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| CURRENT SECTION :: Overseas Guides | UK's most visited IT Contractor Site - 250k unique visitors March 2008 |
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Article written by Julia Lovett, ITECS.(2006) Introduction Germany is proving to be quite the destination for the UK contractor willing to work abroad. Along with its multicultural society and advanced technology market, Germany offers exciting opportunities to those contractors seeking the abroad-experience. Country Information Germany is located in central Europe and shares borders with Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland and Switzerland. German is the official language in Germany, spoken by 78 million people. English, however, is learnt at a very young age and is often considered a ‘second language’ rather than a foreign language. Germany has a population density of 230 people per square kilometre. This is above the European average of 116 people per sq/km but below the 256 of the UK. The currency in Germany is the Euro. Visit www.xe.com for up-to-date currency exchange information. Working in Germany Despite the good level of English spoken by most German nationals, it is no secret that learning a few words of German will definitely help you along the way. This is especially useful when filling out forms during registration, which are not always available in English. After arriving in Germany, you are required to register your address at the Einwohnermeldeamt and then at the Immigration/Alien’s office. You will need to bring your passport with you to each office, and most likely a small fee. The forms you will be asked to complete will most likely be in German. Accommodation Whether you prefer luxury apartments or shoestring hostels, most German towns and cities cater for all budgets. See below for a few links to different accommodation providers. www.allgrund.com - rental apartments in Frankfurt and Munich both furnished and unfurnished. www.apartment-2-rent.com - furnished rental accommodation in Germany. www.hostelbookers.com - low cost hostels across Germany. www.bookings.de - hotels in Germany. www.tobook.com - hotels in Germany. Getting Around in Germany Germany boasts an extremely efficient and cost-effective public transportation system. Most cities offer many different services, including buses, trams, underground rail (‘u-bahn’), and rapid-transit trains. Outside the cities, the majority of towns have at least a bus service. Travel Possibilities: Outside Germany For the travel enthusiast, Germany is an ideal country in which to work. Sharing borders with 9 other countries, you will be spoilt for choice as to where to spend your weekend. The high-speed train operators throughout Europe provide fast and efficient links to other countries. Whether going to Brussels or Paris with the Thalys, or Switzerland with Lyria, you will find a multitude of possible destinations when visiting the train station. Go to www.tgv.com for further information. When considering a more distant destination, you can fly from any one of the 16 airports in Germany, including Frankfurt, Munich, Stuttgart, Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg, Hannover and Dusseldorf. Expat Services in Germany There are a number of expatriate websites available to the expat in Germany, designed to inform and network. See below for a few options: www.expatica.com - German news in English and expat networking events in Germany. www.escapeartist.com - information for the expat in Germany. The website for the British Embassy in Germany is as follows: www.britishembassy.de ITECSis a payroll management company assisting expatriates with their contracts abroad. To receive a personalised breakdown on how ITECS can help you, call +31 10 205 1660 (The Netherlands) +32 3 400 6363 (Belgium) or +44 208 863 2589 (UK). Previous Page
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