Pre planning
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You get most of the items there too. So don't overpack. If you have space, buy it considering the value/weight/space savings. If you already have some of these, bring it else it might not be worth buying and then bringing it here If you don't have Indian stores near by, you can pack little more. Compare prices of some Indian products from here. you can buy budget friendly items from - woolworth - Eurohop (1€ products) - shops of https://www.tedi.com/
you can easily send large parcel with foods like pickle, snacks or clothes to Germany using various courier agencies in India. You can avoid overpacking your journey and use these instead. Usually costs around Rs 500/ kg.
There are several options. 1. Bank transfers 2. Mostly preferred is any online options like: - https://wise.com - https://www.instarem.com/en-in/ - https://www.extravelmoney.com/ Some have less or zero transaction fee but might adjust this in their conversion rates!!
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Count your euros like your mom counts your sweets.
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Additionally bring few coins to use at airport vending machines/ toilets/ paid trolleys(you might need if you have a lot of luggage in larger airports)
Inform your Indian bank about international travel to avoid card blocks. Enable internation transactions
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- Use Air India/Vistara student offer for free extra luggage. - Ensure you have necessary visa for layover airports. Most middle east ones don't mandate additional visa for layover. UK airports would need.
It is wiser to prepare while in India so that you can start classes within <6months in Germany to save money. Why starting license process in first 6 months can save few hundreds to thousand €s.
Indian license can work the same like International permit in Germany in most cases. International permit is not usually required as the validity is similar(6months)
Pack many photos in German passport specifications. Get also few Indian passport sizes for any Indian paperwork that you have to sent over to India.
For any need in India, - scan your documents if you do not want to bother relatives for future paperworks. - Prepare power of attorneys, stuffs for future loans that might come up. - A lot of deeds/transactions in India can happen only with Power of attorney if not physicaly present in India. Think through if you would need one. - complete any upcoming KYCs, any upcoming renewals
If documents like Birth certificate, marriage certificate, Driving license are not in English, translate them to English & German. Marriage certificate needs to be translated and attested as well.
Shopping
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Some common items
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Adapters = adulting. Don’t fight German sockets.
Many items are available at comparable prices in Germany too
Be aware of some of the non applicable International warranties in Germany when purchased from India
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Check if your university has Apple discounts. Decide if you want to buy from here or there. - Not every laptop has international warranty. - Keyboard layouts are different.
Universal adapters are bulky & loose fitting for daily use. Instead get atleast few Type E/F adapters. Optionally get one universal adapter to use at layover Airport.
Universal adapters are bulky & loose fitting for daily use. Instead get atleast few Type E/F adapters. Optionally get one universal adapter to use at layover Airport.
Essentials
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Spice it up now, cry less later (German food is… polite)compare prices of some Indian products from here.Bring some Indian snacks
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Pack those meds, or befriend German pharmacies real quick.
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Ensure all checkups for parents are done on time before leaving. Parents might ignore to not bother relatives.
crown, root canal, braces treatment, retainer(most of these are charged here even with insurance)
If required, take health insurance. Remember it will be difficult/costly to join health insurance after you get sick. You can also get NRI discounts(even upto 50%) once you complete certain salaried months abroad.
Buy necessary medications. Do not overbuy as you get everything there too. Just have quantity that you need, when you can not go to a medical shop there during an emergency. Vicks or balm Volini like Pain spray Inhaler/Nasal spray Band aids burn oinment betadine Dolo or Paracetamol Loose motion tablets Stomach pain tablets Hajmola ORS packets Cough syrup Vomiting medicine Eye drops Skin irritation medications Gelusil (for gas trouble) contraceptives Antibiotics - not available here without seeing a doc
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Tiny things from home = big comfort abroad.
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Germans use square pillow(less comfortable) unlike our rectangle ones. Pack the unopened/use vaccum bag else it is gonna eat up your space.
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- compare prices of some Indian products from here.- Aluminium utensils are not dishwasher safe.
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Ensure they are usable in both induction and gas stove types. (old apartments still use Gas). Avoid anything that is with non flat bases.
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Books weigh more than brains — choose wisely.
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This can get heavier easily. Ensure weight to price ratio is justified
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Around travel days
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It’s getting real — panic responsibly.
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To recieve Indian bank OTPs. Also any conversion of postpaid to prepaid takes many days. Plan ahead.
Enquire & arrange if necessary any parcels to Germany. usually cost around Rs 500/kg. Useful to send heavier items like pickle, snacks etc.
