Germany is a good destination for anyone dreaming of living in Europe. Immigration to Germany has been prevalent since the twentieth century, first across the borders of Eastern Europe and then gaining popularity. Germany is the industrial and economic hub of Europe and one of the most important world powers for growth and prosperity. The low cost of living in this country, social security and government services are the main people to immigrate to Germany. In recent years, due to the problems caused by the increase of refugees in this country and the resulting problems, strict immigration and immigration policies have been made more than ever.

Germany is one of the most important economic and industrial powers in the world, which is part of Central and Western Europe. Germany is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia and its capital is Berlin. It is also known as the richest member of the European Union, which holds the main power of the euro. Other cities in Germany are Hamburg, Munich and Frankfurt.

Germany is one of the most important immigration destinations in the world, mainly to Central Europe, Southern Europe and some regions. Reasonable living costs, high quality of life and job security are the most important people to immigrate to this country. Study migration to Germany is also very popular among international students, especially Iranians, due to its outstanding education system and very low tuition fees.

History of immigration to Germany

After World War II, the first immigration to Germany began. The first immigrants were about 12 million Germans who were forced to immigrate from their hometowns to Germany due to border changes in Europe. Then, in the 1960s, due to the labor crisis, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Morocco, Portugal, Tunisia, and Yugoslavia allied with West Germany, respectively, to send labor to the country. East Germany, on the other hand, decided to get the labor it needed from socialists such as North Vietnam, North Korea, Angola, Mozambique and Cuba. In any case, this decade was the beginning of labor migration to Germany.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Germany was home to various refugees, including Iran, Lebanon, Yugoslavia, Romania, and Turkey, who had fled the country due to war or special political circumstances. With the influx of refugees from Eastern Europe and Asia into Germany, the number of illegal immigrants in Germany reached more than 276,000 in 2014, to the point that refugee camps no longer had the capacity to accept new immigrants. Such conditions created an immigration crisis in 2015 and increased the number of immigrants to 1 million. With the emergence of numerous problems, laws were enacted and many refugees were repatriated. The conditions for hiring skilled labor were also tightened with the use of the European Blue Card. At present, according to the new immigration policies, accepting immigration to Germany must have important uses and skills.

German Demographics

In 2019, the number of immigrants living in Germany was more than 11 million, including ethnic groups from Turkey, Poland, Syria, Romania, Italy, Croatia, Greece, Bulgaria, Afghanistan, Russia and Iraq, respectively. The number of Iranian immigrants in Germany is about 122,000. According to European Commission statistics, Germany has the highest population among European countries.

Economic Economics

Germany is mostly based on the free market and a kind of socialism that, with a skilled workforce, leads to very low corruption and very high innovation in the world. Scientifically, it ranks third in the world and fourth in the world in terms of GDP per capita. Germany is also Europe’s largest economy, with an unemployment rate of 3.2% in 2020. This has been the case for immigration to Germany in recent years.

The automotive industry is one of the most important German manufacturers, which is prominent in the world. In addition to vehicles, cars, chemicals, electronics, pharmaceuticals, transportation, raw metals, food industry, rubber and plastics are Germany’s most important natural goods. Also, 29 of the most important companies in the world such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Daimler, Volkswagen, Allianz and Siemens are all in Germany. In addition, the country has been one of the major centers of scientific and technological innovation throughout history, and has produced great inventors such as Johannes Kepler, Albert Stein, Heinrich Holtz, and Max Planck. Germany is the seventh largest tourist destination in the world and the tourism industry is one of the major sources of this country.

Universities and the educational system

Education in Germany is a matter for the federal government of each state, although it is generally compulsory to study in Germany for at least nine years. After completing primary education, students can continue their education in a theoretical or technical and professional way. Through the technical and professional path, students pass the internship in the desired field and after completing it, they receive a degree that is equal to an academic degree.

Most German universities are public and do not include tuition for students. International students intending to immigrate to Germany can earn very low tuition fees (an average of € 250 per semester). These universities should study. Berlin is the fifth most student-friendly city in the world with around 160,000 international students. Also, some of the oldest universities in the world, such as the University of Heidelberg or Humboldt, are located in Germany, which refers to the history of higher education in this country. Germany has often been selected as one of the best countries to study abroad and is also recognized as one of the main destinations for study migration.

