A job offer in Frankfurt, a transfer to Munich or a partner’s posting to Berlin raises the same question for most of our clients: how much German will I need? Many roles let you start work in English. The visa process, the paperwork and everyday life run in German, and the more you speak on arrival, the faster you settle.

German at work

International banks, consultancies and tech firms in Frankfurt, Berlin and Munich often work in English. The European Central Bank in Frankfurt uses English as its working language. In most German-owned companies, meetings, emails and conversations over coffee take place in German. Colleagues switch to English for a newcomer, then switch back as the discussion moves on. A working knowledge of German brings you into those conversations and into the decisions made in them.

German for the visa

Since Brexit, UK nationals need a residence permit to live and work in Germany. You can enter without a visa and apply at the local Ausländerbehörde (immigration office) within 90 days of arrival. The EU Blue Card, for graduates with a qualifying job offer, requires no German.

German becomes a requirement later. A settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) usually requires B1, an intermediate level. Blue Card holders can apply after 27 months with A1, or after 21 months with B1. German citizenship requires B1 as well. Our guide to German language levels explains what each level means in practice.

Austria and Switzerland follow a similar pattern. Austria’s Red-White-Red Card needs no German before you arrive. The integration agreement then asks for A2 within two years, and B1 for long-term residence and citizenship. In Switzerland, a permanent C permit requires A2 spoken and A1 written German, and citizenship requires B1 spoken and A2 written. Everyday conversation there is in Swiss German, while offices and official letters use Standard German. Rules change from time to time. Check the current requirements with the relevant authority before you apply.

Your first weeks

Within 14 days of moving into a flat, you register your address at the Bürgeramt. This Anmeldung needs a form, your passport and a confirmation from your landlord (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung). Your registration opens the door to a bank account, your tax ID and most contracts. Health insurance is compulsory, with a choice between a statutory Krankenkasse and private cover.

All of this runs in German. Appointments at the Bürgeramt take place in German, and a tenancy agreement (Mietvertrag) runs to several pages of German legal text. Flat viewings in Berlin and Munich draw many applicants, and a few sentences of German make a good first impression. If you have yet to choose a city, our ranking of Germany’s most liveable cities compares them, and our article on British expats in Germany shares how others settled in.

How much German is enough?

A2 covers the first weeks. You can introduce yourself, make appointments, follow simple instructions, and handle shops, transport and the counter at the Bürgeramt. B1 lets you take part in conversations at work and meets the requirement for settlement and citizenship. The time it takes depends on your starting point and the hours you put in. Our guide to how long it takes to learn German sets out realistic timelines for each level.

Preparing before you go

The best time to start is as soon as the move becomes likely. With several months ahead, private German lessons in London build your German week by week, around your current job. With weeks rather than months, an intensive German course in London concentrates the hours on the situations you meet first: the Anmeldung, flat viewings, opening a bank account, introducing yourself to colleagues, and knowing when to use Sie or du. After the move, online German lessons continue with the same tutor, wherever you are based.

Many employers include language training in a relocation package. Your HR team can arrange corporate German training in London and we invoice the company directly.

Get in touch to discuss your move and the time you have before it.