Part 1: What Families Don’t Expect When Moving to Germany
Moving to another country with children is never just about visas and boxes. It’s about schools, routines, safety, language, and the quiet hope that your kids will feel at home – even when everything around them is new.
In this blog series, Culture Shock in Germany, we share real experiences from people who recently relocated to Germany. These are not horror stories, and they are not fairy tales either. They are honest moments – the surprises, the frustrations, and the lessons families, students, and professionals often discover.
All names in this series have been changed to protect privacy. Let’s begin with families.
When “Welcome Class” isn’t quite what you imagined
For many families, school is the biggest emotional question mark when moving to Germany. Will my child cope? Will they understand the language? Will they feel left out? Germany’s public school system offers Willkommensklassen (welcome classes) to support children who don’t yet speak German. On paper, this sounds reassuring. In practice, the experience can vary widely.
The Evans family moved to Germany in the summer of 2025 with two school-aged children. Knowing that placement in a welcome class can depend on the school and district, they tried to influence what they could: location.
They deliberately chose a very international neighborhood, hoping this would increase the chances of their children being placed in a more English-friendly environment and ease their entry into the public school system.
The plan worked. Their children were placed in a school with many international pupils, where English was used as a bridge language and the transition felt manageable rather than overwhelming. This is an important reality check for families: even with preparation, outcomes are not guaranteed. Sometimes your strategy works. Sometimes it doesn’t – and that uncertainty is part of the process.
International schools: not just about language
Not all families choose the public school route. Carlos Díaz, a highly-skilled engineer from Chile, relocated to southern Germany with his family two years ago. With a strong salary and children who spoke native Spanish and good English, the family decided to apply exclusively to international schools.
What surprised them most was this: “Good English” is not always enough. Some international schools were hesitant to accept children without native-level English or prior experience in similar systems. Others had long waiting lists or very specific academic expectations.
In the end, Carlos and his partner submitted exceptionally thorough applications. Two schools invited their children for interviews, followed by entrance exams and trial days. The children were well prepared – academically and emotionally – and eventually received acceptance offers from both schools. Only then could the family make a choice based on fit, not availability.
The takeaway many families don’t expect: international schools are not a shortcut. They come with their own selection processes, pressure points, and cultural expectations.
The small things that feel big under pressure
Some of the biggest challenges for families aren’t strategic – they’re human. The Harris family moved from Arizona to Hamburg last year with two babies. Their relocation was carefully planned. Their registration appointment was booked. They had a checklist. They knew exactly which documents to bring. And still – they forgot to bring their marriage certificate.
Between jet lag, unfamiliar surroundings, and two exhausted, screaming infants, one document slipped through the cracks. The result? Another appointment, more waiting, and unnecessary stress during an already overwhelming phase.
This is something families often underestimate: even when everything is written down, stress changes how our brains work – especially with small children.
What families often learn too late
Across these experiences, a few patterns appear again and again:
- You can prepare well and still be surprised
- Systems are structured, but outcomes vary
- Language support exists, but integration takes time
- The emotional load on parents is often heavier than expected
The good news? Families who understand this before moving tend to cope better when reality doesn’t match the plan exactly.
In our next post, we’ll shift focus to international students and explore their journey through Germany’s visa and residence permit system.
