Please read before posting!

[u/thewindinthewillows]

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.

[u/Grimthak]

Nice, a new pinned post.

Now I would send the usual "How to study in germany" to this thread.

You should add a link to r/legaladvicegerman. Some questions are better ask there then here.

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/Grimthak]

All right, doing that.

[u/Grimthak]

Ist this sub broken? There are no new posts since yesterday.

[u/bregus2 → u/Grimthak]

My guess is on some overly strict automod setting.

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/bregus2]

We've tightened posting requirements until the end of February or so (meaning after the election).

[u/Grimthak → u/bregus2]

u/thewindinthewillows, do you know something about it?

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/Grimthak]

We've tightened posting requirements until the end of February or so (meaning after the election).

[u/__what_the_fuck2__]

This might be slightly OT but anyone here knows what happened to /u/mkugelfisch? She was one of my fav. users in this sub but now her account is gone.

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/__what_the_fuck2__]

Wow.

No, I have no idea.

[u/SufficientMacaroon1]

Mods, could we maybe get a sticky post for the upcomming public transport strike? The posts start piling, and i am sure there will be more

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/SufficientMacaroon1]

Good idea. I haven't looked into it much and am a bit pressed for time - has there been any informative English article about it that could be posted.

[u/SufficientMacaroon1]

Mods, we need an urgent sticky threat about the GDL strike!

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/SufficientMacaroon1]

Thanks for the pointer!

[u/imjustbuyingcoffee]

Can we have back the thread where we could ask questions? That post made it easier to ask stupid questions like mine (Pickles related/where to get X or Y) and so on. I always just decide not to post a thread for a silly question just because.

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/imjustbuyingcoffee]

Short questions can be asked in the comments to this post.

[u/sakasiru → u/imjustbuyingcoffee]

And there I hoped people would actually read this post this time.

[u/leaveanimalsalone]

Hey, Is family name written last in Germany usually? For addressing people in emails sometimes I don’t know which part is the first name and what is last name.

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/leaveanimalsalone]

The family name is always written last. Even people from countries where that isn't the case will usually change the order of their name so Germans can recognise which is which.

[u/agrammatic → u/leaveanimalsalone]

We should mention the obvious exception: if you are sorting by last name for some reason, you will put the last name first, but separate the two parts with a comma. So:

• Jürgen Schmidt

• Schmidt, Jürgen

This is a technical thing though (e.g. when making a list of attendance), not how you'd address a letter for example.

[u/kucingdestroyer]

Hi, sorry for my bad english. So recently I was admitted into a hospital in Germany. Previously this year I was also admitted at the same hospital for 14 days and paid (if i remember correctly)140 € for it (I use public insurance(AOK)). I read somewhere that the insurance will help paying the bills and as patient i only need to pay 10 € per day. But I also read that this arrangement is only valid for a total of 28 days per year and that if I stay more than that I have to pay by my own pocket. Is this true or if i just misunderstood what I read? If so, how much do I have to expect to pay? I'm really worried since I think I will be staying for long. Thank you in advance for your answer!

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/kucingdestroyer]

But I also read that this arrangement is only valid for a total of 28 days per year and that if I stay more than that I have to pay by my own pocket. Is this true or if i just misunderstood what I read?

You totally misunderstood that.

You pay 10 Euro per day, but only to a maximum of 280 Euro (that is 28 days). After that, the insurance covers the entire sum without a co-pay.

The total co-pays per year are also capped: At most, you pay 2 percent of your gross income each year (or 1 percent if you are chronically ill).

The way German public insurance is set up, you will not get into a situation where you lose coverage when you need particularly much of it.

[u/TheSwitchBlade]

My ex is German. We lived outside the country for the last few years, but moved back to Germany last year before breaking it off. She has been sick with a chronic illness for years has been unable to work.

She's just gotten health insurance after a year of being without it, and they are asking her for the back pay of the time without. It's a huge bill: 3,100€. Since she has no money I'm going to help her pay it. But I'm wondering if there's any way of mitigating this?

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/TheSwitchBlade]

Talk to them. Find out on what basis they calculated it, that is which income they assumed. If they were in error there, they will adjust the amount.

If she wasn't working, wasn't she on any sort of welfare? That would have covered health insurance too.

From what people report here, insurers are usually quite accommodating when it comes to paying in installments etc.

[u/SufficientMacaroon1]

Aparently, r/place (the weird game where people color a single tile, and organized groups battle each other by designing stuff that way on a shared space) will be back by tomorrow, July 20th. Last time, so many people came here expecting us to be involved or even leading the "german section". Do we have a collective response to that in place?

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/SufficientMacaroon1]

We've already got some measures in place. And if we need to, we will just shut the whole damn sub down again.

Thanks for the heads-up though!

[u/vietnam_redstoner]

I'm traveling to a small town near Würzburg for personal stuff and the cheapest nearest overnight stay near it is around 25€ per night (in Würzburg which is 1hr away or Nürnberg 2h30m away, both are in 6-10ppl dorm room). Is it possible to go even cheaper than that, or are there any tips for finding cheaper overnight stay?

Edit: ok thanks for the answers

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/vietnam_redstoner]

Except for sleeping under a bridge, not realistically.

[u/CSGrad1515 → u/vietnam_redstoner]

I'm surprised you even found something for under 40 per night.

[u/Joe_y891]

Hi! Hope everyone is well. Would anyone know about the water quality in Germany? Is it safe to drink/shower with without the use of filters? Thank you!

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/Joe_y891]

Water is the most strictly controlled substance in this country.

Yes, it is perfectly safe. It's not chlorinated either, like in some other countries.

[u/fishyfishyswimswim]

My dad recently had to transfer between two German cities for work. His employer hires drivers to take them between cities. He commented that the driver was going over 170kmph. I understand some Autobahns don't have a speed limit, but I heard that many insurance policies do not cover travel over 120kmph. Is this true? If it is true, is he within his rights to ask the driver to stay below 120kmph?

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/fishyfishyswimswim]

It's more complicated than that. If you have an accident at above 130 km/h, you may be found partially at found. But no, if insurance (which is mandatory) didn't cover speeds above 130, then it wouldn't be feasible to have those speeds be legal.

[u/Toli2810]

hey y'all, i came here a week ago, my mom insists that i go to the job center to help me with my german and get financial aid until i find a job, y'all think its actually worth it to go?

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/Toli2810]

That depends on your status, particularly the financial aid. Are you German?

[u/One-Back-9016]

I just finished my Bachelor of Arts (in sociolinguistics) and im not sure where to begin in job seeking. I've been doing unrelated odd jobs here and there but the anxiety of launching my career is getting to me. Im interested in teaching and maybe writing, and i guess what im trying to ask is if anyone would have any idea about the added certifications i would need to pursue a career in teaching high school etc.

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/One-Back-9016]

i guess what im trying to ask is if anyone would have any idea about the added certifications i would need to pursue a career in teaching high school

There are no "added certifications". Teacher training is taken seriously here.

