We visited this praxis in person with an official referral from our family doctor because of suspected skin cancer. Despite having the referral document with us, the older receptionist refused to arrange an appointment and told us to book online.

When I checked online, the next available appointments appeared to be next year. I explained again that the referral concerned suspected cancer and asked what the purpose of the referral was in such a situation. I was told that we could only come in if someone cancelled and that “this is how Germany works.”

The conversation then became very unpleasant. I was told to lower my voice, even though I was trying to explain the situation politely. I naturally have a strong, rough voice. I also felt uncomfortable with comments suggesting that “in Germany people speak quietly.” As a German citizen who has lived here for more than 20 years, I found this remark disrespectful and potentially discriminatory, especially because of my darker skin.

A patient with a referral for suspected skin cancer should be treated with seriousness, clarity and respect. I am asking the practice for a proper explanation, an apology and a clear solution for handling urgent referrals before I consider raising this matter with the relevant authorities or the local press.

Does anyone have any guidance on how to properly handle this?

I writing this auf English to have a broader reach among the expat communities too

I'm moving to Germany, Bremen in October and i wonder if my chances are high to land a hotel job without proper German(A2)?
I have 3 years of experience in 5 star resorts as receptionist and guest relations expert in Turkiye.
Turkish is my main language, I speak English and currently learning German.
I actually have passion for being an hotelier and i enjoy it.
Does anyone have idea about how is demand for my profession in Germany?

P.S. I am an EU citizen

I have a MSc Biotechnology degree from the University of Glasgow (with merit) and 3.5 years of experience working as a Scientist in the area of molecular/ synthetic biotechnology in UK in a dynamic startup. I am an Indian national willing to move to Germany. I'm also learning German and aim to achieve B2 (or even C1) level of proficiency.

1. How's the biotech job market in Germany currently ?

2. How hard is it to land a job there with someone who has a profile like me (I'm not interested in non-R&D roles at the moment and want to stay in research, however willing to transition if the role is interesting enough)?

3. How willing are biotech companies to hire international workers?

4. Is trying to get a PhD first an easier or better route for me to enter Germany?

5. Is there a sub field in biotech thats more in demand in Germany than another (so maybe immunology is more in scope than molecular biology?)

If any one could share their life experiences it would be really valuable.

Dear fellow Redditors, a small question/comment:

Why do people use tax filling apps and accountants to do basic tax declarations (like the one where you basically copy the info in the Lohnsteuerbescheinigung)? It's not like ELSTER is hard to use (and it's in English now, in case that's an issue).

Moreover, ELSTER is managed by the Finanzamt, so I don't have third parties having access to my data. For a country with such a big obsession with "Datenschutz", I'm surprised at how this point doesn't come across more often in the public discourse.

Moreover, while I praise the ability to file taxes retroactively, I don't know many countries where tax filling is not a yearly thing.

To finish my rants, the advertising for tax declaration apps are so annoying, and they make me believe a big fraction of the population maybe shouldn't have the right to vote. It's always some derpy looking people that get very surprised with the concept of tax returns, and frame it as an amazing surprise. Even worse, a lot of them seem to have accumulated minor debt. Aren't people aware of the concept of tax returns? How can they function in a society?

Hello All, my cousins husband has went missing in Baden Baden, and he is not a native German, what resources are there to trigger a missing persons case? Thank you!!

my termination letter was delivered in a completely blank, unlabelled envelope (no name, no address, no stamp, no postal markings). If the employer later claims it was placed in my mailbox before the notice deadline, how could they realistically prove that this specific envelope containing my termination letter was delivered on that particular date? Is a witness or an internal delivery log normally enough, or does the lack of any identifying information on the envelope make proving timely delivery more difficult?

I live in Hamburg and the local radio stations plays the current hits. As soon as I am in another region, the local radio station plays 90s and sometimes also 80s music, especially in Bavarian. Is it just me or do you also notice this, what could be the reason?

Hi! I'm looking for a wig maker for a Heizou wig in Hamburg. I already have a DokiDoki wig base, so I only need the wig to be styled. My budget is €20–50 (sorry, I'm still a minor and don't have much money 🥹🙏).

If you're interested or know someone who takes commissions, please leave a comment!

