Moving to Germany from Singapore? Our Complete How to Move to Germany from Singapore Checklist is a foolproof list of easy-to-follow, chronologically ordered tasks designed to help ensure you and your family enjoy a smooth, stress-free move to Germany.
Follow our comprehensive step-by-step checklist, which starts from six months prior to your move, right through to once you have arrived in Germany, to avoid the logistical and legal pitfalls of moving to Germany from Singapore.
Our moving to Germany checklist includes over 60 detailed steps, from applying for a visa and organising your move, right through to connecting your utilities and opening a bank account. Tick off each item in our moving to Germany from Singapore checklist for the most efficient, well-planned, and hassle-free international move possible.
As the largest removals company in the world, with over 1,000 service centres across 180 countries, UniGroup Worldwide International Movers will help make your move to Germany as smooth and stress-free as possible.
With over 85 years' experience, successfully delivering 48,000 international shipments annually, our overseas removals experts can help ensure your safe, seamless stress-free move to Germany from Australia.
UniGroup moving Singaporeans to Germany carefully and hassle-free
For your convenience, you may:
Checking your passport's expiry date
When moving from Singapore to Germany, you must hold a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the period of your intended stay. So, if you intend to stay in Germany for 12 months, your passport must be valid for 18 months, considering the time required to process your visa (which could be upwards of six months).
To be on the safe side, ensure your passport is valid for a minimum of 12 months (preferably longer) after your intended stay.
If your passport is not valid for a minimum of 12 months beyond the period of your intended stay, you may need to apply for a new passport.
Singapore citizens can apply for passports from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA). New passports are valid for five years.
You can apply for a passport or renew your existing passport using the Application for Passport On-line Electronic System (APPLES) e-Service, although a SingPass is required. You will need the following to complete your application:
Applying for your German visa
Singaporeans need to obtain a visa before relocating to Germany for employment.
To apply for a visa, you first need to determine which German visa category best applies to your situation. Unless you are applying for a Self-Employed Residence permit, you will also need to have an offer of employment from a company in Germany.
You can help expedite the visa application process by compiling the necessary documentation as early as possible, including:
For further information, visit How to Apply for a German Visa in our Ultimate How to Move to Germany from Singapore Guide.
If you’re not moving from Singapore to Germany to a specific location for work, you’ll need to decide where to live. From low crime rates to superior quality local hospitals and schools, there are many variables to consider when choosing the perfect place for you and your family to call home.
For further information on factors to consider when deciding where to live, visit How to Decide Where to Live in Germany in our Ultimate How to Move to Germany from Singapore Guide.
When it comes to knowing how to move to Germany, an important step is establishing approximately when you need to move, considering:
For further information, visit the When is the Best Time to Move to Germany? in our Ultimate How to Move to Germany from Singapore Guide.
If you’re not moving to Germany from Singapore permanently, you’ll need to decide what to do with your current home:
There are several factors that you’ll need to consider when making this decision, particularly if you own your home. Some of the most important factors include:
Choosing a real estate agent is an important decision in selling or renting out your home. If you opt to sell, your real estate agent will handle advertising, inspections, the auction and negotiating private offers. If you choose to rent out your home, your real estate agent will manage the property on your behalf, handle repairs and liaise with your tenants long-term. So, you need to choose carefully.
To shortlist real estate agents:
If possible, take an exploratory trip to Germany to better understand what lies ahead. During the trip:
Putting your current home on the market
If you’ve decided to sell or rent out your current home, as soon as your visa is approved, engage the services of your preferred real estate agent. It is at this stage that you’ll sign a contract with your agent. This contract should outline items such as fees, advertising costs, the process if your home is passed in at auction, property management protocols and much more. It is recommended that you seek legal advice to ensure you are happy with the terms of the contract.
If you’re selling or renting out your current home, you’ll need to put it on the market. Some of the steps involved in this process include:
If you’re selling or renting out your home, you’ll want to do everything you can to secure the best possible price. As such, you’ll need to undertake some preparations to ensure that your property looks the best it possibly can, in both advertising photos and during inspections. Consider:
Decide which of your belongings you’ll be shipping to Germany, leaving in your current home, storing, selling, donating and disposing of. (And make sure you speak to your UniGroup expert if you require short or long-term secure storage .)
Create a detailed inventory of all the items that you want to move to Germany to obtain accurate removals quotes and to determine how much would it cost to move to Germany. Your UniGroup moving expert can assist you with an easy-to-fill-out form.
For further information, visit How Much Does It Cost to Move to Germany? and How to Ship Household Goods to Germany in our Ultimate How to Move to Germany from Singapore Guide.
If you will be shipping most of your belongings by sea freight to Germany (which may take weeks or months to arrive), you may want to consider a small air freight consignment for essential items that you would like to have immediately on arrival.