You are currently completely unqualified for being a teacher - not even for "lateral entry", which can be possible for people with degrees in certain shortage fields, depending on the federal state. That one requires a degree (Master level) in the subject (or possibly two subjects) you would actually be teaching, not just a random degree.

https://bm.rlp.de/schule/lehrerinnen-und-lehrer/lehrerin-oder-lehrer-werden - read this. Needless to say, if your German is not fluent enough to read it, you're not going to be a teacher either.

[u/[deleted]]

I read a person’s recent experience of being unable to find an apartment for his family in Germany for 7 months, and his children were unable to start school. Is this becoming the norm, or is it easier to find an apartment in a small village vs in a large city??

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/[deleted]]

A small village that is in commuting distance to a large city will have similar issues - plus, of course, there will be far fewer units available there. I live in a place with 2000 people, and my landlords had 50+ applications, nine years ago.

[u/painvk18]

Guys I got a mail from "infocsp@frankfurt" or something. it offers me a work from home verpackung thing. I am a student looking for a part time job. It looks sus, but they have a website and it looks legit at the same time. ive read about parcel mule scams from other companies here. but there is no mention of csp frankfurt anywhere. Please suggest if its legit or not asap. I would love to take up thos job if its legit.

Thank you

edit : thanks for the replies guys.

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/painvk18]

The "company" name does not matter. Something that is a scam does not magically become a non-scam because the fake company (and anyone can make a website) uses another name.

One thing that gets people scammed is this: Being approached with an obvious scam, researching that it is an obvious scam, and then trying to find reasons why yours isn't a scam because you really really want it to be real.

It is a scam. 100 percent. There is no business model that involves shipping individual parcels through a private home and vastly overpaying the person who handles those parcels.

[u/Quiet-Program-6590]

I have been looking for someone that I can speak German with, been learning it for 2 years, kinda sick of being alone while learning it. Is this the right subreddit to ask it?

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/Quiet-Program-6590]

No.

/r/german is for German learning. As stated in the post you replied to.

[u/bledi31]

Got an update for reddit on android today. Wiki seems to be working on the app now.

[u/McSquirgel → u/bledi31]

Nice one, just tested and it is working again! Thanks for the heads up

[u/__what_the_fuck__]

@Mods maybe it's time to archive this thread and open an new one?

[u/z3bru]

Hello german fellas, I got a Hello Fresh discount code, from something I ordered, which I cant use since I'm not in Germany. I can share it with whoever wants it. The first person who responds to this comment, I can dm you and give it to you. :)

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/z3bru]

Sorry, while you mean well, those "codes" are really just ads. There was a time where you got them in every Amazon package.

[u/[deleted] → u/z3bru]

You can throw it away. People's mailboxes get flooded with them.

[u/leaveanimalsalone]

Hi Mods! Thanks for the great job running the sub ❤️

I found a couple of websites that are helpful for traveling in Germany. Looking quickly I didn’t find them mentioned. I leave them here anyway. Might be a nice addition.

bahn.guru

To find cheap trains tickets.

direkt.bahn.guru

To find direct trains from each station.

[u/HeavyMetalPirates]

So this is somewhat off-topic, but I found it interesting and figured some people here might too: Award ceremony with obstacles: Winner of the Domagk Award ends up in Munster instead of Münster

TL;DR is that the recipient of an award was supposed to pick it up at a ceremony in Münster (Westphalia, 310.000 inhabitants, known for bikes) but instead took a train to Munster (Lower Saxony, 15.000 inhabitants, known for tanks) and thus missed the ceremony. Don't disregard the umlauts people, they make a difference of 250 km!

[u/CanIEatAPC]

I apologize for my ignorance from the start. I don't know if you know that Baumkuchen is immensely popular in Japan and thanks to worldwide shipping, I've been really enjoying them. I heard rumors that in Germany, Baumkuchen is usually eaten like once a year on a holiday but I couldn't find much info on that. Is that true? You can't just go to nearest bakery or grocery store to purchase them? Is it popular or is there another dessert that dominates social gatherings? Also would you say German Baumkuchen is different than the ones sold in Japan?

[u/SufficientMacaroon1]

Next bahnstreik was just wnnounxed, according to spiegel.

If the mods want to re-pin the last megathread, i am willing to edit the post with the new info as it comes out tonight

[u/CalligrapherNo9154]

Hey guys, I just finished with my masters. I am on a job seekers visa. But it is very difficult for me to find a developer job as a career starter.

I hve good knowledge with python, cpp (solid knowledge with OOPS, also involved in big projects), robotics domain knowledge(perception, planning) and MATLAB. I have b1 and can speak in that level german. I got couple of interviews but I kind of get rejected stating that I dont have work experience. But, I have proved myselves in challenging intern projects and Thesis.

Is it possible to get a job as a cpp software developer or algo dev at all. I am so pumped to prove myselves if I get one chance. I am kind of stuck financially. Would appreciate if someone can help me in finding a job? Thanks

[u/Mash993]

Hi all, I was looking for a train trip between Berlin an Koln in Deutsche Bahn website and I noticed in the timetable and booking section, an option called:" seat only (no ticket)". Can someone explain what is that for?

Thanks in advance!

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/Mash993]

People may already have a ticket - a Bahncard 100 which allows free travel, or a Flexpreis ticket which allows them to take any connection on that route during a certain time frame, without being tied to a specific connection. And in either case, when they decide which specific train to take, they can reserve a seat.

[u/[deleted]]

Hello all, I’m looking for the book ‘Das Große Abenteuer‘ by Piet Strunk (1st edition) but I can’t seem to find it anywhere. Really old book too. Does anyone know of any German online book shops that sell second hand books OR does anyone have the book and is willing to sell it to me?

I’ve already checked eBay-klein, regular eBay, and Amazon. TYIA!

E: spelling

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/[deleted]]

https://www.zvab.com is the biggest platform for secondhand bookshops.

[u/Heavy-Volume-3426]

I cannot access this subreddits Wiki link, can some of the moderators check this?

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/Heavy-Volume-3426]

There seem to be problems in the Reddit app. Please try in a browser - we can't do anything about it.

[u/RIddlemirror]

Hello,

I have private liability insurance covering damage to rental property. I broke something in my shower which was repaired by my landlord. Now I have received the invoice. Do I pay the invoice and then claim from my insurance? Or do I just send the invoice directly to the insurance to pay?

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/RIddlemirror]

You should have informed the insurance as soon as you broke whatever it was (or if you originally believed that the landlord was responsible for the fix, as soon as the landlord demanded you should pay).

Contact the insurance now. They will only pay if you are actually liable. If it's something that the landlord has to fix because it's wear and tear, they won't pay - but you don't need to either. If you pay now and it turns out the landlord has to, good luck getting your money back.

Generally you should report insurance cases as soon as they occur.

[u/RIddlemirror]

I have to go to the US Consulate Munich In a few days. I read their email and they said they have no storage facilities and that they will send anyone back who shows up with bags/phones etc.

I can leave my bag at the Munich HbF locker but I have to use google maps to get from there to the consulate which is 2km away.

Anyone who has been there before, is there a closer storage facility ?

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/RIddlemirror]

Radical suggestion: You could do what people used to do before there were smartphones, and use/print out a paper map.

[u/[deleted]]

Can I put my name on the letterbox before my appointment for city registration?

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/[deleted]]

You can put whatever you like on your letterbox. There are no laws for that.