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- Important docs & one pair dress in cabin bag. - Download offline google map of all of germany & another download of your city/accomodation, - Emergency contact list print. - Details of places, routes & bus/train numbers to reach your address in Germany. - Download German language pack in Google Translate - Split cash between wallet and suitcase for safety
Some packing tips(but prioritise your comfort): - iata.org - Wear the heaviest shoe if luggage weight is higher
DB navigator(all over Germany)You would need city specific app also. eg: Berlin Transport(Jelbi)
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You, your bags, and 17 mild heart attacks.
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In Germany
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Congrats! Now find your charger and some food.
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When you settle down and join accounts/subscriptions, create a document to list down address, mobile number, email, IBAN linked to different govt offices, companies, accounts or subscriptions. When you change apartments/phone number and if you do not remember where all to update, you might land in trouble. There can be payment reminders/notices going to old addresses(Germany still charges heavier fines for missed postals reminders). Eg. health/liability insurance, bank,doctolib, medical invoices, gym, other subscriptions.
On the day of move in, take a good length video and numerous pics of everything. And send this to landlord/housing agency in the mail for record. Do this even if a sublet/shared stay. This include any marks on glasses, scratches/marks on stove tops, tables, walls, corners, molds. A lot of landlords/students sub leasers charge heavily for even minor damages that they see during exit, even if it might not have been done by you(you can't prove it later). Do this on the first day if possible or atleast in the initial days. Also take a liability insurance(~50-60€/year) can save hundreds in damage claims(don't go for cheap insurers!). General tips: Mold protection: Keep windows open for 20-30 minutes in summer / 5–10 minutes in winter to ventilate to avoid mold fomation(high damage fines!) Stove Top damages: Glass stove tops easily get damaged
A good read of Do's & don'ts from indianstudentsgermany.org (Initiative of Embassy of India)
First 6 months is your golden period to get familiarised with rules. Why starting license process in first 6 months can save few hundreds to thousand €. Even for experienced drivers, It takes a lot of years (for most) to get familiarised when you miss this period.
It is mandatory to find a family doctor close by. To get appointments doctolib is very useful.
People generally maintain an online & an offline bank account. Many take offline bank account, only when a need comes. Use online banks for day to day stuffs. Online banks are free/cheaper and more digitised. Needs only anmeldung(offline banks might ask for long term visa) Many use offline banks for receiving salary(some employers don't credit to online banks). Offline banks are notoriously slow with delayed notifications of transactions to use for daily needs) - N26 - Revolut
Call international landlines@cheap rates using rebtel. Useful to call people not on whatsApp / during emergencies. Add a 5€ credit and keep. It might come useful during some emergencies.
Always start with a monthly/temporary sim for first one or two months. Never commit for long term contract when you are new here. Take time and find a better deal.
Wait for anmeldung or request a tax ID without registering your address: https://allaboutberlin.com/docs/010250-antrag-auf-vergabe-einer-steuerlichen-id
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Still jetlagged? Or just student life now?
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schufa is your creditworthiness(must need for apartments/loans). Know these - Sundays are closed: Shop for all your weekend groceries in advance. Usually there will only be one pharmacy that opens - Find a family doctor asap. If not, you might be in longer delay when you get sick. Use doctolib to find one. - Want to avoid masala odours in jackets/clothes? use textile freshner(Textilerfrischer) - Cook with window open/chimney. People often call fire brigades if the alarm goes off. - What is alankitglobal.com: Alankit is an authorised Visa and Passport service provider for Indian Embassy & Consulates in Germany(similar to vfs for german embassy in India) - While in Germany, your passport activities like renewal of passport, issuance for newborns, surrender certificate etc happen through alankit.
There are stricter rules here. Research more about: - Fines for torrent & piracy downloads - It is good to take Private liability and household content insurances. - Traffic & red sign fines - Sound pollution rules - Fines for failure to cancel some of the appointments(few clinics, few kind of apartment viewings etc charge fine for missed visits) - Offering/buying cigarettes/liquor to minors - Observe quiet hours - Many Germans call police if noise between 10 pm - 6 am. No vacuum cleaning on Sundays. - Waste separation: Fines if not done properly - No wrong parking to avoid fines. - Do not invite liabilities(they can be extremely costly!!) - Do not spill water anywhere. If spilled, ensure to clean & warn immediately. If someone slips, many can sue you(liability insurance might help you if done accidently). - An interesting example. If you see a doctor after you tip your toe/falling down, it will be marked as an accident by the doc. Your insurer will then ask you to explain the circumstances to understand if it occured due to someone's negligence (cleaning staff/water spills/maintanence negligence/low lighting buildings/building construction defects like staircase design) . Your health insurer will sue the negligent party to cover the treatment cost.
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