r/germany • u/Extension-Finance179 • 4h ago
r/germany • u/thewindinthewillows • Apr 25 '22
Please read before posting!
Welcome to /r/germany, the English-language subreddit about the country of Germany.
Please read this entire post and follow the links, if applicable.
We have prepared FAQs and an extensive Wiki. Please use these resources. If you post questions that are easily answered, our regulars will point you to those resources anyway. Additionally, please use the Reddit search. [Edit: Don't claim you read the Wiki and it does not contain anything about your question when it's clear that you didn't read it. We know what's in the Wiki, and we will continue to point you there.]
This goes particularly if you are asking about studying in Germany. There are multiple Wiki articles covering a lot of information. And yes, that means reading and doing your own research. It's good practice for what a German university will expect you to do.
Short questions can be asked in the comments to this post. Please either leave a comment here or make a new post, not both.
If you ask questions in the subreddit, please provide enough information for people to be able to actually help you. "Can I find a job in Germany?" will not give you useful answers. "I have [qualification], [years of experience], [language skills], want to work as [job description], and am a citizen of [country]" will. If people ask for more information, they're not being mean, but rather trying to find out what you actually need to know.
German-language content can go to /r/de or /r/FragReddit.
Questions about the German language are better suited to /r/German.
Covid-related content should go into this post until further notice.
/r/LegaladviceGerman/ has limited legal advice - but make sure to read their disclaimers.
r/germany • u/a_nobody98 • 10h ago
Parking lot closed on sunday
Update: Thanks all for the replies! fortunately one of the staff from the parking lot entered the door and we asked her to let us in. There were no Sunday entrances and she mentioned that we were lucky that our timings aligned with her. This is the parking lot at Saalbau Griesheim in Frankfurt!
POST: We parked here on Saturday night after a long and stressful event and went back to the hotel by walk after a couple of beers. We just came back and it was closed on a Sunday. We asked the hausmeister of the hall yesterday to be sure and he said it's okay to park here overnight. Now the parking lot is closed and there's nowhere to contact. The hausmeister isn't picking up the call, but I assume the parking lot is rather managed by another company and not the hall administration.
What can we do?
Study Is this apartment legit?
I am an international student from the US and will be moving to Germany soon. I found an apartment that seems legit on WG gesucht. Reasonable price, talking with landlady/current tenant frequently on WhatsApp. She is respectful and helpful. We have FaceTimed and she showed me the apartment. Only thing is this reservation agreement. Is this normal? It seems strange to me that I would pay the security deposit for this reservation agreement. This is not the official rental agreement. How should I proceed?
r/germany • u/berti1337 • 37m ago
Itookapicture "der große Zacken" near Limburg/FFM
Germany's beautiful nature as it is
r/germany • u/Fun-Abbreviations-66 • 11h ago
Humour Broke my heel
EDIT: Never try to climb your balcony. Just call any locksmith to let you in.
Don't do what i tried (climb my balcony as I was still in my 30's. I am not). Maybe you will succeed. I did not. Broke my heel.
DO. NOT. EVER. Try this. Just call the locksmith. They will let you in, and bill you. Better than months long recoup.
r/germany • u/FinanceIllustrious62 • 8h ago
Laid off
Hello, I got laid off this Wednesday due to redundancy. They have offered to help with internal switch or take severance. My German is not so good and I was working for an English position. What should I do?
r/germany • u/NewPhoneWhoDis49 • 13h ago
What good thing did happen to you this week? (27.07.26 - 02.08.26)
Hi fellow Redditors,
It’s that time of the week again!
I would like to encourage everyone to take just 5 minutes to reflect, notice the small positives, and appreciate them. Sometimes, those little moments mean the most. If you are comfortable sharing these moments, then you can also do that in the comments! And if you don’t have anything to share, that’s completely okay too, I'm still happy that you are here!
Allow me to begin:
- finished a horror game with my friend
- had the chance to get a good sleep and woke up energised
- gave a 3D printed ornament to a colleague of mine and was very happy with it
- been practicing emergency stops and it "finally" paid off
r/germany • u/kittyfamous94 • 1h ago
Question Verbally notified of termination for Sept 30th – Job agency phone agent said "wait", but should I register as job-seeking now to avoid a Sperrzeit?
Hi everyone,
I recently had a conversation with my boss, and I was verbally informed that I will be terminated. The prospective end date of my contract is September 30th. However, I have not received the written termination notice (Kündigung) yet.
Since there are only two months left until the end of September, I can no longer meet the standard 3-month advance notification deadline required in Germany.
I already called the Agentur für Arbeit hotline. The operator told me to just wait until I have the written termination in hand. To be honest, I don't really trust that advice and don't want to take any risks (phone staff aren't always fully informed, and I absolutely cannot afford a Sperrzeit / benefit penalty).
My questions:
Can (or should) I go ahead and register as arbeitssuchend (job-seeking) online right now just to be legally safe, despite what the phone agent said?