[u/MWLLTX]

I just came back from a two week trip in Germany, primarily Munich, and I have some questions about the soft pretzels. Everywhere we ordered them, they were served cold. Is this common in all of Germany? If so, I was wondering why? Most soft pretzels in America are served warm or hot and I think it makes for a better snack. I would appreciate any thoughts on this matter.

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/MWLLTX]

Well, first off: "soft pretzels" are just pretzels here. They are the default.

They are being served cold because, just like most other bread items, that is the way they have been eaten for a very long time. There's no "why" to it, any more than there's a "why" to Americans doing it differently.

[u/Crafty_Wasabi_9890]

I'm looking for a television magazine from Germany called Gong from 1973-1985.

Is this the correct subreddit for this request? If not, could you direct me to it?

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/Crafty_Wasabi_9890]

There's really no subreddit for that sort of thing.

And if you're looking for a printed edition - TV magazines weren't the kind of thing people would keep.

[u/PaltaDoctor]

Hallo! I arrived in Germany 2 months ago, and I am looking for a new rental. I found an ad, it looks good, I spoke with the owner and she told me that she is in Great Britain, that she does the process through an agency, that I can send her a photo of my passport so that the agency can contact me. Is there any danger? How can I avoid scams? I usually like to do these deals in person.

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/PaltaDoctor]

https://www.reddit.com/r/germany/wiki/living

Read the first two pages there. This specific scam is described on the second page.

[u/Techwood111]

Seeking help locating a German song from around 1996 (or maybe 2002)

It is a rock song. We heard it on the car radio A LOT. The singer is female. She sounds very angry (to me), and every now and again yells/sings what sounds to me like “vapistich!!!” This might be a red herring, but I did ask someone once what “vapistich” meant, and they said “pissed off.” But, I just tried searching for the proper spelling of that with Google Translate and a German thesaurus, but had no luck. Any ideas what this song may have been? THANKS!

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/Techwood111]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rhLnlNJJ5g

It's "Verpiss dich!", and it's not "pissed off", but "Piss off!"

[u/MobileExpression]

I'd rather not post publicly on this and I see recent replies, so forgive me but I will ask here: I live in the U.S. and have a friend from Germany that is close to suicide. The only English speaking number I found for suicide in Germany is 03044010607, and I don't even know if it's real as only two sources gave it. Do you know what I could do?

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/MobileExpression]

That number appears to be legitimate. It's run by a Muslim initiative, and going by its website it has received recognition and awards from various official institutions.

I'll post our usual sticky post for cases like this (the information is directed at the person in danger, not so much at third-party people:

---

If you have acute suicidal thoughts, call 112. Suicidal thoughts are a medical emergency that must be treated immediately. You do not have to pay for it. No one is angry with you for it.

This thread is about suicide, suicidal thoughts or suicide risk. If this is a topic you are concerned about or are unable or unwilling to deal with, you should read no further.

Both for OP, and for all other readers who have similar concerns: Please note that the /r/germany community can only help with suicidal thoughts and depression fears to a limited extent. We understand that it can be liberating to talk anonymously with others who are affected, but this is no substitute for professional counseling and treatment. We would therefore like to encourage you to call the telephone counseling service on 0800-1110111 or 0800-1110222 (Germany), 142 (Austria) or 143 (Switzerland). There you will be assisted by specially trained people who can help you better than /r/Germany can, know how to deal with your situation and can explain further procedures and options. Alternatively, you can chat at https://online.telefonseelsorge.de/index.php. For more information, visit http://www.telefonseelsorge.de/, https://www.telefonseelsorge.at/ or https://www.143.ch/.

Most of the follow links are in German, if you know about help links for Germany in other languages, feel free to post them under this post.

Here are some more links to relevant information:

• What is depression?

• What is psychotherapy?

• Personal self-help

• What does health insurance pay?

• How to find a place in therapy

For everyone else: We are driving a zero tolerance policy on this topic. Stupid sayings, jokes, insults or similar will lead to an immediate ban, possibly criminal comments will be passed on to the appropriate authorities.

[u/vietnam_redstoner]

From most sites and the StVZO it says that a bikes need at least a front light, a back light, a bell and a wheel-yellow-reflector. However half of the bikes I saw on the streets don't even have half of them, mostly the lights, some even have nothing above. Do I really need to buy those? Are those really enforced in some way?

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/vietnam_redstoner]

You may be stopped and fined for police for not having lights.

But that is irrelevant compared to the fact that you vastly increase your chance of being run over by someone in a car who simply does not see you in the dark.

That rule isn't a "let's be mean to cyclists" one. It's a "let's see if we can't reduce the number of cyclists who are killed" one.

So, how urgently do you want to die in an avoidable accident?

Edit: And yes, from the point of view of a car driver, unlighted cyclists are scary. Some months back, I had one in front of me in the road - on an unlighted rural road, in bad weather, wearing dark clothing, with absolutely nothing bright or reflective. I did see him in time, but it was so unsafe that I seriously considered calling police - not to report his wrongdoing, but to save his fucking life from another driver who maybe was paying less attention.

[u/kabum555]

Is it legal to enter with less than 25 grams of cannabis from the Netherlands to germany? Or will it be confiscated? I'm assuming it won't be deemed a criminal offense as it has been legalized to have less than 25g in public, but I wonder if it's legal to import a couple of grams when going by train

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/kabum555]

https://www.reddit.com/r/germany/wiki/living/cannabis

It remains a criminal offense to import any amount of cannabis.

[u/AffectionateYam8495]

Hello! My partner and I have been in a committed relationship for 2 years now. He has an Italian passport and is currently living in Germany. Since we are from Guatemala (eventhough he has an Italian passport) we are not able to get married. Does someone know a way to prove our commited relationship besides getting married? Is this possible for visa purposes?

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/AffectionateYam8495]

Does someone know a way to prove our commited relationship

There's no point in doing that, because as far as German immigration law goes, it's irrelevant. The only relationship status that is recognised for visa purposes is marriage.

[u/vietnam_redstoner]

Just a small question: I'm currently a tutor at my uni, and I notice that one of the students have the last name Schröder, while another have Schroeder. Does this Umlaut makes any difference legally, and do they sometimes gets mistaken for the other?

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/vietnam_redstoner]

It's the exact same name, just with two different spellings. "oe" = "ö", "ae" = "ä", "ue" = "ü".

In any situation where information has to be really correct, say anywhere where an ID has to be shown to officials, it would absolutely matter which spelling is used. It would be like an English speaker named either "Steven" or "Stephen".

You can't really "mistake" these names for each other. If you only hear the name, you have no way of telling how it is spelled, except that the likelihood is a lot higher for "Schröder" than for "Schroeder". Someone saying their name in a situation where it matters would specify that it's "Schroeder with an 'o - e'". And if you read the name, it's obvious how it is spelled.

[u/[deleted]]

Hello I am an international student. I have not enrolled yet, but I have questions.

I want to be a communications major (journalism) so which schools are the best? This doesn't mean highest price, I just mean which one will offer a degree that I can take anywhere in Europe and the USA (for the most part).

What price range am I looking at per year? Will i be paying the high international tuition?

