Living in Germany
Consular Assistance
The Australian Government provides 24-hour consular assistance:
Please contact the Australian Embassy Berlin on +49 30 88 00 88 0 or the Australian Consulate-General Frankfurt on +49 69 90558 0. After hours your phone call will be directed to the 24/7 Consular Emergency Centre. They can also be reached on 1300 555 135 from within Australia or on +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas.
The Consular Services Charter outlines how we may assist Australian nationals overseas.
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National Police checks/Polizeiliches Führungszeugnis
For Australia, you can apply for a national police check with the Australian Federal Police. Police checks can be issued electronically or physically.
If you require an apostille on the police check, please see here.
To obtain a certificate of conduct in Germany, you can apply for it at your local Bürgeramt or with the Federal Office of Justice. You can find more information here
Visas in Germany
Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders.
The Australian Embassy Berlin cannot provide visa advice for Germany/the Schengen area. You can find general information on entry and exit requirements on: https://smartraveller.gov.au/bulletins/Pages/europe_schengen.aspx.
You can find specific information regarding the German-Australian Agreement on the Exemption of Visa Requirements here: https://australien.diplo.de/au-en/service/01-visa/short-term-visa/2073662
For more information, please contact the Foreigners’ Office in the city where you are located or the Germany Embassy in Canberra: https://australien.diplo.de/au-en/service/01-visa.
Dual Citizens
Citizenship is a complex matter and we are unable to provide a one-size-fits-all answer.
You should contact the Department of Home Affairs in Australia, the German Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community and/or seek legal advice if you have questions regarding dual nationality. Australia recognises and allows dual citizenship.
Your child is not automatically an Australian citizen when they are born overseas. You must lodge a citizenship by descent application with the Department of Home Affairs if you wish your child to become an Australian citizen.
A child born to German/Australian parents in Germany can hold both German and Australian citizenship according to German and Australian law.
Travelling to Australia
You should always have appropriate travel insurance when you travel.
You may wish to bring gifts for your friends and family, take your pet, or take prescription medication with you when you travel home.
Australian citizens, including dual nationals, should use their Australian passport to enter and leave Australia. The Australian Border Force has more information on crossing the border. If you have a passport from another country, you can use that after you leave Australia.
A passport is the best way to show that you are an Australian citizen. You might still be able to enter Australia if you are an Australian citizen without an Australian passport, but it will be more difficult. The airline might also stop you from boarding a plane to Australia. For more advice, please contact the Australian Border Force or The Department of Home Affairs.
Residency in Germany
If you intend to stay in Germany for more than three months, you must register at your local Einwohnermeldeamt (register office) within 14 days.
The Einwohnermeldeamt may also be called Bürgeramt, Kreisverwaltungsreferat or Bürgerbüro.
If you move within Germany, you will have to deregister from your old address and register at your new one. You will have to attend the office in person and will likely need to make an appointment.
Health Care and Social Security in Germany
Generally, you must register with a health insurance company (Krankenkasse) when you are a resident in Germany.
The type of health insurance required and your monthly contribution may depend on your income, the type of employment and your visa/residency and work permit.
You can find a comprehensive overview of the Social Security system in Germany on this website:
Australian Pension/Social Services
If you are in receipt of payments by Centrelink in Australia, you need to advise Centrelink before you travel. You can find more information here.
There is an international social security agreement between Germany and Australia allowing you to lodge a claim for payment from either Germany or Australia. You can find more information about the agreement in English here and in German here.
You can contact Centrelink from Germany free of charge: 0800 1802 482 from Monday to Friday 8am – 5pm AEST.
Death Overseas
Please contact the Australian Embassy Berlin on +49 30 88 00 88 0 or the Australian Consulate-General Frankfurt on +49 69 90558 0 to report the death of a loved one in Germany. If you are in Australia, please contact the Consular Emergency Centre: +61 26261 3305
To learn more about how we can assist you when a loved one has passed away overseas, please visit: Death overseas | Smartraveller
Birth in Germany
In order to obtain a birth certificate for your baby, you will have to provide certain documents to the register office.
When you collect your child’s birth certificate, you will get additional German-language copies of the birth certificate for administrative purposes and they will be marked accordingly. In addition to those copies, you should also ask for an international version of the birth certificate, as you will need an English-language copy of the birth certificate for the child’s citizenship and passport application.
Overseas births cannot be registered in Australia. Your child is not automatically an Australian citizen when they are born overseas.
To apply for Australian citizenship see here. After your child has received citizenship, you can apply for an Australian passport.
Returning to Australia Permanently
If you intend to leave Germany permanently, you should notify the German and Australian authorities before you move. You will have to deregister with your local Einwohnermeldeamt and advise your health insurance, bank, the Deutsche Rentenversicherung if you are in receipt of a pension, and other relevant authorities. You may also be required to fill in a tax return for that year in both Germany and Australia.
You should contact the Department of Human Services to discuss access to Medicare and other benefit payments or concession cards you may be entitled to.
Voting Overseas
The Australian Embassy in Berlin facilitates Australian Federal Elections and some State Elections. Information will be shared here when applicable.
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