Guides for developers moving to Germany & Austria
Practical, sourced guides on visas, salaries, taxes and relocation.
Job searchForward deployed engineer jobs in Germany (2026)Forward deployed engineer jobs in Germany in English: what an FDE does, live job and salary figures, skills, travel, the EU Blue Card and how to apply.Updated 22 October 2026
Job searchHow to get a tech job in Germany without speaking German (2026)A practical plan for finding a software job in Germany or Austria in English: where to look, how to read job ads, which visa fits and when German matters.Updated 17 October 2026
SalariesAI jobs in Germany: ML engineer salaries and hiring (2026)AI jobs in Germany in English: machine learning engineer salary data, where ML and LLM roles are, which skills employers ask for, and the Blue Card route.Updated 16 October 2026
Cost of livingBerlin vs Munich for software engineers (2026)Berlin vs Munich for software engineers in 2026: jobs, salaries, rent and cost of living compared with official data and live job counts from our board.Updated 16 October 2026
Job searchBest cities in Germany for IT jobs and software engineers (2026)The best cities in Germany for IT jobs in 2026: English-speaking tech jobs, software developer pay and rents in Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt and more.Updated 16 October 2026
VisaBlue Card permanent residence in Germany: 21 or 27 months (2026)Blue Card permanent residence in Germany: the Niederlassungserlaubnis after 21 or 27 months, German level, documents, fees, and citizenship after five years.Updated 16 October 2026
Cost of livingCost of living in Munich for tech workers (2026)The cost of living in Munich in 2026 for software engineers: rent per month by flat size and district, deposit, transport, fixed fees and how far a salary goes.Updated 16 October 2026
Job searchEntry-level IT jobs in Germany for international grads (2026)Entry-level IT jobs in Germany for international graduates: junior developer roles in English, the 18-month job seeker permit, Chancenkarte and Blue Card.Updated 16 October 2026
VisaEU Blue Card for tech jobs in Germany and Austria (2026)EU Blue Card salary thresholds for IT jobs in 2026, plus Austria's Red-White-Red Card: who qualifies, the steps, fees, timelines and the official links.Updated 16 October 2026
VisaFreelance developer in Germany: visa, tax and rules (2026)Working as a freelance developer in Germany: the Freiberufler visa, Freiberufler or Gewerbe, Scheinselbstständigkeit, VAT, health insurance and pension rules.Updated 16 October 2026
Job searchGerman CV for English tech jobs: format, template, tips (2026)How to write a German CV (Lebenslauf) in English for tech jobs: the format, what to leave out, photo and date of birth, cover letter, references and a template.Updated 16 October 2026
Job searchGermany tech job market 2026: IT jobs in numbersThe Germany tech job market in 2026 in numbers: IT employment, unemployment and vacancies from official statistics, plus 3,583 live English-speaking jobs.Updated 16 October 2026
RelocationHow to find an apartment in Berlin and Munich (2026)How to find an apartment in Berlin or Munich as an international tech worker: what flats cost, the documents landlords want, SCHUFA, Anmeldung and scams.Updated 16 October 2026
TaxNet salary calculator Germany: €60k, €80k and €100k (2026)What €60k, €80k and €100k take home in Germany in 2026, from our net salary calculator: every deduction, what changes the result and how Austria compares.Updated 16 October 2026
Job searchNotice period and probation in Germany: tech contracts (2026)Notice period in Germany explained for tech workers: probation (Probezeit), Kündigungsfrist by tenure, written notice, dismissal protection and non-competes.Updated 16 October 2026
VisaOpportunity Card Germany (Chancenkarte) for developers (2026)The Opportunity Card Germany (Chancenkarte) for software developers in 2026: requirements, points table, €1,091 a month blocked account, work rules and costs.Updated 16 October 2026
RelocationPublic vs private health insurance in Germany (2026)Public vs private health insurance in Germany for tech workers in 2026: the €77,400 threshold, what each costs, family cover and the rules for switching back.Updated 16 October 2026
VisaRed-White-Red Card for developers: working in Vienna (2026)The Red-White-Red Card for software developers in 2026: points tables, minimum salaries, fees and steps, plus IT jobs in Vienna and Austria for foreigners.Updated 16 October 2026
Job searchRemote jobs in Germany in English: tech and hybrid (2026)Remote jobs in Germany in English for developers: how many tech jobs are remote or hybrid, home office rules, tax allowance, working abroad and visa limits.Updated 16 October 2026
SalariesSalary negotiation in Germany for tech jobs (2026)Salary negotiation in Germany for developers: how offers are quoted, what to ask for, the 13th month salary, VSOP tax, holidays, benefits and Blue Card floors.Updated 16 October 2026
CompaniesCompanies in Germany and Austria that hire English speakers (2026)Tech companies in Germany and Austria where English is the working language. How we check each one, and a list that updates automatically from our job data.Updated 25 September 2026
Cost of livingCost of living in Berlin for tech workers (2026)What it costs to live in Berlin as a software engineer in 2026: rent, deposit, transport, health insurance and fixed fees, compared with Munich and Vienna.Updated 25 September 2026
RelocationRelocation checklist for tech workers moving to Germany and AustriaYour first weeks in Germany or Austria, step by step: Anmeldung or Meldezettel, tax ID, bank account, health insurance, residence permit and other admin.Updated 25 September 2026
SalariesSoftware engineer salaries in Germany and Austria (2026)Tech salaries in Germany and Austria from official statistics, for Berlin, Munich, Hamburg and Vienna, plus the pay posted in the job ads on our board.Updated 25 September 2026
TaxTax basics for tech workers in Germany and Austria (2026)German income tax, tax classes, social contributions and church tax for tech workers in 2026, plus Austria's tax brackets and 13th and 14th salary rules.Updated 25 September 2026
CompaniesTech companies that sponsor visas in Germany and Austria (2026)Employers in Germany and Austria with public evidence that they help foreign tech workers get a visa, plus what visa sponsorship really means in both countries.Updated 25 September 2026