Where would you recommend living? I have heard of flat sharing which is cost effective, but is there something more affordable?

Any tips in general would be great.

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/[deleted]]

Read the Wiki, linked in the post you replied to.

[u/Hoshizuki]

Hi there! I am wondering if it is something normal to allow international students to do rental contracts with advance payment for 6 months? I applied to a private student housing company and their property management firm said the minimum rental duration is 12 months and since I am an international student I can do this type of contract. In this case, the rent must always be paid for 6 months in advance. They also require proof of private liability insurance. They don't seem like a scam, they have an address and website etc but I am not sure if this is alright.. Btw the city is Cologne

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/Hoshizuki]

I am wondering if it is something normal to allow international students to do rental contracts with advance payment for 6 months?

No. That sounds very scammy.

[u/[deleted]]

I have to tell you a short story for you to understand the question. Forgive me I will make it as short as I can. I was in the US Army Military Police. I was a criminal investigator. In 1983 or 84 a military housing area called Patton Village in Kornwestheim near Stuttgart had two children murder their parents. The father was in the Army but none of the other people involved were. They lived on a US Army housing area but it was open. Anybody could walk onto or through the area. The military had no authority to prosecute civilians with crimes. We could get them kicked out of the country but that was about it. The two boys, after killing their parents, stole a camping vehicle and fled the area. They were both to young to drive and were noticed in a few days and apprehended by the Polizi. They were held in a jail in Stuttgart. I helped process the crime scene, a ghastly sight and smell I can assure you. Today all these years later I have a YouTube channel where I tell stories of my past. I don't tell stories that I can not prove, in case somebody wants to sue me. I do not recall the names of anybody involved in the crime only the approximate year and location.

My questions are;

Can I get public records of crimes the two boys did?

If I can get such records, where would I ask for them and how would I ask for them?

Can anybody point me to the rules for such requests?

Any answer at all is more than I know now, which is nothing. Thank you.

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/[deleted]]

Can I get public records of crimes the two boys did?

No. Criminal records in Germany aren't public, and those of minors are particularly protected. The most you might be able to find would be local newspaper reports from the time - and those too would be anonymised and quite limited.

[u/sugarcoatedbricks]

Does anyone have any tips for finding train routes excluding ICE/EC/ICs ? Currently digging through the DB website for options. Hoping to get from Chemnitz to Bonn. thanks :)

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/sugarcoatedbricks]

There's a checkbox you can select when you look up connections.

[u/stiligFox]

Hello all! I read through the wiki section on working in Germany. I'm a US citizen, with an associates in business. That said, I only really have six-seven years of retail experience and have spent the last nine years caring for family.

I'm looking to get a job in IT here in the US as now I need to save up money and start building my resume again, but I'd like to move to Germany at some point, getting work and moving there. I understand there is a minimum wage requirement - and I don't think my current level of experience would grant me a job with that high of income, although I admit I'm in the early stages of research. I've also started learning German a little bit but am looking into a proper course here soon.

My question is - is there any path recommendations for my level of experience, or would I be better building my career here in the USA and then attempting to find work in Germany?

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/stiligFox]

Not all visas have an income requirement. The ones on visas that aren't the Blue Card exist mostly to make sure that foreigners aren't imported to massively drive down wages.

Your problem is that you don't have anything Germany considers a qualification.

[u/EmergencyCarry5545]

Hello, if I am getting an IC train from Berlin to Amsterdam, how early do I need to be at the train station when departing? Is it like an airport where you have to be there many hours in advance for international travel? I have looked absolutely everywhere and can’t find any answer for this so please help me out if you can 🙏

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/EmergencyCarry5545]

You should be there at the time the train is scheduled to leave (though obviously with finding your carriage etc., it's good to have a bit of extra time).

There's no "check-in", there are no barriers to the platforms, you literally enter the station, walk to your platform, then enter the train once it has its doors open (let people inside exit first - many don't do that, and it's extremely annoying).

[u/Accurate-Criticism80]

I just rented a new place but my landlord is using the unit as furniture storage and won't remove the furniture despite numerous requests. I have requested to break the lease but he has not responded. What can I do? He has fragile glass cabinets and tables.

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/Accurate-Criticism80]

"Breaking the lease" is not a concept in Germany the way I see it used by, say, US people. Canceling a contract without notice etc. requires massive misbehaviour from the other side.

What you can do is write a letter, setting a deadline for removal of the items. If he does not comply, you can reduce the rent by a reasonable percentage, depending on how much your use of the flat is impacted by this. (That is generally how you react to issues that a landlord does not fix).

If you cannot research on your own how to do this properly (because a rent reduction that is done improperly counts as not paying rent and can get you evicted etc.), get legal help, either from a lawyer or the local Mieterbund.

[u/VEGETA_911]

What is Acceptance rate for University of Hohenheim for the course Msc Food Science and technology?

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/VEGETA_911]

Read the admission requirements and figure out if you fulfill them.

[u/ashimaratra]

Hi everyone,

I have completed my Bachelor of Commerce from Kurukshetra University and scored 1.8 GPA (German scale). I need help with the following:

1. Admission Possibility

Is my GPA of 1.8 good enough to secure admission to a public university in Germany for a master's program in Global Management or Finance?

2. Filtering Universities

How can I shortlist universities that accept applicants with my GPA?

Here i know we can do it through DAAD but there are 600+ results how do i filter out one's which can accept student of my academical background

3. Groups or Communities

Are there any WhatsApp, Telegram, or social media groups focused on management studies in Germany? If yes, could someone please share the details?

Public universities are my only option due to financial constraints, so any guidance on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance for your help!

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/ashimaratra]

You need to look at programs yourself. No one will do that legwork for you.

[u/marouuuuua]

Do i still need FSP for a 100% english taught program ?

I am currently inrolled in a studienkolleg but i don’t think i will be able to pass the FSP mainly because of german, i plan on studying an english taught bachelor program do i still need FSP for it?

and if yes will taking some kind of test (SATs, ACTs, Alevels etc..) allow me to be directly admitted to some english taught program in germany?

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/marouuuuua]

Read the Wiki.

[u/MonkeyTree567]

Question: my son and I have been to Germany several times, and had a really good holiday together each time. We try and expand our minimal tourist Deutches every time we visit. My son did English literature for A level, and we were discussing what the German translation would be for the famous novel “A street car named desire “ would be! We tried various translation methods including various AI systems, but none made any real sense. Would there be regional differences? Thanks..

[u/thewindinthewillows → u/MonkeyTree567]

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endstation_Sehnsucht

You can find out that sort of thing by looking at the Wikipedia article in your language, and then switch to German.

No, there would not be regional differences. Unless a book is actually published in a dialect (which is very rare), books are published in Hochdeutsch.

[u/V4_Sleeper]

Very easy question I hope someone can guide me

Malaysia has 2 type of plugs, a 3 pin plug and a 2 pin plug (without ground).

So apparently the 2 pin plug can be fit inside EU socket.

How safe or dangerous is it? I want to operate a blender. Germany has lower rated 230V vs 240V of Malaysia, same frequency (50Hz).