Obtaining a quote from an experienced international removalist
Container ships move in six different directions, often travelling over 20m (65ft) with each roll, as often as seven to 10 times per minute. So, with your belongings being tossed about for weeks on end, it’s essential that you entrust your move to an exceptionally experienced international removals company such as UniGroup Worldwide.
If you obtain a quote from another international removalist, ensure they exhibit the same level of experience and capabilities as UniGroup Worldwide, including:
For further information, visit How Much Does It Cost to Move to Germany? in our Ultimate How to Move to Germany from Singapore Guide.
Given the extensive movement of sea freight and potential for damage if belongings are not properly packed, combined with the introduction of strict anti-terrorism laws and significant tightening of customs clearance processes for all personal effects shipments, UniGroup strongly recommends that you do not ship items to Germany that have not been packed by a professional moving company. The significantly higher potential for loss and damage of ‘owner-packed’ items, as well as attracting stringent inspection by customs officials, often results in additional charges and long delays.
Once you’ve decided on where, when, and what you want to move, book in:
For further information, visit When is the Best Time to Move to Germany? in our Ultimate How to Move to Germany from Singapore Guide.
If you are storing any of your belongings while overseas, make sure you store them properly, safely and securely with a trusted and experienced short and long-term storage provider, such as UniGroup Worldwide.
To help ensure your belongings are stored properly and safely, so they remain in their best condition, insist on the following criteria when selecting a storage provider:
Once you’ve decided on a secure storage provider, book in:
Review the contents of your freezer and pantry and create meal plans that will empty them prior to moving.
Making travel arrangements to Germany
To save money on your travel arrangements:
If you plan on searching for your home once you arrive in Germany, book temporary accommodation for when you first arrive. Depending on where you plan to live, you may also want to book a hire car.
Where possible, book temporary accommodation that is within walking distance to your work or public transport. This way, all members of your family will have access to transportation.
At your child’s current school in Singapore:
For your child’s education in Germany, you’ll need to:
To assist you in finding the most appropriate school for your children, visit:
For further information, visit What is the Education and Schooling System Like in Germany? in our Ultimate How to Move to Germany from Singapore Guide.
You can import cars, trucks, caravans, campervans and motorbikes into Germany so long as the relevant customs requirements are met, including emission standards.
To avoid unnecessary headaches and expenses, speak to a UniGroup Worldwide international moving expert for all your vehicle transportation requirements.
For further information, visit How to Import Vehicles into Germany in our Ultimate How to Move to Germany from Singapore Guide and our Germany Customs Forms & Guides for Moving Overseas.
Confirming Pet Transportation To Germany
You can take most pets to Germany, so long as they are free from infectious diseases that are transmittable to humans and are not deemed harmful to the environment. As such, importing most cats, dogs and birds is possible, as long as all requirements of the German Customs Office are met.
Airlines may have separate and additional requirements for the transportation of pets. Be sure to check with your airline to determine what requirements they may have.
To ensure a stress-free relocation to Germany for your pet, speak to a UniGroup Worldwide international removals professional about all your pet transportation requirements.
For more information, visit How to Import Pets into Germany in our Ultimate How to Move to Germany from Singapore Guide and our Germany Customs Forms & Guides for Moving Overseas.
Ensure all your pet’s vaccinations and health-checks are up-to-date and obtain a copy of your pet’s medical records or a signed letter from your veterinarian.
Germany has some of the strictest gun control laws in the world. As such, firearms purchased outside Germany are subject to complicated clearance procedures and authorisation, and can be very difficult to import. The inclusion of weapons in a household goods shipment can delay customs clearances and may result in additional charges. As such, it is worth considering whether to import weapons at all.
For more information, visit How to Import Weapons into Germany in our Ultimate How to Move to Germany from Singapore Guide and our Germany Customs Forms & Guides for Moving Overseas.
You may import wines and other alcoholic beverages into Germany as part of your household goods shipment, so long as you adhere to customs requirements related to alcohol volume and unit size.
For more information, visit How to Import Alcohol into Germany in our Ultimate How to Move to Germany from Singapore Guide and our Germany Customs Forms & Guides for Moving Overseas.
Importing plants from Singapore into Germany is difficult, as Singapore is not part of the European Union. Many plants are either completely banned from importation or have significant weight and size restrictions. As such, it is worth considering whether to include plants in your shipment of household goods.
For more information, visit How to Import Plants into Germany in our Ultimate How to Move to Germany from Singapore Guide and our Germany Customs Forms & Guides for Moving Overseas.
If you’ve already secured a new role (or are moving to Germany for a specific employment opportunity), now is the time to investigate employment options for your partner (if needed). Or, if you haven’t secured a role, to investigate employment options for yourself.
