Central Moves: Professional German Relocation

Central Moves are one of London’s top companies for relocating from London to Germany. They combine specialisation with total commitment to providing a professional and personalised service, which is why thousands of families and individuals have entrusted Central Moves with their German removals service, furniture removals and personal effects.

Central Moves prides itself on being the best moving company for removals to Germany.

We are proud to be members of AIM and operate to BS EN 12522 standards. This is the first and only recognised quality standard specifically aimed at furniture removals.

Central Moves are proud to have achieved this standard, which proves all operatives work to clearly defined and audited standards daily.

Further testament to our success is the number of corporate clients who continue to choose Central Moves and refer us to their families and friends.

Removals to Europe can be a high-stress experience, especially when relocating furniture and personal effects from your current location to an international destination becomes problematic.

Central Moves appreciate this fact and provides the most effective international house removal experience possible. With this in mind, for UK residents looking to move, Central Moves are always willing and ready to lend a professional hand in moving you to your destination. This could be Berlin, Cologne, Bonn, Mannheim, Dusseldorf, Stuttgart, Hamburg or any other destination in Germany.

Customs Information For Removals To Germany

Used Household Goods and Personal Effects

Documents Required

• Copy of passport
• Copy of the visa
• Bill of lading (BL) / air waybill (AWB)
• Packing list in German or English
• Customs declaration / signed letter by the owner of the goods
• Customs registration form 0350
• Letter of employment or botschaftsbescheinigung (returning citizens)
• Anmeldebestaetigung (registration)
• Diplomatic entry form 0349 (diplomats).
• Certificate from the diplomatic organization in Germany (diplomats).

Specific information

• Effective processing of the Customs declaration can only commence once the goods are in the European Union and presented to the Customs office.
  • Products imported into the European Customs Union are subject to duties only when and where the product first enters the European Union (e.g., Germany).
• The customs declaration should be provided by the local agent in Germany.
• A letter signed by the owner of the goods certifying that the following taxable high-value goods have not been included in the shipment:
  • Firearms
  • Alcohol
  • Tobacco
  • Cigarettes
  • Tea
  • Coffee
• Customs registration form 0350 stating goods will not be sold for 12 months.
• The letter of employment must state that the term of employment will be for a minimum of 12 months and that the owner of the goods has lived abroad for at least 12 months (must be issued by the client’s employer)
• Anmeldebestaetigung can be obtained from the appropriate German town hall confirming registration of your residency in Germany (not older than 3 months).
  • The owner of the goods is required to obtain a letter of confirmation from their future landlord to register, known as “Anmeldebetaetigung”, from 1st November 2015.
  • The confirmation letter, “Wohngeberbescheinigung” must confirm that the owner of the goods will live at the address mentioned.
• Shipment must arrive in Germany within 12 months of registration.
• Botschaftsbescheinigung from the German Embassy or Consulate at the origin.
  • This document confirms the period abroad (returning citizens).
• Proof of registration may not be older than 3 months.
• All goods for duty-free importation, such as household goods and personal effects must have been in the owner’s possession for at least 6 months in the origin country.
• Duty-free entry for foreign diplomats is permitted if a bilateral agreement exists with the origin country.

Source: I.A.M Movers German Customs

Central Moves Ltd have compiled a list of expat & German news websites that can be of help. This is a chance to contact existing British expats.

• http://www.dw.de
• http://www.thelocal.de
• http://www.howtogermany.com
• http://www.expatsblog.com/blogs/germany
• http://www.german-way.com
• http://www.toytowngermany.com

Living in Germany

Germany in western-central Europe consists of 16 constituent states, with limited sovereignty. Its capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany has 80.6 million inhabitants. It is the most populous EU member state. Germany is a major economic and political power of the EU and a historic leader in many cultural, theoretical and technical fields.

Germany has a social market economy with a highly skilled labour force, substantial capital stock, a low level of corruption, and a high level of innovation. It has the largest and most powerful national economy in Europe. It is the fourth largest by nominal GDP in the world, the fifth strongest by PPP, and was the biggest net contributor to the EU budget in 2011.

The service sector contributes approximately 71% of total GDP, industry 28%, and agriculture 1%. The official national unemployment rate in April 2014 was 6.8%.

Germany is the most populous country in the EU and ranks 16th in the world. As of 2011, about six million foreign citizens (7.7% of the population) were registered in Germany. Germany is home to the third-highest number of international migrants worldwide.

Currently, the population is covered by a fairly comprehensive health insurance plan provided by statute. Certain groups of people (lifetime officials, self-employed persons, and employees with high incomes) can opt out of the plan and switch to a private insurance contract.

Regardless of the destination of interest, a move to Germany is too enticing for many UK families to ignore. And in many regards, Germany is one of the most suitable countries within the European Union for UK expats to move to. This is for several reasons. For starters, it is welcoming to foreigners.

Germany has the third-largest expat population in the world. The expat population, which in 2011 was estimated to be more than six million, makes up about 7.7 percent of the country’s population.

However, it is not just a matter of expat numbers that draws UK residents and expats from other countries to Germany. This western-central powerhouse has enormous economic growth opportunities. Opportunities come in employment and business opportunities.

For UK residents seeking employment, the low unemployment rate (6.8% in 2014) shows how well Germany’s economy can employ both citizens and foreigners.

As for entrepreneurs, Germany has a pool of highly skilled workforce, large capital stock, and a high level of innovation, all the ingredients start-ups need to flourish.

Property information

Historically low mortgage rates For those who intend to buy a property and apply for a mortgage, the current exceptionally low-interest rates are a godsend. Today on average you can expect half the repayment rates as ten years ago. A loan for € 100,000 today costs a monthly repayment of around 330 €, while in the past, it cost an average of 620 €. Mortgage rates with a ten-year bond start as affordable at 3.25%.

Germany has a functioning rental market, unlike Spain or France. There is a functioning rental market in Germany. Only about 44% of Germans own a home, a very low percentage in comparison with other European countries. It is common in Germany to live in rented accommodation, in the context of a long-term lease. For investors, this means a reliable basis for regular, secure rental income. But in 2014, cheap loans and rising incomes are the two main drivers of the trend for Germans to increasingly buy rather than rent their homes

Popular expat destinations

• Cologne
• Hamburg
• Stuttgart
• Berlin
• Frankfurt am Main
• Munich
• Bonn
• Dusseldorf
• Mannheim

British citizens and those from other EU countries don’t need a work permit or visa to live and work in Germany.

If you live in Germany in retirement you can receive your UK state pension in a UK or German bank account. Your pension income will be index-linked as Germany is part of the European Economic Area, which means it will increase each year, just as if you had not left the UK.

Few facts about German culture.

1. Germany’s motorways (Autobahn) are famous for having no speed limit, but an advisory limit of 130km/h (81mph) is in operation, and some stretches of road have limits.
2. Munich’s Oktoberfest, which starts in September, is the biggest beer festival in the world. Oktoberfest 2012 covered 26 hectares and had 35 giant beer tents.
3. Germany’s beer relationship is serious. According to German newspaper Der Spiegel, in 2006 it was home to almost 1,300 breweries and responsible for three-quarters of Europe’s beer production.
4. Most grocery stores, drug stores, and shopping malls close at 7 pm (8 pm is the latest). The smaller the town, the earlier the closing time. And if it’s Sunday, you might as well stay inside your house. NOTHING is open. Restaurants are the only exception to this rule.