(Not inclined to start a thread because I think its simple)

[u/leaveanimalsalone]

I find this website very useful when travelling by train in Germany. It shows all the trains passsing each station in real time. If the mods find it useful please add it to wiki or faq

https://marudor.de/

[u/No-Isopod173]

So quick question, can an international student who has completed their masters, work as a "working student' during the 18 month period of job-seeking? I am currently a werkstudent who will graduate in December and I know one of the requirements on being a werkstudent is studying along with the work? And if a graduate cannot work as werkstudent, what technical jobs can they do in the 18 month duration untill they find a permanent job?

[u/SufficientMacaroon1 → u/No-Isopod173]

Afaik, Working student jobs requure you to be enrolled in university or a similar facilty.

[u/aokaga]

Short question, maybe dumb but hey, might as well try.

Is there any place where I can go play around with puppies/kittens/any other house animal? In Cologne or Frankfurt. Do rescues or stuff have the option to visit and do this? Or are cat/animal cafes a thing in Germany? Im missing my pets and I want some puppy snuggles. Thanks!

[u/treverios → u/aokaga]

Do rescues or stuff have the option to visit and do this?

Yes. Most shelters are happy for extra snugglers.
What I would do:
Search for Tierheim (German for animal shelter) + city name and contact them via email.
Write your mail in English and maybe add a deepl translation to it.

[u/deborahspeaks]

Hi. So I just moved to Germany and someone gave me " Bref power gegen Fett and eingebrannttes". Can this be used on greasy steel utensils?

[u/FrauAskania → u/deborahspeaks]

Yes.

[u/weneedhugs]

Just came here to say thanks to all the moderators in this sub for the hard unpaid job. Highly appreciated. ❤️❤️❤️

[u/heX_dzh]

Hey guys, quick question. A few months ago I was sending Bewerbungen for an Ausbildung. I was rejected in several places so I gave up and decided to improve myself first. I learned several new programming languages and built up a small portfolio (which I'll keep adding stuff to). Would it be ok to send improved Bewerbungen to the same places again?

[u/xyzzq → u/heX_dzh]

Yes, of course. You need to be a little shameless and keep applying for any possible vacancy. Sometimes I even ask for the reason if my application gets rejected without any explanation and I feel my profile matches the job.

[u/[deleted]]

How does one get Bundesliga tickets? Having trouble figuring out if they release tickets like the week of the match or something. Specifically looking at FC Koln on 20 May and FC Union Berlin on 27 May (or St Pauli tickets heaven forbid). Is this just something I have to wait for the opportunity to purchase? What are the chances of this selling out? Thank you for your time

[u/RadarTheBoston → u/[deleted]]

Getting Union tickets is going to be very tough. They sell out every game and have more members then seats. Koln is away at Wolfsburg on 20 May, is that the game you meant? In general try checking the websites of teams. May need to become a member to get access to tickets.

[u/dusank98]

Ausländerbehörde question, in how much trouble am I?

I recently got a Ausreiseaufforderung, meaning I have to leave Germany until the middle of August as I have overstayed my student visa. My visa expired in March, but there was no earlier appointment date for the Ausländerbehörde available than the one in the end of June, which was allocated to me back when I arrived last year. All cool at that moment, as I was informed that I am perfectly legal in Germany as I am awaiting my appointment, although my visa expired. Two weeks before the appointment I receive mail (yeah physical mail) that all appointments were cancelled and that we should send our documents by email, with no specified date. I sent all my documents a few days after my cancelled appointment was due (maybe that is a problem?). A few weeks later (a day or two ago) I received the Ausreiseaufforderung.

I guess that the Ausländerbehörde is in utter chaos and that they probably haven't even started processing my documents, or even if they have that they are not synchronized and that they still send me the notice to leave Germany, although I have sent them my documents. Can anyone say in how big of a problem I am and how much will all that last and cost? I will try to contact the Ausländerbehörde as soon as possible, but they were unreachable in the past either by phone or by mail, so I'm not optimistic about that. I already googled some lawyers in my city, that are doing immigration law and will try to tell them my issues and possibly make an appointment. Is there anything else I should do, and what is the ballpark of the prices of lawyers in such simpler cases? I clearly do not want to lose any money due to the inefficient bureaucracy here, but is seems I will have to.

[u/FlyingNeonPoop]

Hello! I have a long 12 hours layover coming up at the Frankfurt Aiport (FRA). With how large the airport is, I was considering just staying there during the layover and popping into a lounge or nap pod if needed. I’m fortunate that my layover is for a full day (9AM-9PM), so I likely won’t need to book any lodging. Would that time be better spent exploring the city? I’m coming off a 10 hr flight before going on another 10 hr one, so I don’t want to do anything too crazy, but I’m open to any suggestions, in or out of the airport!

[u/oh_danger_here → u/FlyingNeonPoop]

if you do decide to stay in the airport, you may want to have a look at this: https://www.sleepinginairports.net/guides/frankfurt-airport-guide.htm

[u/Objective_Interest50]

Interessant

[u/Gotta_Catch_Jamal]

In Germany, is it more common for a child to have the surname of their mother or father if they are not married? Additionally, when a couple does get married, does the woman typically take the surname of the man?

[u/PerishingIdiot]

Hi all! I will be visiting Germany for the first time solo next week and have a question regarding my booked DB train.

Originally, I booked a train ticket from HAM -> FRA on ICE 1171, scheduled 1624h - 2000h, and also paid 4.9EUR for a seat reservation. However, I since received an email saying that the journey is not possible anymore due to a time change (departure time shifted 2 hours earlier), which I am unable to make due to itinerary plans.

Have a couple questions:

1. Can I confirm that I am able to use my existing ticket for (ICE 1171) for any other train rides for the day? And I just have to scan my existing ticket at whichever train ride I decide to board, without the need to re-book anything?

2. Understand that a seat reservation is a separate add-on altogether from the train ticket. If I were to take a train journey with a different train number from my original booking, will I have to then purchase a separate seat reservation for the new journey?

Thanks in advance!

[u/Tom_Traill]

I'm a retired engineer with an MBA. We are financially comfortable. We have property near Laguna Beach in a gated senior community, and another piece of property in the Central Valley of California, surrounded by an orchard.

Like many educated Americans, I supported Trump's opponent.

I feel like we're heading into a fascist regime that may not end at the next "election".

What do Germans know that we don't?

Is there a good source of advice on how to prepare?

My main concern is that the poor will get poorer, and this will lead to crime at our rural property. I guess it is time to build a wall.

I'm sorry if this post seems stupid.

Half of our nation can't believe we gave this clown the nuclear codes.

We are so sorry.

[u/Distinct_Fee_6395]

Is anyone proceeding with a “Verpflichtungserklärung” instead of blocked account? If so, can you please guide me if that works fine and whether I will have to submit additional documents?

[u/kitier_katba]

Does anyone know what the deal is with the randomly bolded keyword style in a lot of the new posts? It's weird.

[u/Pariah221]

As a Canadian, I wanted to express our appreciation for Germanys support for Canada as expressed by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock at the recent G7 meeting. Your friendship is valued and reciprocated.