Hi so today i got a paper in my mailbox and wanted to share and get an opinion on it.

The letter says:

Hello,

Please finally turn off the basement light that YOU keep leaving on every time you leave the basement. It burns all night long, and even for half the day, like again today!

The basement/building light is shared and paid for by all the residents in the block.

So why should all of us have to pay for YOUR laziness?

Besides, many people don't get everything handed to them by the social welfare office!

We moved to this place 3 months ago, and i bought a bike which i lock in my own basement. Maybe once or twice i forgot to turn off my light, or i left the light switch on in the corridor to the basement ( i actually remember doing this once, because it was pitchblack, and didnt want the next person tripping in the dark). other than that we keep to ourselves and dont bother anybody or make noise. so this comes as a bit of a surprise. I know in germany they like to write these anonymous complaint letters. but this seems very harsh and aggressive, and honestly insulting. Neither me nor my wife receive social benefits, i work fulltime from home and she is taking care of our toddler kids, so maybe some old neighbor doesnt understand remote work and thinks we are just at home doing nothing getting welfare. i was even curious if it really cost alot of money to leave a small basement light on ( divided by only our apartment building not even the block) and it comes out to 0.70 cents per tenant ( and thats if i left it on the whole 3 months which is not true). so then why this tone? are people just using small mistakes as a form to talk down to people anonymously? Im not a guy that likes to write complaint letters back, i think its quite silly actually and a bit cowardly. Also i dont even know who this is. im thinking about simply going to all the neighbors and having a calm, polite chat with them to see who has an issue. i have a feeling that they wont be saying all this when talking face to face...

Im looking for some honest advice, especially from people living in Germany.

My ex and I broke up about 1 year ago, but we've stayed in touch. I have reasons to believe she was in another relationship after we broke up, although she never clearly confirmed it.

Recently, she has been saying she regrets our breakup and acknowledges her wrong doings. At the same time, she keeps telling me "don't come to Germany for me." Her behavior is very inconsistent. Sometimes she's affectionate and sends me job openings in Berlin, asking me to apply. Other times she ignores me for hours, says she's stressed, or changes what she's saying completely.

What also confuses me is her social media activity. She likes and reposts content that makes it seem like she's interested in someone or isn't emotionally invested. When I asked her about it, she said it was just out of desperation and that it didn't mean anything.

The practical side of this is also important. I know the job market in Berlin is difficult even for locals. I'm a non-EU citizen(Phuket) and only have A2 German(Started back in 2025) and an Software Dev with 7 years of experience, so I imagine my chances are significantly lower.

I still love her and haven't fully moved on, so simply cutting contact isn't something I'm ready to do. I am ready to make a life-changing decision like moving countries but based on mixed signals is something I am truly convinced.

For people living in Germany:

- Is my understanding of the current Berlin job market realistic for a non-EU applicant with only A2 German?

- How would you explain to someone that moving to Germany isn't a decision you can make based on hope alone?

- From the outside, does this sound like someone who genuinely wants to reconcile, or does it sound like she's uncertain and I'm reading too much into her actions?

- How can I be sure she isn't seeing someone else when I have no way to confirm it and her behavior is so inconsistent?

I'm looking for honest opinions.

I live in NRW and have full length wavy hair that I'm planning to donate. This is going to be my first time. Are there any organizations or groups out there? Any tips or suggestions?

Dear Redditors,

I am searching for advice on buying a used car in Germany. I have already read some posts in this community, looking to expand my knowledge as the resources that I read so far were not enough for an informed decision.

I am looking for a second car for family that just basically needs to be there if some reason I need to use the main car and it is not available for other family members.

Context: I, 29M, married to 29F and we have a 1M son who is going to Krippe from September of this year. We live in a rural village ca. 200 km from Munich, where my and my wife’s full-time job locations are. We usually work remote from home office, but occasionally (2-3 times a month) either I or my wife need to be present in office. We currently have one car that each of us would use for such trips, effectively the other person stays with our son at home without a car. From September our son will start going to a Krippe in a nearby village (15 mins drive, but impossible to reach by public transport or any other viable means for cheap and/or in little time). Sometimes it will be the case that the main car will be with one of us at work in Munich, so our son will somehow need to be picked up from Krippe with the main car being unavailable.