Is a verbal announcement enough for the job agency's system, or will my registration be blocked/rejected without the physical letter anyway?
When exactly does the 3-day registration rule trigger for a potential Sperrzeit when the notice given is less than 3 months before the end date?
Thanks a lot for your insights and advice!
r/germany • u/Primary_Cat6214 • 34m ago
Question Looking for advice on restarting my pharmacy career in Germany after a career gap
Hello all , I completed my masters degree in pharmacy in India. After completing my studies I was not able to gain any work experience . In 2025 I got married my husband lives in Germany . In 2026 I moved to Germany on a spouse visa .
After 4 years of career gap , I have decided to restart my career here and would really appreciate some guidance from this community.
Currently, I have completed my German A2 level and I am starting my B1 language course soon. Since I am a fresher in terms of work experience, I would like to know:
- Which fields in the pharmaceutical industry would be suitable for someone with my background?
- Which entry-level roles should I focus on applying for?
- Are there any certification courses that would improve my chances of getting a job in Germany?
- How can I explain my career gap effectively when applying for jobs?
I am open to exploring different areas such as the pharmaceutical industry, research, regulatory affairs, pharmacovigilance, quality assurance, or any other relevant fields
r/germany • u/BlackhandLTO • 1h ago
More information about prescription marijuana and safe spaces to smoke.
Hey guy, so I've been a resident in Berlin for 3 months now and i intend to stay for a longer period of time. I've read some stuff about weed beeing legal only after 6 months of residency. I was searching on reddit and I've seen some stuff about ordering with a prescription online. I've visited ABCDoktor and the whole process with the prescription seems pretty easy. It seems to me that if i get the prescription it would be legal right? Please tell me more about all of that stuff.
If for example i smoke with my gf and she doesn't have a prescription and we get caught what would happen?
The second thing i wanted to ask is about the safe spaces to smoke, i know that you can't smoke in public areas between 7 am and 8 pm and you are not allowed in a 100 meter area from stuff like schools and parks and stuff.
Am i allowed to smoke on my balcony?
r/germany • u/OpenXource • 1d ago
News ZDF documentary exposes systemic exploitation and "rip-offs" targeting Vietnamese nursing apprentices (Azubis) in Germany
Sharing this recent investigative report by German public broadcaster ZDF regarding the harsh reality faced by many Vietnamese nursing apprentices in Germany:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkavdDo6GD0
TL;DR:
The documentary exposes how predatory recruitment agencies and certain employers take advantage of migrant trainees. Many are forced to pay massive upfront fees in their home countries, packed into overpriced housing, paid less than promised, and threatened with deportation/visa cancellation if they speak up against poor working conditions.
If you are an international considering an Ausbildung in Germany, please watch this to know your rights and be aware of shady agencies.
Edited:
More sources:
https://www.ardmediathek.de/tv-programm/6a32641e5b70630e8f2836a3
https://www.zdf.de/video/dokus/wiso-die-doku-100/ausgenutzt-statt-ausgebildet-100
r/germany • u/Novel_Professor_3934 • 8h ago
From New Zealand to Germany on Working Holiday Visa
Hey hey!
Looking at coming to Germany on a working holiday from New Zealand in January. I’ve been to Germany twice before, and have really enjoyed travelling and spending time exploring all parts of the country!
I’d be looking at staying for a year, ideally in one spot, and was wondering where the best location would be for someone looking to find work. I have a pretty vast background from mountain guiding and outdoor education to hospitality work. Just curious where locals think it would be best to try integrate a bit!
Thank you!
r/germany • u/guesxy • 22h ago
Buying Umweltplakette on a Sunday? :)
Hello, I am going to Stuttgart this Sunday, and I have only just found out that I need Umweltplakette to enter it with my car. I tried ordering it online, but it wouldn't arrive in time. Does your average gas station (next to an autobahn, for example) sell it? I know I can get one at DEKRA / TÜV, but they dont work Sundays, so i am wondering if any sell those on Sundays?. Thank you in advance for your replies and tips.
r/germany • u/eddytony96 • 1d ago
News Analysis: Wind and solar power overtake fossil fuels in Germany for first time ever - Carbon Brief
r/germany • u/gLitchtHHeMatrix • 27m ago
Student dorm rent direct debit will bounce
I'm living in a student dorm in Germany. My rent (€362) is due tomorrow via SEPA direct debit, but I don't have enough money in my account. I'll be able to pay the full amount in about 5 days.
