The Bureaucratic Business of Being Abroad (when being in Germany)

If you've read my preparations post (and congratulations if you have!), you'll know that I am on it. I am on it like a car bonnet. Meaning that I am super prepared, of course - why, what were you thinking?

Family and friends, or those wanting a trip update, I do suggest you save yourself the reading time. This post is aimed at English speakers in Germany, who want more guidance on the bureaucratic side of quitting jobs to travel the world. I found it really difficult to understand what happens if I quit my job, and what the financial implications are. So this little guide will hopefully distill some information on the bureaucratic side of being unemployment before having your "Eat, Pray, Love" moment.

One of the main concerns that I had was being unemployed in Germany. I had a lot of questions about what steps I needed to take when being unemployed, and whether or not I could even afford to quit my job(s) to go for this trip. Because quitting your job in the eye of a looming recession doesn't feel like the smartest deicision I've made. Luckily, if you've been working in Germany for a while, you can get government assistance through unemployment money.

So what do I have to do?

Given that Germany is the land of bureaucracy, it shouldn't surprise you to know that there's a few bureaucratic hoops that you need to jump through before you go jetsetting off. I found it really hard to find the relevant information about which Behörde to inform before my trip into Ausland, let alone in English. So I thought I'd do a little summary.

Note: this doesn't apply to those who are just going on short trips, or those who are maintaining employment during their time abroad.

What bureaucratic hoops?

The following advice will apply to those who quit jobs to go travelling, and those who are unsure of the affect of that on their Krankenversicherung. As you know, in Germany, your Krankenversicherung is linked to your employment. It's also mandatory to be covered by heath insurance when in Germany and it's a tad complicated to figure out how this works when you no longer have work.

Becoming unemployed

The VERY first thing you need to do is to get an appointment at the local Agentur für Arbeit. This is really important to do as soon as you can during your travel preparations, due to the deadline there is to register. You need to have an appointment at the latest on the first day of unemployment. Yes. That's right. First day of unemployment.

I went for mine 6 weeks before my employment kicked in (that neuroticism really kicking in right).

Important things to note:

• You're only eligible for unemployment if you've worked for a minimum of 12 months in Germany

• If you decide to quit your job yourself, you will be blocked from receiving unemployment money for three months. Your time abroad should count towards this so called "Sperrzeit". For example, I'll be in Brazil for three months, and I'll start receiving money almost immediately after coming back

What does my payout look like?

You will receive 60% of your average net income over the past 12 months. So 60% of the average income post-tax. This was another great reason for the Minijob - a nice little boost to the overall pot.

If you are IN Germany during the Sperrzeit and period of unemployment, the Agentur für Arbeit will assume the costs for your Krankenversicherung. This, however, only applies if you are in Germany and if you have completed the appointment before the 1st day of unemployment.

Tips for the appointment:

• Come prepared. There is a list of documents noted in the mail that you should bring, but I ended up being asked for more. What was requested of me:

  • Meldebestätigung

  • Passport

  • Visa

  • Social Insurance Number

  • Tax Number

  • CV (I brought mine in German, but they honestly only needed it for previous employment details)

• Let them know immediately about your trip. This may impact receiving the money, or the point at which they can register you as unemployment.

• Double check about health insurance

I made my appointment a wee bit more complicated, as I am actually leaving the country before my employmnet officially ends. I thought I was being smart, by taking advantage of unused holiday to finance a few extra weeks, but it does mean I won't be covered for my Health Insurance by the Agentur für Arbeit.

Health Insurance

Usually the Agentur für Arbeit will take care of these costs (as long as you've followed the correct procedure and have been paying taxes for 12 months in Germany). The question is then whether or not your healthcare provider is still able to cover you in the countries you're visiting. I gave mine a rang and they clarified everything I needed to do within literally three minutes. Shout out to TK!

I will need to prove that I have health insurance for my trip and send the relevant details to my provider. I also need to confirm the dates I will leave and return Germany, and TK will make sure I have protection when on German soil.

Ta-Da!

I hope this has brought a bit more clarity to those confused by the German system. If there are any questions, especially from non-German speakers, do let me know. I can then do a bit of sleuthing around on the Internet and see what answers I can come up with.

Beijos!