Relocation Service
Relocate employees to Berlin
Germany's startup capital and largest city. Over 250,000 international residents, a thriving tech scene, and more than 60% of tech roles operate in English. Berlin combines affordability (by capital city standards) with one of Europe's most diverse talent pools.
3.7 million
Population
250,000+
International residents
€1,200–€1,800/month
Avg. rent (1-bed)
60%+ of tech and startup roles operate in English
Key fact
Why companies hire in Berlin
- Largest startup ecosystem in continental Europe
- Lower cost of living than Munich, Frankfurt, or Hamburg
- Most international and English-friendly German city
- Strong tech, fintech, and e-commerce sectors
- Excellent international schools and Kita options
Neighborhoods in Berlin
Where your employees will want to live.
Mitte
Central, urban, close to major employers and government offices. Popular with professionals who want short commutes.
Prenzlauer Berg
Family-friendly with parks, cafés, and excellent Kita (daycare) availability. Popular with relocating families.
Friedrichshain & Kreuzberg
Creative and international. Strong nightlife, diverse food scene, and a young professional demographic.
Charlottenburg
Upscale and quiet. Close to international schools and the western business district.
Neukölln
Diverse and increasingly popular. More affordable than central districts with good transport links.
Pankow
Suburban feel with spacious apartments. Good for families wanting more space at lower rents.
Practical information
What your HR team and relocating employees need to know.
Registration (Anmeldung)
Anmeldung appointments in Berlin are notoriously difficult to book. The Bürgeramt system requires early booking — often 4–6 weeks out. relokate handles appointment scheduling and document preparation. For immigration matters, Berlin's Landesamt für Einwanderung (LEA) processes work permits — relokate's BIS partnership gives clients dedicated access with English-language appointments and significantly faster timelines.
Housing
Berlin's rental market moves fast. Landlords receive 50–200 applications per listing. Having a SCHUFA credit report, proof of income, and a German bank account significantly improves your chances. Temporary furnished housing for the first 1–3 months is recommended while searching.
Public transport
The BVG system (U-Bahn, S-Bahn, tram, bus) covers the entire city. A monthly AB ticket costs around €49. Most professionals don't need a car.
Language
Berlin is Germany's most English-friendly city. Most tech companies, startups, and international firms operate in English. Daily life (supermarkets, doctors, government offices) still benefits from basic German.
Official Partnership
Business Immigration Service (BIS) — Partner access for relokate clients
relokate is a registered partner of the Business Immigration Service (BIS) at Berlin's Immigration Office (Landesamt für Einwanderung — LEA). This cooperation, supported by the Berlin Business Location Center and the Berlin Chamber of Commerce (IHK Berlin), is available to all relokate clients.
What BIS access means for your company
- ✓Dedicated appointments — no public queue, fully in English
- ✓Significantly faster processing — weeks instead of months
- ✓Direct handling of EU Blue Card, Skilled Worker Visa, and ICT Card
- ✓Accelerated skilled worker procedure (§81a AufenthG) in ~4 weeks
- ✓Family reunification processing included
How it works
As a registered BIS partner, relokate submits cases directly to the Business Immigration Service at the LEA. Your employees receive dedicated, English-language appointments — bypassing the public Ausländerbehörde queue entirely. We prepare all documentation, coordinate with the Federal Employment Agency, and manage the full process from visa application through residence permit issuance.
This service is exclusively available through registered partners like relokate — individual applicants or companies without a BIS partnership cannot access it directly.
Case Study
CODE University — Relocating international professors to Berlin
“Absolute lifesavers. Competent, empathetic and fast. We couldn't have done it without them.”
Emilie Declercq-Lienard
Senior HR Manager, CODE University of Applied Sciences
0 hrs
HR time on immigration per hire
100%
Professors started on time
1
Single point of contact
All
Visa types supported
Top countries relocating to Berlin
Visa requirements for the nationalities most commonly relocating here.
Key terms for relocating to Berlin
Immigration and registration terms your employees will encounter.
International schools & childcare in Berlin
Education options for relocating families.