Medical and welfare services

Germany has the oldest global healthcare coverage system in the world, dating back to Bismarck in the 1880s. All German citizens are legally required to have some form of insurance. About 88% of the total population is covered by government health care and the rest have private insurance. The average life expectancy in Germany is 81 years, which ranks 25th in the world in this regard. After migrating to Germany, people living as workers in this country are insured by their employer and pay only half of the insurance costs themselves. Students can also get student insurance to cover their medical expenses.

Political and social situation

Germany is a federal and democratic republic consisting of 16 states. The Federal Parliament is at the head of the country’s main legislature, with the Bundestag and the Bundara sitting together, acting as representatives of the nation and the states, respectively. The president is the highest government official elected by the Federal Assembly (composed of representatives of the Bundestag and the states). After him, the speaker of the Bundestag is the second highest-ranking German government official. The Chancellor is also elected as the third (but in practice the most powerful) government by gaining the maximum number of votes in the Bundestag. This position does not have a specific length and will remain in place until the parliament votes no confidence in that person. The Federal Constitutional Court is also the head of the judiciary, which is itself divided into two senates with different functions.

Germany is one of the most important developed countries with the fourth place in the world in terms of human development index. Social security, comprehensive health insurance, environmental protection policies and free education are some of the most important reasons why immigration to Germany is ideal.

German weather

Most of Germany has a temperate climate, the northern part is affected by the oceanic climate and the southern and southeastern parts are affected by the continental climate. Winters and summers in Germany are very different in different parts of the country, cold winters in the Alps and hot and dry summers in the interior. In other words, the cold northern winds and the warm eastern climate together have provided a mild climate for this country.

So that the average temperature during the year is 3 to 19 degrees. Due to the very favorable weather conditions in this country, many people, after migrating to Germany, easily get used to its climate.

Benefits of immigrating to Germany

o Living in a country with high living standards

o Temperate climate

o Extensive government health insurance

o Free training

o Job security

o High technology

o Social security and welfare

o Access to Schengen visas and countries in this area

Methods of immigration to Germany

o Academic migration

o Labor migration

o Migration through entrepreneurship

o Migration through marriage

o Migration by birth

o Asylum

Study immigration to Germany

Germany is one of the most economical and best countries in the world to study. Since most of the country’s universities are public, tuition is almost free and they charge only a small fee of around € 250 for the registration process. Immigrating to Germany to study is also very popular among Iranian students due to its low cost. Engineering, law, basic sciences and economics, and the universities of Freie Berlin, Humboldt Berlin, the Technical University of Munich, the Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich and the University of Heidelberg are some of the most popular study options among international students.

As Germany has a very long history of higher education, the educational standards in this country are very high and students must have a strong resume to be admitted to graduate school. Although most of the courses offered in this country are in German, some courses are also offered in English and students do not need a German language degree to be admitted. However, the policies of the German embassy are such that it may require German B1 students to apply for a student visa. In general, knowledge of the German language is essential for living in Germany, and it is better for applicants to study in this country to learn it at an intermediate level.

Another advantage of studying in Germany is the university’s connection to the work environment, so that students can more easily take advantage of employment opportunities after graduation. They can also work 20 hours a week during their studies and gain useful job skills in addition to paying for their living expenses.

Read more about studying for immigration to Germany.

Work migration to Germany

Another way to immigrate to Germany is to get a work permit to work in that country. The German labor market and economy are very stable, and the unemployment rate is very low. There is fierce competition for a German work visa, as the country’s new immigration policies only grant work permits to skilled workers, and applicants must have significant job abilities and skills in their field. With the increase in the migration of Third World citizens to Germany, the country has been dubbed as a land of opportunity for them.