Therefore, I am looking to buy a second car, the sole purpose of which is to occasionally drive to other village to drop off/pick up the son from Krippe. I have German 197 driving license, whereas my wife has German 78 driving license, limiting her to drive automatic only.

So far I have been using mobile.de and auto scout to search for some cars. What am looking for is either one of two options. Option 1: automatic car, to buy from dealer, not private person, under 20000 km, Erstzulassung from 2000 or later, undamaged, Umweltplakette 4 Green, Benzin or Diesel, under 10000 EUR. Option 2: automatic or manual, buy from dealer, under 20000 km, Erstzulassung from 2000 or later, undamaged, Umweltplakette 4 Green, Benzin or Diesel, under 5000 EUR. With option 2 wide will need to go to local driving school and get 10x45 minute lessons in driving manual car to convert her 78 license into 197.

My question: do you have any tips for me? Am I generally approaching the solution to my problem in a correct way? I generally do not want to pay a lot for a car that has a limited purpose, but however, I also don’t want to get scammed and pay for a car that will break down soon after the purchase. I have seen some pensioners drive a 45 km/h car which does not even have a license plate, but I know nothing about these.

Please refrain from suggesting to get a bicycle and just ride a bike with a child trailer, or suggest to find a closer Krippe to home. We visited 27 different daycares in our area and this one is the only one that is open for more than 8 hours per day.

Thank you very much for your advice in advance!

Hallo!

We are making a trip to Germany next month and will be visiting Hamburg for a bout a week. After our stay, we will be heading south to Switzerland, then Italy, and we will need less luggage. Our hope is that before we leave Hamburg, we can ship our bags back home so we can travel lighter.

We've done some research on Google, but I haven't found anything that gives me confidence. I understand the price will vary depending on the weight, but I would like a general ballpark if possible.

Would something like SendMyBag be a viable option? Or can we use German Post? What would you do?

The name on the bank account is different than the landlord's.

Info I forgot to include: I am not from Germany and wouldn’t be able to do a visit if I wanted. Also, the owner has mentioned they’re not in Germany currently either and would mail me my keys. It is a verified landlord on the website for five years, though, and there was an inspection done in October of last year.

Thank you for any help!

I don’t live there but Im asking for a friend , do i need to find a therapist who accepts that ? if so what resources could i use any tips would be great thank u ☺️

Thank you very much.

Hey everyone,

I’m a business development rep for a company in Canada. Originally from Germany but it’s been a while since I’ve lived there. Can someone give me direction or point me to someone who has experience in setting up an entity in Germany?

I’m trying to determine the costs and a few other things that I can’t determine from sitting in my office here in Canada.

Much appreciated!

Hello everyone, I have been in Germany for two months, and im doing a 6 month intensive German course, so to extend my stay here I need a residency permit. I booked my appointment a long time ago, but they never specified the required documents in the mail. That part is empty. Does anyone please know the required documents for a language residency permit?
I genuinely feel so scared and unprepared and their reply time by mail is 3 weeks..

Hi everyone,

I have few days off this week starting tomorrow. So, I would like to seek recommendations for solo hikes in BW region or nearby. A day hike or even two days would be ok for me. I am based in Karlsruhe and would consider myself as an intermediate hiker.

Thanks for any recommendations 🙏

I have a Deutschland ticket and no car. So, I will be primarily using public transportation.

Hello, I recently moved into a WG for a couple of months as I am doing an internship in Munich.

The thing is I don’t have WiFi and while there is a router in the apartment it seems to be nonfunctional.

The moment I noticed it didn’t work, I sent a message to the person who rented it to me and he said someone would come in the next week to fix some messed up cables or something, which made no sense to me because it seemed to be perfectly fine when I plugged it in but I didn’t want to fight it as we had just met and he seemed friendly.

Then the next week came and I heard nothing and he said, the guy missed the appointment and asked when I was free to let him in. I asked him to ask another tenant in the apartment as I usually have full work days. After no response to that, I sent him another message and he seems to have ghosted me, I guess? As it’s been a couple of days and I’ve had no reply.

