Relocation plan to Germany

Sample step-by-step plan

This is an example plan for a hypothetical scenario: Moving with kids · Savings · Digital nomad (remote work) · citizen of Kazakhstan

Cost of living (one adult)EUR1830/mo
Steps in the plan30
Updated19.08.2026

Relocation plan

Key Milestones
  1. 1 Milestone 1: legalization pathway and financial feasibility determined

    A lawful pathway for residing in Germany suitable for a citizen of Kazakhstan has been identified, and it has been verified whether the family budget meets the requirements of this pathway.

  2. 2 Milestone 2: documents and application ready

    The family’s set of documents has been assembled, the necessary translations have been prepared, and an application has been submitted on the selected basis.

  3. 3 Milestone 3: entry and initial accommodation secured

    The family has legally entered Germany and settled at an address that allows them to proceed with the mandatory registration procedures.

  4. 4 Milestone 4: post-entry procedures and family life launched

    Key registrations have been completed, banking and healthcare processes have been initiated, and the children have been placed on a school or preparatory pathway.

Visa and Residence Permit
  1. 5 Check the available grounds for the family’s long-term residence

    A table of viable grounds has been compiled: an employment contract, studies, entrepreneurship, and other applicable options. It is also explicitly noted that Germany does not have a general residence permit for digital nomads.

  2. 13 Prepare and submit the application under the selected basis

    Each family member’s application has been submitted under the correct category, with consistent information about housing, insurance, finances, and the purpose of stay.

  3. 14 Receive the decision and check the entry conditions

    A decision on the applications has been received, and the validity periods, number of entries, work restrictions, and the need to apply for a residence permit after arrival have been checked.

  4. 21 Submit the documents to obtain a residence permit after entry

    If the national visa requires the procedure to be continued, the residence permit application has been submitted to the Ausländerbehörde at the place of residence before the authorized period of stay expires.

Documents, Translation, Apostille
  1. 7 Inventory the documents of all family members

    A list of passports, certificates, marriage and children’s documents, proof of education and funds, and documents confirming the basis for relocation has been compiled, specifying the owner and status of each document.

  2. 9 Obtain official copies, apostilles, and translations of family documents

    The documents required for the application, school, and children’s registration have been prepared in the required form and collected in a single verifiable folder.

Budget and Cost of Living
  1. 6 Check the financial feasibility of relocation with a budget of less than 800 euros per month

    A family calculation of mandatory expenses and the required proof of funds has been prepared. If there is no employment income, it has been determined whether savings are sufficient for the chosen basis and family composition.

  2. 15 Set aside a financial reserve before departure

    Funds for travel, housing, insurance, mandatory payments, and an emergency return have been set aside. The minimum balance has been determined, below which relocation cannot continue without a new source of income.

  3. 27 Review the family budget after the first month

    Actual expenses have been compared with the limit of less than 800 euros per month; mandatory and reducible expense categories have been identified, as well as the date after which continued residence without income or additional capital becomes unsustainable.

  4. 28 Launch an annual residency monitoring cycle

    A calendar has been created for the annual review of the budget, insurance, residence rights, tax obligations, school documents, and passport expiration dates.

Medicine and Insurance
  1. 8 Choose eligible medical insurance for the visa and the family’s residence

    An insurance option has been determined for each family member, including children, compatible with the selected visa basis and the actual period of stay.

  2. 19 Activate medical coverage after entry

    The start date of the insurance coverage and the procedure for consulting doctors for adults and children have been verified. The nearest family doctor, pediatrician, and emergency medical services have been identified.

Housing
  1. 11 Develop a strategy for temporary and long-term housing

    One or more suitable cities have been selected, taking into account the budget, access to schools, and the possibility of registering at the address. A backup option for short-term accommodation has been prepared.

  2. 16 Book initial accommodation with the option to register

    Accommodation for the first few weeks has been booked or confirmed at an address where the owner or operator allows Anmeldung, if required by the chosen route.

Banks and Accounts
  1. 12 Arrange secure family access to savings and payments

    A Kazakhstani account for proof of funds, a money transfer method, and options for opening a German account after arrival without prematurely presenting yourself as a tax resident have been identified.

  2. 22 Open a suitable German bank account

    An account for the family’s everyday expenses has been opened, access and recurring payments have been set up, and the origin of the savings and tax status have been correctly disclosed to the bank.

Taxes and tax residency
  1. 10 Determine the tax implications of living in Germany while being financed from savings

    It has been established whether the family becomes tax resident and whether anyone has income that would require reporting in Germany or Kazakhstan. In the absence of current activity, it has been confirmed that registering as self-employed is not necessary until income arises.

  2. 24 Complete the initial tax review after relocation

    Actual days of residence, source of funds, accounts, and potential income have been compared. If employment or business activity arises, registration and reporting obligations have been determined.

Relocation Logistics
  1. 17 Prepare the family’s relocation to Germany

    Tickets, baggage, transportation of essential belongings, storage of property in Kazakhstan, and the procedure to follow in case of a delay or cancellation of entry have been agreed upon.

  2. 18 Organize the family’s departure and entry into Germany

    The family arrived in Germany while the permits were valid, carrying the originals of key documents and proof of accommodation, insurance, and financial means.

Children: Schools and Adaptation
  1. 25 Arrange a school or preparatory pathway for the children

    Based on the address, age, and level of German, the responsible school or municipal service has been identified, an application has been submitted, and the start of education or language support has been agreed.

Integration and Everyday Life
  1. 20 Register the family’s place of residence

    Anmeldung has been completed at the actual address, and the registration confirmation has been saved for subsequent procedures, banking transactions, and school.

  2. 23 Obtain the family’s tax and identification details

    The process of obtaining the Steuer-ID and other necessary identifiers has been arranged, and the family members’ documents have been organized into separate administrative profiles.

  3. 26 Set up communication, transportation, and everyday infrastructure

    Each family member has working communication services, transportation and basic shopping have been arranged, and the family knows the rules for waste disposal, making appointments at institutions, and seeking municipal assistance.

Plan “B”
  1. 29 Prepare a contingency plan in case of refusal or inability to support the family

    Lawful alternatives have been documented in advance: another country, a return to Kazakhstan, an education or employment route, a change in the composition of the relocation, and procedures for preserving documents and funds.

  2. 30 Set checkpoints for reviewing the relocation

    Measurable triggers have been defined: visa denial, depletion of the reserve, lack of housing or a school place. A specific action has been assigned for each trigger without violating visa and tax regulations.