Welcome to Görlitz! As a new resident of Görlitz, you must register with the Residents’ Registration Office within two weeks and provide a valid address. This also applies to any accompanying family members. The registration must be completed in person. A power of attorney is not possible.
Our municipal housing association can help you when looking for an apartment in Görlitz. The company is called KommWohnen GmbH and is more than just a landlord. The employees of KommWohnen specialize in supporting “newcomers” to our city with friendliness in several languages. Thanks to a municipal Welcome Package, you can receive interesting offers and discounts to explore your new place of residence right from the start. So be sure to ask KommWohnen Service GmbH about the Welcome Package for new residents of Görlitz.
More about the Welcome Package
In addition to KommWohnen, there are many other real estate providers in Görlitz.
Overview of available housing and land as well as average rents and land prices in Zgorzelec.
A move should be well-prepared. Here are the most important steps as a reminder:
Register with the energy and water supplier
Register for telephone, internet and (cable) television
Register for television and radio
Put name on mailbox and doorbell (if not done by landlord):
Hire a moving company
Apply for a no-parking zone on the street during your move (German Only)
Well taken care of in an emergency: in Germany, there are many types of insurance, some of which are even required by law, such as health insurance. In addition to the mandatory insurances, there are some contracts that you should definitely have because they protect you from major financial risks. Often these are even very inexpensive and in case of emergency, a great relief.
Private liability insurance is one of the most important insurances. It can protect you from costs that threaten your existence, for example if a person is injured through your fault. Private liability insurance is therefore a must for everyone. However, not everyone needs their own policy: many people are insured through their parents’ or partner’s family plan.
If water damage destroys your home, household insurance replaces clothes, furniture and valuables. It is particularly suitable if you have expensive furnishings or if you cannot replace the most important possessions from your savings.
Are you wondering how to get to Görlitz or how to get around in Görlitz? Germany is known worldwide as a car country. But you can also make good progress by plane, bus, train or bicycle. This is ensured by a densely developed network of airports, roads, railways and cycle paths.
The nearest airport is Dresden Airport (DRS), about 90 km from Görlitz. Other nearby airports are:
Berlin Airport (200 km)
Halle Leipzig Airport (230 km)
Prague Airport (180 km)
Wroclaw Airport (180 km)
Bicycles as well as cars can be rented on site. Or you can use buses or streetcars to get from A to B within Görlitz.
Driving licence: citizens of the European Union, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland do not need to have their driving license changed. Their driving license is valid to the same extent as in their home country.
Nationals of EU member states as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland can generally enter Germany without a visa. Due to the free movement of workers, they can work in Germany without restrictions.
Citizens of Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand or the USA can also enter Germany without a visa. However, they must apply for a residence permit for employment in good time in order to be allowed to work in Germany. The contact person is the local foreigners authority in the district or city. Nationals from all other countries must apply for a visa at their responsible German mission abroad (German embassy in their home country) before entering Germany.
You can find an overview of the information available on the recognition of your profession in Germany here:
Anyone who wants to start the independent operation of a permanent trade, a branch or a dependent branch, must report this to the relevant authority. Any activity that is not considered socially unworthy, geared towards making a profit and designed to last counts as a trade.
Another criterion is that the activity is carried out in one’s own name and for one’s own account. It does not matter whether a profit is actually made. In particular, liberal professions (doctors, lawyers or tax consultants) and other activities that require a university or technical college degree are not considered to be trades. Nor is primary production (e.g. agriculture and forestry), scientific management consulting or the management of one’s own assets to be regarded as a trade.
The purpose of business registration is to enable the relevant authority to perform its regulatory and supervisory duties. Registration is also important for statistical surveys. Some business activities are subject to licensing. Others are subject to supervision. Special conditions apply to them.
Learning German is one of the most important steps you can take to prepare for life in Germany. This will help you settle in faster and make new friends. For certain purposes, such as for work or study, it may even be necessary for you to prove certain German language skills. The district of Görlitz updates a list of language courses and educational institutions in the district at regular intervals. This list can be found here:
Further information on the subject of German language skills
Have you found an interesting job in the European City and also feel at home in the region? Now you would like to work and live with your family in Görlitz for the long term, because there are not only suitable jobs here, but also a great environment for young families. You can find out here which regulations apply to family reunification in Germany. The Free State of Saxony provides an overview of the most important information on family reunification. You can also obtain information on family reunification from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.