For more information, visit How to Find Employment in Germany and What is Working in Germany Like? in our Ultimate How to Move to Germany from Singapore Guide.
If you’re an Singaporean moving to Germany, you should investigate local customs and common cultural differences to help you assimilate more easily into German culture on arrival.
For more information on some of the common cultural differences, visit our Ultimate How to Move to Germany from Singapore Guide:
A cluttered house will make moving to Germany unnecessarily stressful; packing will take longer and the cost of your removal and storage will be more expensive (as fees are based on the volume of items). If you’re not selling or renting out your home (in which case you will have already completed this step), now is the time to declutter your home, determining which items you will:
How can I move to Germany with minimal stress? Engage experienced, professional international packers, like the team at UniGroup Worldwide. Not only will it reduce, if not eliminate, the most stressful part of moving, it will help ensure your belongings are packed safely for their long journey to Germany.
If you’re not using a professional packing service, make sure you start packing as early as possible:
For the safe shipment and smooth customs clearance of your household goods, you’ll need to ensure that the following documentation is completed as accurately as possible and provide:
For more information, visit How to Ship Household Goods in our Ultimate How to Move to Germany from Singapore Guide or our Germany Customs Forms & Guides for Moving Overseas.
For more information, visit What is a Credit Rating? in our Ultimate How to Move to Germany from Singapore Guide.
Investigating housing in Germany
If you’re not moving to Germany from Singapore for work, or your employer hasn’t organised housing for you, investigate potential properties to buy or rent in Germany.
For more information, visit What is Housing Like in Germany? in our Ultimate How to Move to Germany from Singapore Guide.
When cancelling your insurance, or other services where you may have prepaid for the year, check whether you’re entitled to a refund for the period after the cancellation. Plus, if you have one, obtain a copy of your ‘good driving record’ or ‘no claims status’ from your vehicle insurer as it may be beneficial for a new policy in Germany.
If your current home lease or contract of sale includes any repair work prior to you vacating the premises, book in a handyman now. (UniGroup Worldwide can assist you with this if needed.)
If you’re ending a lease, now is the time to notify your landlord. Make sure you understand any requirements, including:
If you’ve decided to rent out your current home, touch base with your property manager to confirm:
If you’ve decided to sell your current home, touch base with your real estate agent to confirm:
For more information, visit What is the Healthcare System Like in Germany? in our Ultimate How to Move to Germany from Singapore Guide.
Attending to your medical needs prior to moving to Germany
There are three potential compatibility issues when it comes to using Australian appliances and electronics in Germany: the plug, the voltage and the frequency. You should therefore thoroughly check the power labels or manuals of all your appliances and electronics to ensure they are compatible with German standards before incurring the cost of shipping over what might be useless upon arrival. Buying new or secondhand appliances and electronics once you arrive may not only be more cost-effective, but your only solution.
For more information, visit Will Australian Appliances and Electronics Work in Germany? in our Ultimate How to Move to Germany from Singapore Guide.
As a rule, your standard house and contents insurance won’t cover your personal possessions while in transit. An experienced international removalist like UniGroup will offer a comprehensive range of cost-effective removals insurance options . Speak to your UniGroup expert to arrange transit and storage insurance that suits your needs and budget.
If you’ve decided to rent out your current home, you’ll need to inform the company responsible for your home and contents insurance that you are no longer living there. You may also want to arrange landlord’s insurance. This protects against financial losses that may be suffered because of owning a rental property. You can opt for insurance that covers the building only, as well as specific items that you may have left on the premises.
When moving to Germany from Singapore, you may need an International Driving Permit (IDP) in addition to a valid Australian drivers’ licence. If you intend on obtaining an IDP, you must do so in advance. IDPs are issued by Australian motor vehicle departments, not the German Government.
For more information, visit Can You Drive in Germany with a Foreign Licence? in our Ultimate How to Move to Germany from Singapore Guide.
If you plan to drive once you arrive in Germany, there are several different road rules of which you should make yourself aware.
For more information about driving in Germany and road rules, visit What are the Road Rules when Driving in Germany? in our Ultimate How to Move to Germany from Singapore Guide.
Safely dispose of any dangerous or prohibited goods that cannot be shipped to Germany or stored. People attempting to import prohibited items into Germany may be subject to a penalty and the items may be seized by customs officials.
For more information, visit What Items are Prohibited When Shipping Goods to Germany? in our Ultimate How to Move to Germany from Singapore Guide and our Germany Customs Forms & Guides for Moving Overseas.
Shipping some items to Germany (such as textiles, money, trademarked goods, Iraqi cultural property, rough diamonds and food) is subject to restrictions and will require additional precautions, special customs clearance or permits. Be sure you’re aware of these requirements and apply for any permits as early as possible.
