Moving to Germany

Firstly I am not sure if this is the correct forum to post question in?

My wife and I (+ 2 kids) are moving to Germany in six months time. She is a German national and I am Irish. Can we transfer our PRSI contributions to Germany in order to gain fully entitlements?

Currently I don't speak German and would like to study for a year or so before I look for employment in my profession (need to learn technical speech). would I be entitled to an back to eduction like allowances?

Thats great thanks, for the help: What do we do when we get there?

Hi Airtight

I don't know anything about the social welfare requirements.
But I'm sure if your wife goes with you to the local social welfare office they will explain everything to you.

My advice relates to the language issue.
We moved to France last year and we both speak reasonable french.
My advice to is get a job, any job, even volunteer somewhere to get your german off the ground. It really really really fast tracks things.

I am a stay at home mom and my french hasn't improved considerably since I got here... But a few years ago (14) I started from scratch in a new country with a new language and had to listen to it/speak it every day....by the end of the year I was verbally fluent. So get a job, even a non paying one. (I do volunteer with the school alot and it does help)

Good luck.

Airtight said:

Firstly I am not sure if this is the correct forum to post question in?

My wife and I (+ 2 kids) are moving to Germany in six months time. She is a German national and I am Irish. Can we transfer our PRSI contributions to Germany in order to gain fully entitlements?

Currently I don't speak German and would like to study for a year or so before I look for employment in my profession (need to learn technical speech). would I be entitled to an back to eduction like allowances?

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There is an "integration course" in Germany - basically the unemployment office "Arbeitsamt" will pay for or contribute towards a language course in the local adult education school "Volkshochschule". I'd recommend paying for these courses yourself if the Arbeitsamt don't - you won't learn German (or much else) by watching tv over here.

If you haven't worked in Germany you might only be entitled to the very minimum social welfare payment (Arbeitslosengeld Zwei, commonly known as Hartz Vier) which is less than 400 a month. If you are on Unemployment Benefit in Ireland you may be able to transfer it to another European country for up to three months.

Children's allowance is the same amount as Ireland. The job market in Germany is more rigid than in the English speaking world - people are not as flexible and there are "guilds" which make some professions hard to enter. E.g. you have to have a "Meisterschaft" qualification (which costs several thousand to get) to set up your own hairdressers or bicycle repair shop. (Ok, you can hire someone with the qualification but my point stands.)

Go to www.toytowngermany.com if you have any detailed questions.

And, oh yeah, vielen Gluck!

I'm a Quantity Surveyor, soon to be chartered with 10 years experience. Ive been speaking to some German friends(in English) and family and they never heard of the profession. I guess this must be a niche in the market?

What are my likely employment prospects and are there QS course in Germany (help me learn technical jargon)?

TBH, if you don't speak German your chances of getting a similar job in Germany is probably nil. But you would probably be able to get some sort of work and once your German improves you could look at getting back into it.