Exclusive Interview: Moving to Germany with Expat Launcher

Is Germany next on your bucket list? To give you an insight into what life is like as an expat in Germany and how to move, we interviewed Expat Launcher, an organisation dedicated to helping expats move to Germany.  Expat Launcher can guide you through the entire relocation process, from your initial moving checklist, right through to getting settled in your new home. 

Read our exclusive interview to discover all of the tips, tricks and advice you could need to make your move to Germany as smooth as possible.

1. How did Expat Launcher begin?

My fiancé and I first started as a Speakeasy Language Academy in 2014, with the goal to help English teachers from abroad to get a job in Germany. Soon we realized that the bureaucracy in Germany for getting the visa is fairly complicated. That is why we decided to start an organisation that would provide the necessary support for expats coming to Germany and named it Expat Launcher. 

2. How do you assist expats looking to move to Germany?

Ideally, people that decide to move to Germany should get in touch with us around two months prior to arriving. The first step would be to have a Skype call where we get to know each other better. Thereafter, we would go through the preparation process with each client, depending on their nationality and needs. That includes assistance with the document preparation for the embassy, setting up the bank account and contracts, visa support, etc. Therefore, it’s a very hands-on and thorough approach.

3. What would you say are the biggest challenges expats experience?

I would say it’s definitely finding a job. Also, getting the permit itself,  understanding immigration laws, and finding the accommodation can be complicated for foreigners. That is why we try to help with that part of the process as much as we can. 

4. What are the challenges you experience as an organisation normally?

We are usually happy with the way things are going. However, sometimes it can be challenging to communicate with the offices in the smaller cities in Germany as bureaucracy takes much longer. 

5. What do you strive to achieve for expats when they come to Germany?

Our goal is to make the move abroad smooth and easy, so our clients can really enjoy living in Germany. We want to take the paperwork from them, so they can focus on the experience of moving to a new country. Our job is finished once our clients have the residence permit in their hands and they don’t have to deal with additional paperwork. 

7. Piece of advice you’d give to anyone moving to Germany?

The best bit of advice would be to be patient with the bureaucracy. I would advise everyone not to try and get everything done in their first week upon the arrival. Furthermore, we at Expat Launcher offer many free services in Germany to support expats. Make sure you use this opportunity!

8. Why would you recommend people to move there?

Since Germany has a strong economy, the job market is always pretty stable. Furthermore,  many people that come from different continents wish to travel around Europe and visit different countries. I believe Germany has the perfect location as it’s kind of in the middle of Europe. Moreover, it’s a very safe environment with a great medical system. 

We hope you enjoyed reading our exclusive interview with Expat Launcher. For those of you who are interested in moving to Germany, get in touch with Expat Launcher today to discover how they can assist you with your relocation.