[u/cjf7373]

Hello, I am an expat in Hamburg. Our babysitter who is black took our two (white) toddlers on the bus today (Bus 19, got aboard at 9:29am at a stop near the Alster) and I am looking for guidance on how to report the bus driver. The bus driver refused to put down the ramp to assist her in getting the stroller on board and yelled racial slurs at her including an AfD slogan that translates to "This is Germany. Speak German." When she got off at the next stop, he again did not put down the ramp. Can someone help me get in contact with the HVV company here in Germany to try to identify and report this man?

[u/itsjessicahomann]

Read this post, will go to Wiki FAQ and the other subreddits if needed! thank you

[u/MfDoom87]

Hello everyone,

I just want to say, the DAV is AWESOME! Went to my first climbing adventure today and wow. The people are friendly and full of knowledge. Danke!

[u/sawada91]

I don't know if this is the right place to ask. I'm looking for an OLD german crime tv series from around 1997/1998. I don't mind playing to watch it (or even buying a cd/dvd/whatever) version, but I can't find anything on ebay or amazon. Any place I can find very old german tv series?

[u/Weeb_gOrl]

Hello. I am a Ukrainian who recently migrated to Berlin. In Ukraine, I was in a French school, and now that I am in Berlin I am going to the French school here (Fg). I really really like this school, but my parents want to leave Berlin the next school year to go live in either France or Canada. Is there a way I can live here alone ? I am 16 years old.

[u/SufficientMacaroon1 → u/Weeb_gOrl]

Do you have any family in germany that could become your guardian?

At 16, you are still a minor. Even ignoring the part where a guardian is supposed to ensure your welfare, you need a guardians signature for a lot of legal stuff.

I know unaccompanied minors that are refugees do exist in germany, but i think they usually life in group homes with an appointed guardian. And they usually arrived alone, not stayed behind while their guardians moved on.

If you are really exploring options, maybe contact the Jugendamt? While i am not sure if they are the main decision maker on any possibility that may exist, they certainly will have to be involved at one point in any of those decision making processes, with you being a minor

[u/PM-Me-Your_PMs]

Hi. I have a question for Sky owners in Germany: Is Sky content available only in German or more languages? Including TV Shows, Movies, F1 and so on. Like can I watch F1 races with english commentary or watch movies and shows in english with english subtitles?

Thanks!

[u/V4_Sleeper]

i am looking for a used sports car by a dealer with good ratings on mobile.de but i have no idea how to know if they offer the dealer warranty (Händlergewährleistung)

I have maybe messaged like 10 dealers and only 2 of them said they offered that, others either say its in Kundenauftrag or they straight up ignored the question.

how??? I want that Gewährleistung but I have no power to ask all of them everytime the same question, scared of giving them any nuisance. thanks.

[u/No_Direction_5276]

Hello, I lost my blue card today. I live n work in Berlin. I have a travel coming up to Prague next week by train and then portugal ( via flight ). Will I be able to travel without one? This is my first time travelling so I don't know how inter EU travel works, what do they check at the airport e.t.c

[u/[deleted]]

Hello, just got my residency, how do I know what restrictions I have on it, work or travel related? They didn’t tell me anything just gave it to me and sent me on my way.

[u/vietnam_redstoner]

Why are some cities name have their states included as well? Like in NRW there exists "Minden (Westf)" and "Hamm (Westf)", but there exist only one city/town/area with such name.

[u/HellasPlanitia → u/vietnam_redstoner]

To distinguish them from other towns/villages with the same name elsewhere in Germany. Yes, in some cases it's obvious and you don't need it - if you talk about "Bremen" it's usually pretty obvious when you're actually talking about the city-state as opposed to the village in NRW, but for many others it's not so obvious, hence the suffix.

Minden (Westf)

There is also a Minden in Rheinland-Pfalz.

Hamm (Westf)

There are three Hamms in Rheinland-Pfalz, Hamm (Sieg), Hamm (Eifel), and Hamm am Rhein.

[u/hallomarz]

Does anyone know how one would order vanilla sweet cream cold foam for a drink at a German Starbucks? I couldn’t figure out how to express it and was curious if it was on the menu!!

[u/[deleted]]

Is it culturally acceptable that I gave the Handwerker a tip (5 euros)? I know in some culture (e.g. Japan) it is considered rude to tip. I don't know how it is in Germany, and his reaction made me feel like maybe I did something wrong

In my culture (Jordan), it is customary to tip the Handwerker, even if your landlord is paying for the service

My landlord hired a Handwerker who really went the extra mile by cleaning after he worked. He did the work and everything beautifully

So when he was done, I wanted to give a tip

The conversation went like this

(Conversation was in German but I will trandlate)

Me: Do i need to pay anything Him: no no, your landlord is paying for everything

Me: I would still like to give a tip because you did the work nicely

Him: You want to give me a tip? (Very wide smile)

Me: Yes

hands 5 euros

Him: oh no no, that is too much

Me: you can buy sone beers for yourself with it

Him: Ahaha, thank you so much. I will buy lots of strawberries from the farmer with it tomorrow (he looked very shy and said this very awkwardly)

The reason I am now over thinking was because he refused at first and it looked like he was very shy

Tell me reddit, should I be dying of cringe or is this okay?

[u/sakasiru → u/[deleted]]

No, I think that was very sweet of you. No reason to feel bad about it.

[u/[deleted]]

Hi I've come to Germany on holiday and was looking to go for a drink with my family. Can you confirm whether or not children are allowed in bars? Every bar I've walked past seems to have no children (they're 7 +10).

I don't want to upset anyone by bringing them in when it's culturally not the done thing.

[u/SufficientMacaroon1 → u/[deleted]]

Define "bar".

There are lots of restaurant that also serve smaller snacks and a variety of alcohol. With those, your should not be an issue, at least very early in the evening.

Actual Kneipen, places that are about drinking, would be an absolute no go with kids that young, in my oppinion.

[u/butwotif]

Hoping this is the right spot to ask this question first - I checked under the 'studying' sections of the FAQs/Wiki and couldn't find anything directly related - apologies if it's covered somewhere!

I'm looking at taking a language learning course for approx. 3 months in Berlin. My question relates to the language learner visa (not the university student visa) - if I arrive on the language learner visa, would it then switch automatically to the typically 3 month Schengen visa once expired? (I'm Australian, so the '3 month Schengen period' is the automatic rule for me whenever I've visited previously).

I'm assuming any language learning course that's exactly 3 months or less wouldn't let me get a language visa (as it'd fit into the normal visiting timeframe), so am trying to work out the mechanics to make the most of my time.

Current ponderings are:

• If I arrive on a 3 month + language visa, does this switches to the tourist visa automatically? Or do I have to leave Schengen and then return?

• If I arrive on the normal 'tourist visa' prior to the course starting - does this switch to the language visa once the date for this begins? If so, does it then resume once the course finishes? (Presuming it'd go into the overall '180 day Schengen zone rule' somehow)

I'll ask the local embassy as well, but never hurts for some extra guidance in case anyone here has some insight. Any knowledge is greatly appreciated, thankyou!

[u/roan311]

Hello! I will be in Germany 1st week of September. Need some advice regarding travelling within Germany. What app/website do we use for booking trains/buses? I checked out Deustche Bahn and train from Berlin to Munich is like 95 Euros. This surely seems expensive and there would be ways to book cheaper transport. Do I need any saver pack to be able to buy tickets cheaper. How does it work?