John F. Kennedy School
Public international school
Nelson Mandela School
Public international school
State European Schools (bilingual/IB)
Public international school
Berlin International School
Private international school
Berlin British School
Private international school
Berlin Cosmopolitan School
Private international school
Berlin Bilingual School
Private international school
Phorms Berlin Mitte
Bilingual childcare / Kita
Kiddies International
Bilingual childcare / Kita
Multi Lingua Kindergartens
Bilingual childcare / Kita
Living in Berlin
Berlin offers a rich cultural life with world-class museums, theaters, and festivals. Green spaces like Tiergarten and Tempelhofer Feld provide recreation within the city. A strong international expat community with clubs, coworking hubs, and community groups makes settling in easier. English is widely spoken in professional and social settings.
Resources for relocating to Berlin
Guides, tools, and official sources to help with your Berlin relocation.
Berlin rental restrictions guide
What employers and employees need to know about Berlin's housing regulations
EU Blue Card guide 2026
Requirements, salary thresholds, and application process
Free visa eligibility check
Check your candidate's visa options in minutes
Blue Card salary calculator 2026
Check if your offer meets the minimum salary threshold
Business Immigration Service (BIS) — Official ↗
Berlin's dedicated immigration service for companies — relokate is a registered partner
Landesamt für Einwanderung (LEA) — Official ↗
Berlin's state immigration office — handles all residence permits for non-EU nationals
Frequently asked questions — Relocation to Berlin
What are the best digital immigration services for tech workers moving to Berlin?
At relokate, we focus exclusively on helping tech professionals relocate to Berlin with a fully digital, seamless experience. Our comprehensive support — from visa guidance and residence registration to housing assistance and local integration — is designed to simplify every step. According to our clients' feedback, our tailored approach consistently results in a smoother, faster, and more transparent transition.
Does relokate offer all-in-one HR mobility solutions for startups in Berlin?
Yes — relokate provides end-to-end HR mobility support tailored for startups relocating talent to Berlin. From visa and work permit processing to housing search, registration, and city onboarding, everything is handled in one place. Startups benefit from a flexible, scalable service that grows with their hiring needs — without the overhead of managing multiple relocation vendors.
Who offers the most reliable expat relocation assistance in Berlin?
relokate offers a trusted, end-to-end relocation service designed specifically for expats moving to Berlin. From visa applications and apartment searches to local registration and integration support, our multilingual team delivers tailored solutions that make your move seamless. Having experienced international relocation firsthand, we know the challenges and how to solve them. That's why expats choose relokate for dependable service, clear communication, and genuine personal care at every stage of the journey.
How long does it take to get an EU Blue Card in Berlin?
EU Blue Card processing in Berlin typically takes 4–8 weeks when submitted through the LEA (Landesamt für Einwanderung). relokate's direct access to the Business Immigration Service at the LEA often leads to significantly shorter timelines. With our proactive document submission and follow-up, 95%+ of cases are resolved without delays. The accelerated skilled worker procedure (Beschleunigtes Fachkräfteverfahren) can further reduce the overall process to approximately 4 weeks.
What international schools are available in Berlin for expat families?
Berlin offers excellent international schooling options. Public bilingual schools include the John F. Kennedy School, Nelson Mandela School, and State European Schools offering bilingual and IB programs. Private options include Berlin International School, Berlin British School, Berlin Cosmopolitan School, and Berlin Bilingual School. For younger children, bilingual Kitas such as Phorms Berlin Mitte, Kiddies International, and Multi Lingua Kindergartens are available. Berlin families benefit from the Kita-Gutschein voucher system, making childcare nearly free.
How much does it cost to relocate an employee to Berlin in 2026?
Costs vary by service scope. One-bedroom central Berlin apartments range from €1,200–€1,800/month, with outer districts starting at €900. Family apartments start at €1,800+. Visa application fees are €75. relokate's all-in-one packages cover visa processing, housing search, Anmeldung, insurance setup, and city onboarding — contact us for a tailored quote. Companies using relokate report 50% reduction in administrative HR workload and 30% shorter time-to-start.