Those interested in working in Germany can apply through various methods such as job search visa, work visa and self-employment visa. The duration of the job search visa is 6 months and applicants can extend their visa if they find a suitable job during this period. Another way to immigrate to Germany for work is to get a job offer. People who have been able to get a job offer through a reputable employer in Germany can apply for a two-year work visa. People who have a work contract for more than one year and a monthly salary of more than 4,200 Euros can apply for a blue card, which is the best type of work visa in European countries. This type of visa is valid for 4 years and can be extended. To apply for permanent residence in Germany, you must have at least 5 years of work experience and to apply for citizenship, you must have lived in this country for at least 8 years.

Read more about labor migration to Germany.

Immigrating to Germany through entrepreneurship

Germany welcomes talented entrepreneurs with innovative ideas for economic development. Immigrating to Germany through entrepreneurship is for those who want to start a new business in this country. Applicants must have an initial capital of € 25,000 with a detailed business plan in order to start a business in Germany. This visa, which is valid for three years, can lead to permanent residence and German citizenship after several years and successful management of the business. Successful work experience in the field of management, relevant professional knowledge and the possibility of profitability of the proposed business are the necessary conditions for obtaining this visa.

Immigrating to Germany through marriage

People who want to marry a German citizen or a permanent resident can enter the country by obtaining a German marriage visa and get married legally. Applicants must both be over 18 years old, have sufficient financial means to pay for their living expenses in Germany, and have a minimum level of A1 knowledge of German. Note that all marriage requests have been reviewed to avoid formalities, and it is best for people to marry only if they have a real interest. After marriage, it is possible to obtain permanent residence for the spouse, after two years of living together and three years of residence in Germany, you can apply for citizenship.

Immigrating to Germany by birth

Germany is one of the countries that follow the rule of blood at birth, which means that in order for a child born in this country to receive German citizenship; at least one of his parents must be German. However, in certain circumstances it is possible to obtain citizenship regardless of the citizenship of the parents.

For example  if the parents of the child born are unknown or have no citizenship, or if the parents are permanent residents of Germany and have lived in the country for at least eight years. In the second case, a child born before the age of 21 can apply for German citizenship if he / she meet one of the following conditions:

o Has spent at least 8 years of his life in this country,

o Educated for 6 years in a German school,

o Graduated from a German university,

o Has completed technical and vocational training in this country.

Immigrating to Germany through asylum

Asylum is one of the most inhumane methods of migration in the world, because refugees enter the destination country illegally and have to go through special conditions such as staying in refugee camps. Refugees are people who have been forced to leave their home country due to unfavorable political, social or religious conditions and are unable to return. All refugees to Germany must first provide a convincing reason to be deported if the reason is not sufficient or rejected. Germany is currently facing an asylum crisis, which is why it is showing a lot of strictures in this area. Many refugees are repatriated each year, and approved individuals must stay in the camp for a relatively long time.

The Mohammadzadeh Team does not take any action in this regard due to the illegality of the asylum procedure.

Immigration to Germany and living expenses

One of the most important parts of immigration knows the essential costs of living in the country. Germany is one of the most affordable countries in Europe in terms of cost of living, and immigrants can enjoy relative welfare in this country with an average salary. The average monthly income of people in this country is 2350 Euros. The following table describes some of the basic living expenses in Germany:

Price description in Euros

Three meals for two in an average restaurant 50

One liter of milk 0.83

A loaf of bread 1.34

One kilo of rice 1.98

12 eggs 2.23

One kilo of potatoes 1.29

1.5 liter bottle of mineral water 0.41

Monthly commute by public transport 70

One liter of gasoline 1.41

Monthly bills for water, electricity, etc. 218.83

Monthly rent of one bedroom apartment in the city center 742.79

Monthly rent three bedroom apartment in the city center 1423.31

Immigrating to Germany during the Corona

The spread of the corona virus has led to restrictions on travel between countries. In the early months of the pandemic, all travel was banned and borders were closed for a long time. With change under these circumstances, foreign travel gradually resumed and new laws were announced in this regard. At present, in addition to citizens of EU member states and the Schengen area, citizens of other countries are also able to travel to Germany if they have a valid and necessary reason. The German embassy in Iran is currently closed and there is no news of a reopening. Iran is also on Germany’s list of high-risk countries, meaning that there are legal restrictions on Iranians entering the country.