Welcome to Frankfurt!

Frankfurt is an open, modern city with more than 700,000 inhabitants. With around 180 nationalities, Frankfurt is the most international metropolis in Germany and the largest city in the Rhine-Main metropolitan region. The city itself is multi-faceted – from the famous financial district with its modern skyscrapers to the green belt and timber-frame houses, from the rooftop bars and the annual Christmas market to the wide range of cultural events on offer. Frankfurt combines the benefits of working in a global financial centre and living in a traditional city with a long and fascinating history.

The surrounding area has many interesting sights and cities to explore.

Visa and residence permit

One of the first things to look into when you consider joining us is whether you need a visa to enter and stay in Germany. 

On the website of the Federal Foreign Office you can find an overview of the different visa regulations depending on your citizenship and purpose of stay. 

Additionally, the website “Make it in Germany” provides a quick check for questions relating to visa matters. 

Kindly contact the competent German Embassy/German Consulate General in your home country for more detailed information.

Registration of residence

If you live in Germany, you are required to register with the local authorities in person. You should do so no later than two weeks after moving here.

Living arrangements

People usually find a place to live in Germany via housing websites or ads in newspapers. 

Aside from this, the Bundesbank offers furnished accommodation in Frankfurt from a period of at least three weeks to a maximum of six months. The apartments are equipped with a small kitchenette and a bathroom with a shower and toilet. Should you be interested, please get in touch with your HR contacts as soon as possible to ensure that you are able to make use of one of those rooms. Alternatively, you could use tailored websites and platforms to find a new home in Frankfurt that meets your personal expectations about your living arrangements.

Health insurance

Social security in Germany is codified in the Sozialgesetzbuch (Social Security Code) and consists of 

• health insurance, 
• nursing care insurance, 
• pension insurance, 
• unemployment insurance, 
• and accident insurance. 

Generally, all employees in Germany are obliged to contribute to the first four categories together with their employer while accident insurance is fully paid by the employer only. 

If you are planning to join us, in most cases you will need to arrange your health insurance via a health insurance provider, known as a Krankenkasse. You are free to choose your own provider.

Your contributions to this insurance will be automatically taken care of by your employer and will appear on your payslip. The same holds true for the other social insurances.

School system

Children in Germany start school around the age of six. The education system varies slightly depending on the Federal State, but generally speaking, children first go to primary school (Grundschule), then into secondary education. At this level, various types of school exist.

Attending state school in Germany is free of charge. Frankfurt also has several international schools but these are private schools and therefore charge fees.