# expats.de

> Financial authority portal for expats living in or moving to Germany. Banking, insurance, bureaucracy, taxes, and lifecycle guides since 2014. 200,000+ community members. English-first, content available in 9 languages (en/de/fr/it/es/pl/ro/bg/ru).

Operated by Expat Services UG (Berlin). Founder Oliver Frankfurth holds a Bankfachwirt (IHK) qualification and a §34d insurance brokerage license. Articles are reviewed for compliance with German legal requirements; we do not provide individual financial advice.

## Main Sections
- [Homepage](https://expats.de/en/): Financial authority portal for expats living in Germany since 2014
- [Banking & Finance Hub](https://expats.de/en/banking/): German bank accounts, brokers, mortgages, loans for expats
- [Insurance Guides Hub](https://expats.de/en/insurance/): Public vs private health insurance, liability cover, property insurance
- [Bureaucracy & Services Hub](https://expats.de/en/bureaucracy/): Anmeldung, visa, taxes, freelancing in Germany
- [Utilities & Internet Hub](https://expats.de/en/utilities/): Internet, electricity, mobile-phone providers
- [Leaving Germany Hub](https://expats.de/en/leaving-germany/): Deregistration, pension refunds, contract cancellation
- [Expat Services Hub](https://expats.de/en/services/): Professional assistance for German bureaucratic procedures
- [Free Tools](https://expats.de/en/tools/): Calculators and PDF generators for common expat tasks
- [Topics Overview](https://expats.de/en/topics/): All content organized by topic
- [Community](https://expats.de/en/community/): 200,000+ member Facebook community for expats in Germany

## Tools
- [Cancellation Letter Generator (Kuendigung)](https://expats.de/en/tools/cancellation-letter/): PDF generator for German contract terminations
- [Social Security Number Request](https://expats.de/en/tools/social-security-number-germany/): Cover-letter PDF to request a German Sozialversicherungsnummer
- [Wohnungsgeberbestaetigung Generator](https://expats.de/en/tools/wohnungsgeberbestaetigung/): Landlord confirmation form required for Anmeldung
- [Brutto-Netto Salary Calculator](https://expats.de/en/tools/brutto-netto-calculator/): Gross-to-net salary calculation for Germany
- [Pension Refund Calculator](https://expats.de/en/tools/pension-refund-calculator/): Estimate refundable German pension contributions when leaving
- [Schufa Self-Disclosure Request](https://expats.de/en/tools/schufa-self-disclosure/): PDF + copy-paste to request your free Schufa report per §34 BDSG

## API for Agents
- [Agent API index](https://expats.de/api/agent): Read-only JSON calculators for AI agents (no auth, 20 req/min). Tax year 2026.
- [OpenAPI spec](https://expats.de/api/agent/openapi.json): OpenAPI 3.1 description of all calculator endpoints.
- [MCP server card](https://expats.de/.well-known/mcp/server-card.json): Model Context Protocol server (streamable HTTP at https://expats.de/api/mcp) — calculators, article search/retrieval, provider comparisons.
- [Net salary calculator](https://expats.de/api/agent/net-salary?grossYear=60000&taxClass=1&bundesland=NW): German gross-to-net (Brutto-Netto). Params: grossYear, taxClass (1-6), bundesland, churchTax, children.
- [Pension refund calculator](https://expats.de/api/agent/pension-refund?grossMonth=5000&years=3): Refundable employee pension contributions. Params: grossMonth, years. Add country (+ residesOutsideEu) for a §210 SGB VI eligibility check.

## Banking Guides
- [Best Bank Accounts for Expats in Germany (2026 Guide)](https://expats.de/en/banking/best-bank-accounts-germany/): Compare the best German bank accounts for expats. English apps, free accounts, and no Anmeldung required. Featuring N26, Wise, C24, and Commerzbank.
- [How to Open a Bank Account in Germany (2026 Guide)](https://expats.de/en/banking/how-to-open-bank-account-germany/): Learn how to open a German bank account as an expat in 2026. Requirements, how to skip the Anmeldung wait, and why you need a local IBAN.
- [How to Open a Blocked Account in Germany (Sperrkonto)](https://expats.de/en/banking/how-to-open-blocked-account-germany/): Ultimate 2026 guide to opening a German Blocked Account (Sperrkonto). Step-by-step process, transfer tips, and linking to health insurance.
- [Best Online Brokers for Expats in Germany (2026)](https://expats.de/en/banking/best-online-brokers-germany/): Compare the best online brokers in Germany for expats. English apps, low fees, and tax automation. Featuring Scalable Capital and Trade Republic.
- [Mortgages in Germany for Expats: 2026 Guide](https://expats.de/en/banking/mortgages-germany/): Can foreigners get a mortgage in Germany? Learn about Loan-to-Value (LTV) limits, fixed interest rates, required documents, and buying a house as an expat.