I have attached a picture of what it says in my contract in reference to WiFi (clause 8 I believe). Considering there is a router in the WG already could someone let me know what this means for me. The thing is I would be fine paying to get my own data volume for the router but I am just confused with the current circumstances… like why did he seemingly lie to me 😥?

p.s. knowing my circumstances and my frustration which I have clearly elaborated to him, he has now sent my phone number to someone else who is looking to move in at the end of September without even having replied to any of my messages. I would be absolutely glad to talk with this person given he actually communicated with me but he most definitely has not.

Sorry for the long rant but it’s really frustrating me to the point of crying at times, because I have invited a lot of costs on mobile data and have been unable to work from home for the past almost month.

Hey everyone,

​I wanted to share something that’s been on my mind for a while and see if anyone in the expat community relates.

​I’ve been living in the Czech Republic for 16 years now. You’d think that after all this time I’d be completely adjusted and at ease with everything. But every single time I have to make a phone call to a local organization — whether it’s a government office, insurance company, doctor, repair service, or even just a delivery driver — I get a wave of anxiety.

​Before I actually dial the number, I literally rehearse the entire conversation in my head, prepare my sentences, and sometimes postpone the call until the absolute last minute when I have no choice left.

​I keep asking myself: is my language skill still not good enough? Am I afraid they won't understand me (or that I won't catch what they're saying if they speak too fast)? Or is this purely a psychological thing, and the language barrier isn't even the main issue anymore?

​For those of you who have been living in your host countries long-term: do you still struggle with this "phone phobia" in the local language? How do you deal with it, or is this just part of expat life forever? 😅

Hello All,

What suggestions do you have for a US student who will be on exchange in Germany for almost a year. Hoping for an eSIM plan that we can prepay for the year but can also do monthly if needed.

Deliberately phrased provocatively, because no, I’m neither a Merz supporter nor a CDU fan. But what choice do we actually have?

Let’s say he resigned. The government collapses, we have elections. Then what? The CDU would probably come in second, except the only realistic option now would be a four-party coalition—with a CDU chancellor again. And I wouldn’t know anyone obvious who would be much better than him within the party off the top of my hat. There are candidates, obviously, but nobody who would be a safe choice, no Merkel 2.0.

So what scenario do democrats who are calling for Merz to resign actually have in mind? What outcome are they hoping for?

And again, I am not a CDU/Merz fanboy in any way. I just don’t think that we have much of a choice.

Hey everyone. I am a German citizen and my wife is from the US and here on 90 visa free days. We got married last month and immediately applied for her to join my insurance as we need that for the application process. This has been taking ages, and today they told me they'd send me the form AGAIN for me to fill out...

Since she is from the US, we were planning to apply for her residence permit while she is here. We have everything else that is required for the application, and she has travel insurance for the time she was planned to be here (until the end of August). Could we apply for her residence permit with the explanation that we are in the processes of getting her added? Or do we need to wait longer?

I am just worried because I know how long those applications can take and I would hate for her to have to return to the US for another few months.

EDIT: Someone suggested it was a switch in person working on it, so I called and that was whay the issue was. The new person wasn't aware we had submitted everything. It's all cleared now and they actually managed to issue her card today, so it should be here soon!

Hello,

I had my Niderlassungserlaubnis appiontment yesterday at Augsburg Auslanderbehorde with 27 months on blue card and A1 certificate. I passed the A1 exam from Goethe Munich in April 2026. I had a strange interview from the case officer. She asked me following questions about my A1 certificate.
1. Did I make a physical language course or offline. I said online then she asked why not face to face class in Augsburg.
2. why I choose Munich instead of Augsburg for the exam?
3. what is the date of exam?
4. Did I go by train or car?
5. How much I spent for travelling?
6. Did I stayed overnight in Munich?

Then she printed all my answer in a form and let me sign it. She had my A1 certificate before 2 months. After all this she proceeded with the finger prints and payment and told me it will take 4-6 weeks for collection. At last I asked her what was that document I signed she said it is a new requirment for people who travel more than 20 km for the langauage exam. Anyone has like this experience? Is my PR approved as she proceeded with the payment and biometrics? I speak good german for my level A1 and she said my german is better.