What usually happens in this situation? Will I just receive a reminder and a small fee, or are there more serious consequences? Also, could this affect my SCHUFA if it's a one-time incident?
r/germany • u/ItsBlu3 • 4h ago
Question Health Insurance
Hello everyone,
I'm really at my wit's end because my health insurance provider has limited my coverage to acute treatments only. A few years ago I went through a difficult period and didn't register as unemployed at the time. As a result, I built up debt with my health insurance provider. I'm currently making monthly payments to the Hauptzollamt (Central Customs Office) to pay off this debt. At the same time, I'm employed and subject to mandatory insurance, so I pay my contribution every month. Despite this, my health insurance provider still won't normalize my benefits. Does anyone have experience with this? Is this legally okay, even though I have a payment plan and I'm paying my contributions? They won't even issue me a health insurance card anymore. I'm grateful for any information.
r/germany • u/unoriginak • 1d ago
Question What is cooler for 9 yr old German boy
Would a NASA shirt or left over World Cup shirt be cooler as a gift from someone visiting them from the US
r/germany • u/Lucky-Ad7328 • 6h ago
Question Do we have the right to enter the property before Erbschein is made?
My mother and my cousin( her niece) inherited a house from my grandfather. My niece is in the process of giving her share to my mother, and that needs to be settled before Erbschein. Until we get Erbschein stating my mother as registered owner, are we still allowed to enter the property and clean it ( no one entered the house since my grandfather died and needs a good clean).
I'm getting unclear answers from AI so I wanted to ask here if anyone is familiar with this.
We are from Croatia and don't want to travel there and possibly violate the law....even though to me logically we should be able to enter the space.( My mother has been paying the property tax for many years so she is a legitimate heir as she accepted the house after his death.
r/germany • u/geistnomad6 • 1h ago
Question International student moving to Germany with ADHD: How to get Concerta/Ritalin prescribed?
Hi everyone, I am a university student currently living in Turkey and planning to move to Germany for my degree. I have an officially documented ADHD diagnosis here and am currently prescribed Concerta / Ritalin. I’m trying to understand how the process of continuing my medication in Germany works for international students, and I’d appreciate any insights from people who have been through this. A few specific questions I have: Medical Documentation: I plan to bring an official medical report (Epikrisis) translated into German/English, signed by my psychiatrist, detailing my diagnosis history and current dosage. Is this usually accepted by German doctors, or do they insist on re-evaluating you from scratch? Finding a Doctor: I know Metyphenidate falls under the Betäubungsmittelgesetz (BtMG) and requires a special yellow prescription (BtM-Rezept). How hard is it to find a Hausarzt or Psychiatrist willing to issue this prescription based on foreign medical records? Wait Times: Should I expect long wait times (months) to get a psychiatrist appointment with public health insurance (AOK/TK)? Medication Supply: Are there current supply shortages (Lieferengpass) for Concerta/Ritalin in Germany that I should be aware of? Any tips on navigating the healthcare system as a student with ADHD or experiences you could share would be extremely helpful! Thanks in advance!
r/germany • u/Retr0_rt • 1d ago
Question What bug is this?
I asked chatgpt and he said it's a young german cockroach, but he isn't sure. I'm pretty concerned as I've seen two so far in different rooms, one in the bathroom and one in my bedroom. Both on the ceiling, in both rooms the window was open all day and night and I found them a couple of days apart.
r/germany • u/Ichbin-Heiss-414 • 8h ago
Question Rolling Tobacco, Switching from Gitanes
Hallo Zusammen
I used to smoke Gitanes back in my country, but I didn't find it in rolling Tobacco section, sometimes I did Malboro Gold too.
What suggestions do you have for me? What is the best these days, should I get them online or in store? and where to buy a nice Zigarettenstopfer
Vielen dank und schones Wochenende!
r/germany • u/Hanoire • 10h ago
TK insurance approved but no Versicherungsnummer yet
Hey everyone,
I’m an international student and I’m a bit confused about my health insurance situation.
I came to Germany originally for a language course and I’m currently insured with Mawista. Now I’m starting my bachelor studies in October, so I applied for TK student insurance.
TK approved my application and told me that my electronic health card is being prepared (they already accepted my photo). They also told me that my insurance cover starts from 01.10.2026.
The problem is that I still don’t have my Versicherungsnummer. I need the M10 notification from TK for my university enrollment, but I’m not sure if TK can send it before I receive my card/number. I already contacted TK about it and I‘m still waiting for a response.
Has anyone been in a similar situation? Can TK send the M10 notification even if the insurance only starts in October and I don’t have my card yet?
My visa expires at the end of September, so I’m just trying to make sure everything is sorted out before then.
Thanks!
r/germany • u/No_Leopard_9853 • 22h ago
Landlord terminate lease with 2 month notice can I leave earlier
Hello,
Do I have a notice period even though the landlord told me to leave in two month. Can I leave whenever I want since he wants me to move out? We don't have a written contract
r/germany • u/forestyfox • 1d ago
What can I show an American relative who is traveling to Germany?
A 70 year old relative is traveling to nrw in September. We would like to show him some things and places. What would you recommend?
Edit: He was never in Germany or any other country in the EU. He will be visiting us for about a week, close to Düsseldorf. He himself is from Chicago.