For more information, visit What Items are Restricted when Shipping Goods to Germany? in our Ultimate How to Move to Germany from Singapore Guide and our Germany Customs Forms & Guides for Moving Overseas.
Packing your suitcases for your move to Germany
Start packing your suitcases now, while making a detailed inventory list as you go. Your suitcase should contain all the essential items that you and your family members will need as soon as you arrive in Germany, including:
For more information, visit our Germany Customs Forms & Guides for Moving Overseas.
Confirm any of your removalists’ access requirements at your existing home, such as parking and building access and restrictions, traffic management and lift protocols. Remember to check street signage and the requirements of your local council, building manager or body corporate.
Reconfirm all your German move details with your international removalists, including:
If you’re renting, or your contract of sale requires it, book in a ‘vacate clean’ at your current home for the day after your belongings are picked up. (UniGroup Worldwide can assist you with this if needed.)
Now is the time to back-up all your computers, tablets, mobile phones and other storage devices that are being shipped to Germany, placed into storage and/or will accompany you on the plane. Be sure to safely store the back-ups separately to the original devices.
Covering off any incidentals before departing for Germany
There will always be last-minute odd jobs when moving overseas, including:
Completing odd jobs before your move to Germany
With just one week before your move to Germany, you should be just about ready to go, bar a few odd jobs:
Completing last-minute jobs relocating to Germany
If you’ve followed this checklist, the day before moving day should just include a few last-minute jobs:
To help ensure mould doesn’t grow on your belongings while in transit or storage, it is essential that all water is removed from your belongings and all items are completely dry before pickup.
Managing a stress-free moving day to Germany
On moving day, you need to make sure you separate and carry with you:
Before you leave your existing property ensure:
If you’re in Germany to take delivery of your shipment:
To open a bank account, visit the local branch of your chosen bank with:
When choosing which bank to use, shop around for the fee structure that suits you best. In Germany, banks often charge customers for the use of their services or have a minimum monthly deposit requirement. Several banks offer introductory deals or rates, so be sure to confirm exactly how long these deals last and what sort of charges apply long-term. You don’t want to be surprised by a huge increase in fees.
While medical care and services in Germany are among the most advanced in the world and your employer should make contributions to the state-funded public health insurance scheme on your behalf, you may still want to investigate taking out private health insurance. Private health insurance will give you more options when it comes to choosing doctors and specialists and your wait times should be shorter.
For more information, visit What is the Healthcare System Like in Germany? in our Ultimate How to Move to Germany from Singapore Guide.
Depending on your provider, your Australian health insurance company may offer international cover when moving to Germany. This will help ease the pressure when you first arrive—you can shop around for the best health insurance provider once you’re settled in Germany, while still having the peace of mind that you’re covered in the interim.
Once you’ve found a property to rent or buy, you’ll need to organise the connection of your electricity, water and gas utilities.
For more information, visit How Do Electricity, Water and Gas Utilities Work in Germany? in our Ultimate How to Move to Germany from Singapore Guide.
Organising a mobile phone and internet once you arrive in Germany
There are many mobile phone and internet providers in Germany, all of which offer a range of different packages at various price points. Be sure to do your research into which package best suits your needs before signing a contract.
For more information, visit How Do Mobile Phones and the Internet Work in Germany? in our Ultimate How to Move to Germany from Singapore Guide.
Enrolling your children in a German school
When residing in Germany, you’ll need to enrol your children at your preferred school. To do so, you’ll need:
For more information, visit What is the Education and Schooling System Like in Germany? in our Ultimate How to Move to Germany from Singapore Guide.
If your children will attend university in Germany, you’ll need to enrol them as soon as possible. Universities will also consider your child’s grades and what sort of subjects they’ve chosen to study. For specific entry requirements for international students, it’s best to consult individual universities.
As with any developed nation, there are several taxes that you’ll be required to pay when living in Germany. These may include:
For more information, visit What Tax Do I Pay in Germany? in our Ultimate How to Move to Germany from Singapore Guide.
Once all the logistics of moving to Germany from Singapore are finalised, it’s time to enjoy your new home! Get out, discover your new neighbourhood, see the local sights, make some new friends and enjoy your next big adventure.
For more information, visit What to See and Do in Germany in our Ultimate How to Move to Germany from Singapore Guide.
We have been furnished with the above information, however, UniGroup Worldwide Moving gives no guarantees or undertakings concerning the accuracy, completeness, or up-to-date nature of the information provided. It is essential that users verify all information contained here before taking any action, or relying upon it. UniGroup Worldwide cannot be held liable for any actions taken based on the information contained within this Checklist.
