rent. Germany usually lets you apply for permanent residence after 2 yrs, with citizenship after 5 yrs, and dual citizenship is allowed. You can move here without a job offer through the Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) and the Freelance visa.

Monthly budget
$2,450
Moderate cost
Safety
69
Safe
Stability
79
Very stable
Family
78
Excellent
Main city
Berlin
Language
German
Permanent residence
2 yrs
Citizenship
5 yrs
Dual citizenship
Allowed
Digital nomad visa
Yes
What can your passport do in Germany?Pick your nationality to see your exact access, visit rules and personal score.
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Cost of living in Germany, per month in US$

One person
$2,450
Family of four
$5,350
RentGroceriesTransportUtilities & internetEating out & leisureOther
1-bed flat, Berlin centre
$1,250
Estimate
3-bed family flat
$2,300
Estimate
Price level
81
US = 100
Income per person
$5,017
GNI ÷ 12, World Bank

Safety

Safety score
69
Safe
Homicides per 100k
0.91
US 5.8 · UK 1.0 · Japan 0.2

Political stability & governance

Political stability+0.21
Rule of law+1.60
Control of corruption+1.68
Government effectiveness+1.49
−2.5 weak0strong +2.5

Worldwide Governance Indicators, World Bank. Very stable overall (79/100).

Family-friendliness

Family score
78
Excellent
Child outcomes (HCI)
0.751
Health & schooling, 0–1
Under-5 mortality
3.7
per 1,000 births
Life expectancy
80.8 yrs
at birth
Health spending
$6,849
per person / year
Education spending
5.2%
of GDP

Blue Card families skip the German language test and spouses can work. Public schooling is free; international schools are common in the capital.

Visa & residence routes

Points
Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte)Points for qualifications, language, age and ties. Up to a year to find work, with part-time work allowed meanwhile.
Remote work
Freelance visaFor self-employed people with German clients.
Job offer
EU Blue CardDegree and a job paying €50,700, or €45,934 in shortage occupations (2026).
Job offer
Skilled worker visaRecognised degree or vocational qualification plus a job offer.

Some passports also get: Any job with a German employer qualifies, without recognition of your qualifications (§26 BeschV); Western Balkans regulation; Working holiday visa for young people.

Who gets easier access to Germany

EU/EEA free movement: you can live and work here with simple registration.

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Any job with a German employer qualifies, without recognition of your qualifications (§26 BeschV) (11 nationalities)

Any job with a German employer qualifies, without recognition of your qualifications (§26 BeschV).

Flag of AndorraAndorraFlag of AustraliaAustraliaFlag of CanadaCanadaFlag of IsraelIsraelFlag of JapanJapanFlag of MonacoMonacoFlag of New ZealandNew ZealandFlag of San MarinoSan MarinoFlag of South KoreaSouth KoreaFlag of the United KingdomUnited KingdomFlag of the United StatesUnited States

Western Balkans regulation (6 nationalities)

Western Balkans regulation: up to 50,000 work permits a year for any job offer, no qualification needed.

Flag of AlbaniaAlbaniaFlag of Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and HerzegovinaFlag of KosovoKosovoFlag of MontenegroMontenegroFlag of North MacedoniaNorth MacedoniaFlag of SerbiaSerbia

Working holiday visa for young people (12 nationalities)

Working holiday visa for young people.

Flag of ArgentinaArgentinaFlag of AustraliaAustraliaFlag of BrazilBrazilFlag of CanadaCanadaFlag of ChileChileFlag of Hong KongHong KongFlag of IsraelIsraelFlag of JapanJapanFlag of New ZealandNew ZealandFlag of South KoreaSouth KoreaFlag of TaiwanTaiwanFlag of UruguayUruguay

Visiting: 93 passports can visit visa-free, 0 with an electronic travel authorisation, 0 get a visa on arrival, 0 can apply for an eVisa and 105 need a visa in advance (Passport Index dataset).

Road to permanent residence & citizenship

ArrivePRCitizen024681012+ yrs
Permanent residence
2 yrs
21 months for Blue Card holders with B1 German; 3–5 years otherwise
Citizenship
5 yrs
The 3-year fast track was abolished in October 2025
Dual citizenship
Allowed

Last checked 2026-10. Official source: www.make-it-in-germany.com

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to live in Germany?

About $2,450 a month for one person and $5,350 for a family of four in Berlin, including rent. A city-centre 1-bedroom flat costs around $1,250 a month and a 3-bedroom around $2,300. Prices are 81% of US levels. Germany is the 59th cheapest of the 76 countries in the index.

Is Germany safe to live in?

Germany scores 69/100 for safety (safe), ranking 38th of 76. The homicide rate is 0.91 per 100,000 people (US 5.8, UK 1.0, Japan 0.2).

Is Germany politically stable?

Germany scores 79/100 for stability (very stable), ranking 19th of 76, based on the World Bank's indicators for political stability, rule of law, control of corruption and government effectiveness.

Is Germany good for families?

Germany scores 78/100 for family-friendliness (excellent), ranking 23rd of 76. Life expectancy is 80.8 years and under-5 mortality is 3.7 per 1,000 births. Blue Card families skip the German language test and spouses can work. Public schooling is free; international schools are common in the capital.

How long does it take to get permanent residence in Germany?

Usually 2 yrs of legal residence. 21 months for Blue Card holders with B1 German; 3–5 years otherwise.

How long until I can become a citizen of Germany?

Usually 5 yrs of residence. The 3-year fast track was abolished in October 2025. Dual citizenship: allowed.

Can I move to Germany without a job offer?

Yes. Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte): Points for qualifications, language, age and ties. Up to a year to find work, with part-time work allowed meanwhile. Freelance visa: For self-employed people with German clients.

Does Germany have a digital nomad visa?

Yes: the Freelance visa. For self-employed people with German clients.

Who can live and work in Germany without a visa?

you can live and work here with simple registration. (EU / EEA free movement: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland.)

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See also: cheapest countries to live · safest countries · most stable countries · best countries for families · where citizens of Germany can move