10 Things You Should Know Before Moving to Berlin

Once you have received your job offer, you will need to apply for a work visa or an EU Blue Card if you decide to live in Germany.

What documents might be required?

• Original university degree certificates.

• Translated and apostilled marriage or birth certificates (if relocating with family.)

• Proof of employment and financial stability

It’s worth noting that relocating with family members usually involves additional steps and longer timelines. For Berlin, the average timeline from contract signing to relocation is around three months,  though this varies depending on your nationality and embassy processing times.

Researching how much you are likely to spend in a new city helps you to plan. 

You should check out  transportation, groceries, rent, and health insurance to decide if the move will be financially beneficial for you. 

If you’re moving to Berlin, it is likely your money will often stretch further than in other major hubs like London. On average, the rent  in Berlin is 40% lower than in London, and a monthly transport pass costs almost 250% less.

When you have chosen to relocate to Berlin for a role at Delivery Hero, our Global mobility team will support you in finding a suitable place to live.

Finding a long-term apartment in Berlin can take a few months, so start your search as soon as you sign your contract! At Delivery Hero, we partner with relocation experts who guide new joiners through both temporary and long-term options.

Many Heroes begin in short-term apartments for 2–3 months, which gives them time to explore neighborhoods before committing to a lease. There are also employee-powered Slack communities, like #dh-flatsinberlin where Heroes highlight available places, share contacts, and post what they’re looking for.

How we support you:

• Temporary housing assistance

• Introductions to local partner agencies that speak English

• Legal/contract guidance for rental agreements

• Step-by-step support with Anmeldung (city registration)

• Tips for finding furnished, pet-friendly, or family-sized apartments

• Access to our internal housing Slack group (#dh-flatsinberlin)

Health insurance is mandatory in most European countries and often required before your visa is approved. 

Typically there are two  main options:

• Public insurance: Government-regulated, income-based, often includes free coverage for dependents.

• Private insurance: Faster access and customized plans, sometimes required for visa purposes.

Our advice here is to research the best option that suits your needs. For example, in Germany all residents must have health insurance and public providers like Barmer, TK, AOK, and DAK cover families if one spouse earns under €520/month. In this case, Delivery Hero connects expats with trusted brokers to help them choose between public and private coverage for employees moving to Berlin.

Getting your banking and taxes set up in Germany is straightforward with the right steps:

• Register your address (Anmeldung) first. Most banks require it to open a standard account.

• Watch out for your Tax ID (Steuer-ID) by post after registration, your employer needs this for payroll!

• Know your tax class (Steuerklasse). It determines how much tax is withheld from your salary.

How Delivery Hero helps with:

• Guidance on digital banks you can open pre-arrival

• Support with Tax ID steps after your Anmeldung

• Advice on selecting the right tax class for your situation

While English is widely spoken in Berlin, knowing some basics of the local language can make a big difference in daily life if your new job is in a non-English speaking country. In today’s digital world, there are many resources available you can use to learn the language. 

To support our Heroes who relocate, Delivery Hero offers you an education budget of  €1000 per year, so you can learn German at schools or online. It is a very popular program that has allowed many employees to learn the language from scratch and  make their lives easier to communicate with locals and carry out daily activities.

If you are moving with children, researching bilingual school options in advance is fundamental to ensure your little ones will feel comfortable during their settling in period. 

At Delivery Hero, we have helped many employees with families relocate to work at our Berlin HQ For example,  Maria Leivas Goñi - Senior Manager Analytics at Delivery Hero, relocated from Uruguay to Berlin with her daughter that was 5 years old  at the time and she recommends “asking for a contact in the company from someone who is an expert who has similar things as you do”.

Learn more about her experience in the interview below:

Being open to new cultures is something that will help your relocation process be  easier and smoother. Even in Europe, the culture varies a lot from country to country and we encourage you to check out what Germany has to offer, traditions, and local habits to help you prepare to integrate easily.

Check out in the video below how Delivery Hero supports Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:

Building your community is key when you relocate! Get involved with expat groups, professional networks, and most importantly, employee communities that bring the human touch to everyday life.

At Delivery Hero, new joiners connect quickly through buddy programs, team events, and vibrant Slack channels organized by country, culture, hobbies & interests, religion, and more! 

You’ll also find active Employee Resource Groups, including Women at Delivery Hero, Parent Heroes, Muslim Heroes, Proud Heroes, and Black Heroes, all great places to meet peers, swap tips, and feel at home faster.

Check out the ERG groups on our website here.

Our key advice is that you don’t have to figure everything out on your own! 

At Delivery Hero this process is fully supported from contract signing to local integration. We will help every step of the way if you’re willing to relocate to our campus in Berlin and make a global impact.

What makes our  process different? To answer this question, Lorna Ather Global Mobility Manager, highlights  that: 

"As a tech company, it’s important for us to work on the best tech solutions for relocation and immigration — but we know that the human touch cannot be missing."

Relocating to Berlin is more than just paperwork. It's about building a new life! From visas and housing to culture and community, preparation makes all the difference.

By now you have a complete a complete guide to help navigate the complexities of relocation and if you're ready to make your career move with a whole dedicated team of humans that understand how important this step is, check out open roles in Berlin.
Want to join us on this journey? Discover our latest career opportunities.