## Insurance Guides
- [Public vs. Private Health Insurance in Germany (GKV vs PKV)](https://expats.de/en/insurance/public-vs-private/): Confused by GKV vs PKV? Read our 2026 guide by a former top German broker. Learn income thresholds, pros/cons, and how to choose the right health insurance.
- [Best Private Health Insurance in Germany (2026 Guide)](https://expats.de/en/insurance/best-private-health-insurance-germany/): Compare the best private health insurance (PKV) for expats in Germany. Find digital providers like Ottonova & Feather. Salary limits and perks explained.
- [The Best Public Health Insurance for Expats in Germany (2026)](https://expats.de/en/insurance/best-public-health-insurance/): Compare the best public health insurance (Krankenkasse) in Germany for English speakers. Featuring TK, Barmer, and AOK. Which one is right for you?
- [Personal Liability Insurance in Germany (Haftpflichtversicherung)](https://expats.de/en/insurance/private-liability-insurance-germany/): Why is Privathaftpflicht the most important insurance in Germany? Learn about coverage, family plans, and the best digital providers like GetSafe.

## Bureaucracy Guides
- [The Anmeldung in Germany: Ultimate Registration Guide (2026)](https://expats.de/en/bureaucracy/anmeldung-germany/): Master the German Anmeldung process. From the 14-day rule and Wohnungsgeberbestätigung to online registration. Expert tips to avoid fines and church tax.
- [Moving to Germany: The Ultimate Expat Guide (2026)](https://expats.de/en/bureaucracy/moving-to-germany/): Planning your move to Germany? Our 2026 guide covers everything from visas and finding a job, to shipping your furniture and securing an apartment.
- [How to get your Tax ID in Germany (Steuer-ID) 2026](https://expats.de/en/bureaucracy/get-tax-id-germany/): Ultimate guide to getting your German Tax ID (Steuer-ID). Learn the process, the difference to Steuernummer, and how to find a lost ID.
- [Income Tax in Germany: Tax Brackets and Rates Explained](https://expats.de/en/bureaucracy/income-tax-germany/): How much income tax do you pay in Germany? Understand the 6 tax brackets (Steuerklasse), progressive rates, and the 2026 reform of classes 3 and 5.
- [German Tax Returns (Steuererklärung): The 2026 Expat Guide](https://expats.de/en/bureaucracy/tax-return-germany/): Do you have to file a tax return in Germany? Learn the 2026 deadlines, expat-specific deductions (relocation, home office), and how to get your refund.
- [The EU Blue Card in Germany: Requirements, Process & 2026 Updates](https://expats.de/en/bureaucracy/blue-card-germany/): Complete 2026 guide to the EU Blue Card in Germany. New salary thresholds, shortage occupations, IT specialists without degrees, and application process.

## Utilities Guides
- [Internet Providers in Germany: Home Wi-Fi Guide](https://expats.de/en/utilities/internet-providers-germany/): Compare the best home internet providers in Germany (Telekom, Vodafone, O2). Learn about installation times, router options, and cancellation rules.
- [Electricity Providers in Germany: How to Switch and Save](https://expats.de/en/utilities/electricity-providers-germany/): Don't overpay for electricity in Germany. Learn how to switch providers, avoid the Grundversorgung, and automate savings with our expert guide.

## Leaving Germany Guides
- [Leaving Germany: The Ultimate Checklist & Legal Guide (2026)](https://expats.de/en/leaving-germany/leaving-germany-guide/): Moving away from Germany? Follow our step-by-step checklist to deregister (Abmeldung), cancel contracts, and claim your EUR 5,000+ German pension refund.
- [The Ultimate Guide to the German Pension Refund (2026)](https://expats.de/en/leaving-germany/pension-refund-germany-guide/): Leaving Germany? Learn the 60-month rule, the 24-month wait, and the exact step-by-step process to claim your massive German pension refund.
- [How to Deregister Your Address in Germany (Abmeldung)](https://expats.de/en/leaving-germany/abmeldung-germany/): Learn how to deregister your address (Abmeldung) when leaving Germany. Deadlines, forms, and why you need the confirmation certificate.

## Legal
- [Imprint](https://expats.de/en/legal/imprint/): Operator: Expat Services UG (haftungsbeschraenkt), Berlin
- [Privacy Policy](https://expats.de/en/legal/privacy/): GDPR-compliant data processing
- [Terms of Service](https://expats.de/en/legal/terms/): User agreement
- [Broker Information (§15 VersVermV)](https://expats.de/en/legal/broker-information/): Statutory disclosures for the §34d insurance brokerage

## Optional
- [Full content export (llms-full.txt)](https://expats.de/llms-full.txt): All English articles as one clean plain-text markdown file for LLM context
- [About expats.de](https://expats.de/en/about/): Mission, team, 11-year history
- [About Oliver Frankfurth](https://expats.de/en/about/oliver-frankfurth/): Founder, Bankfachwirt IHK, §34d licensed insurance broker
- [Glossary](https://expats.de/en/glossary/): German bureaucracy and finance terms explained
- [All Guides](https://expats.de/en/guides/): Complete list of expat guides