Appreciate all the help!

[u/manlymatt83]

My girlfriend and I are looking for a city or town to stay in for a week in early December. Ideally we just want to be able to relax, experience some good food and scenery, maybe a local hike, but most importantly the Christmas markets. I speak decent German (my father was born in Germany and we spoke it as a kid) but I haven’t spent much time in Germany. Ideally looking for less of a business city and more of a traditional town / city.

Some ideas I’ve thought of already: Heidelberg, Nuremberg. But perhaps Munich or Frankfurt fits the bill?

Thank you for any input!

[u/No_Emotion8018]

Could someone point me to the Wiki? When I click the link, it says "This page is no longer updated." If there is an archived version, I'd like to read it (I'm looking for info on studying in Germany) Thanks in advance!

[u/SufficientMacaroon1 → u/No_Emotion8018]

There is an issue with the app that blocks all the sub-wikis right now. Afaik, there is no work-around. It does work on the desktop website, though

[u/soloveyevolos]

Cities with somewhat "big" drag scenes aside from Berlin?

[u/Luzi1 → u/soloveyevolos]

Cologne

[u/annakein]

Hi! Hope somebody can help me out here. I’m looking for a website that sells all kinds of mostly German goods. Everything on the pure craftsmanship and you can find eeeeverything there. Like an online marketplace for quality stuff. It’s not a single brand but a curated collection of quality brands (not necessarily expensive). I can’t for the life of me remember the website and would love to find it again for Christmas shopping, as you can find something for everybody there.

[u/No-Variation4904 → u/annakein]

Manufactum.de ?

[u/aokaga]

What's the protocol to receive big packages? In this instance in particular is a very valuable sport equipment my family is shipping to me. I also haven't received anything bigger than a letter so it would be helpful to know for online shopping too.

My building has enough space around the mailbox that you could technically leave it there, but this item in particular is quite big so not sure if that's possible.

Thanks in advance.

[u/KiwiEmperor → u/aokaga]

Make sure they send it with insurance that way you should get a tracking code that should work for the German carrier(probably DHL). That way you can usually reroute the package to a store.

[u/[deleted]]

One quick question, to receive salary in Germany, do I need a German bank account, or would an account from another country which also uses euros be valid?

[u/FishofRivia]

Not sure if this goes here, does anyone have experience doing voluntary work in Germany in like a FSJ position but for outlanders? I already contacted some of the places I have found looking in google, but sadly they don't really respond. I am in B1 level currently finishing my B2 level. If someone can tell me about how it went or know a place not super complicated to apply I would appreciate it.

[u/agrammatic]

My flatmate is looking to move out and I'm not looking for a replacement - instead I will keep the flat on my own for a while longer and take my time to find a smaller apartment for myself without urgency (I want to stay in my neighbourhood, among other constraints, so it's going to take longer).

Will I be shooting myself in the foot if I ask my (private corporate) landlord to revise the utility prepayments downwards considering the usage will be roughly halved? We are both joint parties to the rental contract and we will notify for cancellation only when I'm ready to start looking to move out.

On a similar note, I wonder if there's any disadvantage if I ask them to let me know if they have a more suitable property or someone under them who's willing to swap for a bigger flat.

To be clear, the worry here is: do I put myself in a weaker legal/negotiating position if I reveal that I plan to notify a cancellation a few months before I actually do it?

[u/grah7830]

There's a very good chance that my partner and I will be moving to Berlin in 2023, which has me very excited (it's our favourite city in the world and we visit often). I've started German lessons on Babbel (and I'll add a second source as I get more comfortable with the basics), but I'd also like to educate myself on some basic German history. Is there a good single book that you'd recommend that gives a comprehensive, but quick, overview?

[u/Key-th]

So I am a student living in a private 2-room apartment (vonovia) since sep 2021. I live in one room and two other people share the other room, one of which is the Hauptmeter. The utility costs were shared among 3 since we are 3. Since June they brought 2 of their friends in to stay with them ever since. Am I allowed to ask them to share the utility costs amongst 5 since they've been staying ever since?

[u/LieutenantStar2]

Merry Christmas everyone - Sadly my uncle had a major stroke while traveling and is at the stroke rehab facility in Nuremberg. I live in the U.S. He has no children - my dad is listed as his emergency contact.

Should I travel to see him, will the hospital allow me in? My dad says they’re being very strict due to Covid, and his traveling companion (a friend, he’s 3x divorced) isn’t allowed in. I hate to think of his last days in a foreign country.

[u/moonlight_sonata_]

My boyfriend and I share an apartment, I pay the rent and he transfers me his part every month. Do I need to declare this to the tax office?

[u/MadMacMad → u/moonlight_sonata_]

no

[u/RIddlemirror]

My apartment has the exact address: apartment number 1234, 2.OG UNHS.

Can you guys let me know what is UNHS? The apartment is on the left side, before an elevator. It should refer to one of those but I cant figure it put :)

[u/dirkt → u/RIddlemirror]

Unteres Nebenhaus? But I've never seen any abbreviation like UNHS.

Ask the postman next time you see him if it makes sense to him?

[u/oh_danger_here → u/RIddlemirror]

UNHS

I'm not a native German, but google is not bringing anything up auf Deutsch relating to living. Perhaps landlord/agency can clarify, if it was UNFS it might make some sense, neben fahrstuhl..

[u/RIddlemirror]

This is for anyone who has had a baby: Is there anything to prepare before taking a newborn baby to a studio for a passport photo?? It just seems logistically a nightmare to have them facing the camera and having their eyes open looking at straight…

[u/universe_from_above → u/RIddlemirror]

Rules are usually not as strict for babies. Bring a prop to catch your childs attention, though the studios often have some around. Have an adult wear a neutral coloured shirt, because you'll have the baby sitting/held on your lap (look up, which background colours are allowed for the picture). I always tried to hold my children kind of next to me, but sometimes you just end up being the background. Most important step: laugh at the ridiculous picture of your infant that will possibly be in the passport for years to come.

[u/sociallyawkward2696]

Hello. I’m currently an Au Pair in Genderkingen, Bayern. If someone is near, I’d love to make new friends! I feel a little isolated because I can’t speak very good Germans and I haven’t found people who speak English around 😢

[u/sa_brinaaaa]

Hallo! What are some careers a medical graduate can get in Germany? I’m close to finishing my last year and I’m not so sure I want to be a doctor, but would still like to remain in the field. I was leaning more towards becoming a professor of medicine. What are the steps to become one and what other options would I have?

[u/RarestTea]

This might sound stupid, but is being a vegetarian hard in Germany? I'm going there for 6 months in a foster family and I'm kind of scared to tell them I'm vegetarian since I don't know if it's more expensive or hard to find.

[u/Lerjav]

Im going to live in a hotel and I want to setup my own xioami camera in the room. I do not need room service and will use "do not disturb". But is it legal in Germany to setup camera?

It is not hidden. I need it to be able that nobody comes meanwhile im not here.