In order for family members to quickly settle in and feel comfortable in the living environment, contact with locals or other immigrants is important This can include neighbors, work colleagues, friends of the children’s parents, club members or local parishes.
The European city of Görlitz-Zgorzelec and its surroundings are a paradise for children. There is plenty of space and opportunities to try things out here. When mom and dad are at work, the little ones experience new adventures with their friends every day at daycare. In addition to having fun, it’s also about educating the children. There are numerous facilities in Görlitz-Zgorzelec, whether private or municipal, with various educational concepts. In some cases, children can also attend German-Polish daycare centers.
If you are looking for a daycare, you will find an overview and lots of information in different languages on the service page of the city of Görlitz
In the European city of Görlitz-Zgorzelec and its surroundings, families can find the best educational opportunities for their children. There are twelve elementary schools, three special schools, five high schools and two grammar schools in Görlitz. Apprentices learn at the vocational training center near the train station or at one of the five private vocational schools. And our future IT specialists, social pedagogues and cultural managers study at the Zittau-Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, which is located across the street from Zgorzelec on the Neisse River. There are also opportunities for further training at the adult education center, the municipal library, in museums or with numerous private training providers.
Official certification is only carried out in cases where the original has been issued by an authority within the meaning of § 1 (1) No. 1 VwVfG or the certification is to be presented to an authority.
You can have copies / transcripts of certificates, documents and signatures certified in the Residents’ Registration Office.
We require originals and copies of the documents (you can also have copies made at our office for a fee).
If you bring copies with you, there must be enough space on the back for the certification, approx. half an A4 page. Each document must be photocopied separately.
In the European City of Görlitz-Zgorzelec and its surrounding area, it is pleasantly quiet compared to the metropolises. You don’t get stuck in traffic for half the day either. And you can move without constantly stepping on other peoples’ toes. However, you also don’t have to be lonely here. There are an unbelievable number of clubs and initiatives: whether it’s sports, culture or hobbies. Whether in the clubhouse or in the garden – there is something for everyone here. There are around 450 clubs in Görlitz alone. It’s a pleasant feeling not to be alone and to come together with like-minded people.
Get an overview for Görlitz
Associations and initiatives (German)
Zgorzelec also has a large number of clubs and initiatives that will help you get connected quickly.
Overview of clubs in Zgorzelec (Polish)
We speak English
Would you like to get to know new people in the European City as quickly as possible? Numerous Facebook groups invite you to find connections. The “English Speakers in Görlitz” are always happy to welcome new members. In the Facebook group as well as in the Whatsapp group, people are invited to the regular meetings, events are shared and members answer each other’s’ questions.
Every German citizen must have either statutory or private health insurance. This is mandated by the state. For most people, the statutory health insurance makes more sense. Within private health insurance, the premiums often rise sharply in old age. Therefore, you should only take out private health insurance if you are absolutely sure that you will be able to pay for it in the long term. If you do not have health insurance, you will only be treated in an emergency.
More information about health insurance
In Germany, you can decide for yourself which doctor you want to see. In case of illness, your family doctor is usually the first port of call. If necessary, they can refer you to a specialist or hospital. The search function of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians of Saxony offers you the possibility to find a doctor who fits your needs and your language skills.
You need medical help, but your doctor’s office isn’t open right now? Then you can dial the Germany-wide number 116 117 for the medical on-call service. In case of emergency, dial 112.
Anyone who wants to live in Germany for a longer period of time needs a bank account – for example to rent an apartment or to have their salary transferred.
Banks in Görlitz (German only)
Görlitz and Zgorzelec offer numerous shopping opportunities. Whether in the stores in the city center and the old town or in larger shopping centers on the outskirts – it’s worth exploring the possibilities.
Seasonal and regional as well as national markets also expand the selection considerably.
Neiße Park (German and Polish)
This project has received funding from tax resources on the basis of the budget adopted by the members of the Parliament of the Free State of Saxony.