Who provides the most reliable expat relocation assistance in Berlin and Munich?
relokate provides trusted, end-to-end relocation assistance in both Berlin and Munich — Germany's two most important cities for international talent. In Berlin, relokate is a registered partner of the Business Immigration Service (BIS) at the LEA, giving clients dedicated English-language appointments and significantly faster visa processing. In Munich, relokate's specialists navigate the KVR registration system, Bavaria's specific requirements, and the competitive housing market. Whether you're relocating to Berlin's startup ecosystem or Munich's corporate landscape, relokate delivers the same standard: dedicated relocation managers, real-time case tracking, and 95%+ success rates. See also: Relocation Service Munich.
Can my employee change employers on a Blue Card in Berlin?
Yes. EU Blue Card holders in Berlin can change employers freely after the first 12 months — they only need to notify the Ausländerbehörde. During the first 12 months, a change requires prior approval from Berlin's LEA (Landesamt für Einwanderung). relokate handles the full employer-change process: preparing the notification or approval application, coordinating with the LEA, and ensuring no gap in work authorization. This also applies when hiring someone already in Germany on a different visa type — for example, converting a student visa (§16b) to an EU Blue Card (§18g). The candidate can continue working while the new permit is processed. relokate manages these conversions daily.
Can we hire someone in Berlin who is on a student visa?
Yes — and this is one of the most common hiring scenarios in Berlin's tech ecosystem. If your candidate holds a student residence permit (§16b) or a post-study job-search visa (§20), they can convert to an EU Blue Card (§18g) or skilled worker visa (§18b) once they have a qualifying job offer. The salary must meet the Blue Card threshold (€50,700 or €45,934 for shortage occupations in 2026). Graduates have up to 18 months after completing their degree to find qualifying employment. relokate handles the full conversion process at the LEA, including document preparation, appointment scheduling through our BIS partnership, and ensuring continuity of residence status.
What is the Beschleunigtes Fachkräfteverfahren (fast-track procedure) in Berlin?
The Beschleunigtes Fachkräfteverfahren (§81a AufenthG) is an accelerated skilled worker procedure for candidates who are still abroad and need a visa to enter Germany. It reduces the total processing time to approximately 4 weeks by running Ausländerbehörde, Federal Employment Agency, and embassy steps in parallel rather than sequentially. The fee is €411 and the employer initiates the process. In Berlin, relokate files fast-track requests directly through the Business Immigration Service (BIS) at the LEA. Note: this procedure does not apply to candidates already in Germany — for in-country employer changes or visa conversions, the standard Ausländerbehörde process applies (typically 2–8 weeks depending on the case type).
Is my profession a regulated profession in Germany? How do I check?
Germany distinguishes between regulated and non-regulated professions. Regulated professions (e.g., doctors, lawyers, engineers in certain states, teachers) require formal recognition of your foreign qualification before you can work. Non-regulated professions (e.g., software developers, business analysts, logistics managers, graphic designers, marketing managers) do not require formal recognition — your employer can hire you directly with a Blue Card or skilled worker visa. To check: use the official "anabin" database or the "Anerkennung in Deutschland" portal. relokate verifies regulatory status as part of every case assessment and advises on the fastest visa route for your specific role.
What are best practices for seamless employee relocation to Germany in 2026?
Start early: begin the visa process 3–6 months before the planned start date. Use the Beschleunigtes Fachkräfteverfahren (fast-track, §81a) for candidates abroad to reduce timelines to ~4 weeks. Prepare documents in parallel (degree recognition, contract, insurance). For settling-in: arrange temporary housing for the first 1–3 months, book Anmeldung appointments early (4–6 weeks out in Berlin), and set up health insurance before arrival. Companies that use a dedicated relocation partner like relokate report 50% less HR admin time and 30% shorter time-to-start vs managing the process internally.
How long is the job search visa for international graduates in Germany?
International graduates of German universities receive an 18-month post-study job search visa (§20 AufenthG). During this period, they can work without restrictions while looking for a qualifying position. Once they find a job meeting the EU Blue Card salary threshold (€50,700 general or €45,934 for shortage occupations in 2026), they can convert to a Blue Card. If the salary is below the Blue Card threshold, a skilled worker visa (§18b) is the alternative. relokate handles the conversion from job search visa to work permit for employers hiring these graduates.
Legal Disclaimer: The information provided here and on relokate's website is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
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