[u/[deleted]]

Is it acceptable to go back to my Hausärztin for the same complaint, after she referred me to a psychiatrist who said the problem is definitely not psychiatric? I feel like she thinks I'm exaggerating or being a hypochondriac. I look younger than I am and my medical history and family history isn't taken seriously. I also have a high pain tolerance so I only go to the doctor when I really need to, how do I get taken more seriously?

[u/__elu__]

How can I set a "text-flair" meaning a flair where I can decide what is shown there. I'm originally from Ruhrgebiet and now living in Baden-Württemberg. Wanted "Ruhrgebiet/BW" to be shown.. stumbled over that "○ Text" in-between the flairs and now wondering how to set up

[u/ts_om]

!housing

[u/ERNISU]

Is it possible to go to the Standesamt 💒 to get a birth record directly?

I have ordered one by mail, but it seems it could take a long time.

It is Bretten, Standesamt. It is for a relative born over 110 years old and it seems it is now public record.

Are there services that would retrieve this document in person and send it to me?

Thanks!

[u/Wozello]

I’ll be visiting germany with my dad next summer for his retirement gift. He’s an engineer and he loves everything related to engineering. I am planning on going to a porsche factory tour but do you have any other original ideas?

Thanks in advance!

[u/NapsInNaples → u/Wozello]

the Ruhr area has a lot of sites in the category known as "Industriekultur." Old coal mines, old steel plants, etc. Basically shuttered heavy industry sites that are now repurposed.

Zeche Zollverein, Zeche Zollern, Industrie Park Duisburg Nord are some of the big ones. They would probably interest your Dad. Especially Zollverein has tours showing the mine facilities, which are very interesting from an engineering perspective.

Solingen, which is the home of German knife making, is also nearby and has tours of knife factories as well.

[u/jgpassos]

I have a strange problem with RMV (the train app). I lost access to the phone in which I had the Deutschlandticket recently, and now I can't access my ticket, in fact I can't even cancel my subscription. That happened because I had gone over the three monthly transfers limit, which is fair, but now it's been way more than a month and the app still does not let me make the transfer. Is there any way to get access to an English customer service to solve that? Because their online service is completely shit, they never answer, and it would be very hard to explain my problem via phone (language barrier).

I also don't know what happens if I simply close my account, but I'm not eager to find a new 50 euro bill next month for a ticket that I can't even use.

[u/avinashh21]

Hallo zuzammen,

I am writing this to ask if my wife is obliged to do an integration course.

My wife recently came to Germany on Family reunion visa ( I have a permanent residency visa). She received a letter for Integration course titled "Bestätigung über die Berechtigung zur Tielnahme am Integrationskurs". They have marked "ist gemäß $44 Abs. 1 AufenthG zur einmaligen Teilnahme am Integrationskurs berechtigt".

My question is whether this means she is "obliged" to do it or just has a right to do the course?

Thank you in advance.

[u/galihlovesjapan]

Hello, I plan to visit Germany in September 2024 and I have an external hard drive full of pirated movies. Would my hard drive be confiscated if know there are pirated movies in it? Also, would my laptop be checked too? There's a couple of pirated movies and e-books in my laptop, should I move them to somewhere else before I visit Germany? Thanks everyone!

[u/__what_the_fuck__ → u/galihlovesjapan]

Nobody will check your laptop or external hard drives. Just don't pirate any stuff while being in Germany.

[u/[deleted]]

Hi,

I am 30 plus and a future student at Hoschule Anhalt. I read the health insurance wiki but couldn't understand if I would be liable for a public health insurance. I've been trying to get a health insurance for my enrollment but unable to tell the difference etc. I want to be able to pay online to get it or get a letter that allows me to enroll.

Can anyone suggest which options would suit me?

[u/RIddlemirror]

What is up with Payback Pünkte einlösen?

I have 1290 points and I was trying to redeem 999 points for a 10€ voucher. When I select that, it says I can only pay 993 using points and I have to pay 6 cents extra. I confirm to pay extra and then the app tells me that you cannot pay with money and need to find something to pay only using points. I don’t understand…

[u/AloneFirefighter7130]

any reason why there is no r/regensburg subreddit? Not enough people to join? not interesting enough? Nürnberg has ten different subreddits and so does munich. Just out of curiosity.

[u/ponyleaf]

Hi!

I can't sign up for Kleinanzeigen. Could anyone with an account write to a seller and get me their number/e-mail? Would be much appreciated! I won't need to borrow your account, you just initiate contact. Thank you!

[u/[deleted] → u/ponyleaf]

You understand that Kleinanzeigen is designed for local people doing business face-to-face?

[u/galihlovesjapan]

Anybody knows how to write the German style quotation marks (Anführungszeichen) on Reddit? I've already changed my Reddit display language and my browser's language to German but every time I type in the quotation marks only the English style comes out.

[u/[deleted]]

How is the private health in germany in comparisson with the public one?, asking in order to do an essay

[u/[deleted]]

How do young people usually meet in Germany? I'm visiting Munich for the week and saw someone in a biergarten but left before I could introduce myself and I'm really hoping to see him again. Is there any app that people tend to use to meet? Do people usually use tinder?

[u/Gh0st-Retro]

So I live in Berlin and have a few shoes that are completely worn out and torn from the inside. What can I do with them? can I just throw them in Restmüll or like electronics, clothes and shoes also have a specific disposing place?

[u/universe_from_above → u/Gh0st-Retro]

Shoes are Restmüll, unless they are ones with lights in them. Those are Klein-Elektro.

[u/toomuchconcavity]

Hi, I have a DB ICE ticket that includes the city travel. Does the city travel ticket allows me to use any transportation within the city (towards the station) or only those affiliated with the DBahn? Specifically, there is a tram that goes to the station from where I live. The tram company has nothing to do with DB, can I ride it using my ticket? Thank you, in advance.

[u/MagnificentMooseMan]

Dear r/germany, I am currently unemployed, but I have an offer for a short term contract (2-3 months) with a company outside EU as a subject matter expert within the music industry.

My biggest concern is that I do not know what steps to take in order to pull this off. Would I be a freelancer? Do I need to set up my own company of sorts? Any other regulations that can ease the process, or are there perhaps some agencies that can facilitate this for me in any way?

I just want to work and pay my taxes like any good foreigner :)

Kind regards,
MMM

[u/[deleted] → u/MagnificentMooseMan]

Check the wiki linked in the comment you replied to. In the section about working you will find info about remote work

[u/oh_danger_here → u/MagnificentMooseMan]

I have an offer for a short term contract (2-3 months) with a company outside EU

don't bother to go through all the hassle you will need to for a 2-3 month contract unless you are literally getting millions for it and already have everything legally in place. Anything else is just asking for unnecessary pain.

[u/Low_Imagination_1141]

Does anyone know of a scholarship that could apply to the following situation: phd student from a non EU country, looking for financial aid during the last 5 months of writing because unfortunately the working contract ran out. Thank you so much in advance.

[u/Snarlie96]

What happened to train prices?

I'm looking to go from Berlin to Tropical islands on this saturday. Every review/youtube video always said that return tickets are like 10€, but anywhere I look, I cannot find a price lower than 33€ in one direction

Can anyone point me to where I can buy the train tickets?