FAQ — Questions & Answers

No. As an EU citizen you have the full right to work in Germany without a visa or permit. A valid ID card or passport is enough.

Yes, within 14 days of moving in — at the Bürgeramt/Rathaus. You need your ID + a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (landlord confirmation). Cost: €0.

An 11-digit tax number. It arrives automatically by post 2-3 weeks after your Anmeldung. Your employer needs it to pay your salary.

Yes! That’s a so-called Grenzgänger (cross-border commuter). You pay taxes in Germany but can deduct commuting costs (€0.30/km). Słubice→FFO is 20 min.

Not mandatory (SEPA works across the whole EU), but convenient. Most employers prefer a German IBAN. Alternative: N26 (open online in 10 min).

Depends on the profession. Regulated ones (doctor, electrician, teacher) require formal recognition. Non-regulated ones (programmer, welder, driver) just need experience. Check: anerkennung-in-deutschland.de.

Depends on the profession, but generally 2-3x more gross. The net difference is smaller (Germany has higher contributions). Use the calculator → to calculate it precisely.

From 2025: €12.82/h gross. That’s about €2,200 gross/month for full-time work. In Poland the minimum is 4,666 PLN gross (2025).

Employment up to €520/month — no income tax, only minimal contributions. Ideal as a start, extra income during studies, or a second job. The employer pays flat-rate contributions.

Yes, €250/month per child — even if the children live in Poland! Apply at the Familienkasse. You need both parents’ Steuer-ID + the birth certificate.

Single = class I. Married with one income = III (less tax) + V. Two similar incomes = IV/IV. The class affects monthly net pay, but the annual tax return evens it out.

Mandatory. With an employment contract, the employer registers you with a health fund (AOK, TK, Barmer — your choice). Contribution ~14.6% (the employer pays half). Covers doctor visits, hospital, and medication.

Yes, but only temporarily (tourism, emergencies). With permanent employment in Germany you must have German insurance. With a Mini-Job you can stay on the Polish NFZ.

Yes, if you have the S1 form from your German health fund. You register it with the NFZ and get access to Polish care at Germany’s expense.

City bus (20 min, ~€2), bicycle (15 min over the bridge), car (10 min). The border bridge is open 24/7, with no checks (Schengen area).

It’s about 100 km / 1h15min. The RegionalBahn runs, but not very frequently. Many people commute by car. At €3,000 gross in Germany vs 5,000 PLN in Poland — it’s still worth it.

Yes! Pendlerpauschale: €0.30/km (from 21 km: €0.38/km). The distance home→work counts. 30 km × 220 days × €0.30 = €1,980 deduction per year.

Depends on the industry. Construction/warehouse: A2-B1 is enough. Office/retail: B2 minimum. Medicine/law: C1 required. Many companies fund courses!

VHS Frankfurt (Oder) — courses from A1 to C1. Online: Goethe Institut, DW Learn German. Language tandem at Viadrina. Check out our courses →

Paid vocational training in Germany: 2-3.5 years, from €724/month. You earn an IHK/HWK certificate recognized in 27 EU countries. 350+ professions. Details: /nauka-zawodu →

Registration: /rejestracja → — free, with email verification. You add a logo, description, industry, and location on the map. Job offers are added via kontakt@duoregio.eu.

Posting job offers is currently free.

Yes! The portal is bilingual (PL+DE). Polish companies can look for employees from Germany and vice versa. Company directory: /katalog-firm →

Skilled, motivated, competitive costs, geographic proximity (Słubice = 20 min from FFO). Economic zones with tax incentives. IT, construction, logistics — Polish companies have experience with German clients.

Frankfurt: studio flat ~€400-550/month, lunch ~€8-12. Słubice: studio flat ~1,200-1,800 PLN (~€280-420), lunch ~25-40 PLN (~€6-9). Słubice is 30-40% cheaper.

20 min from Berlin by train (via FFO), cheaper than Germany, peaceful, close to nature (Łagów, the Oder). Viadrina and Collegium Polonicum provide an international environment. It’s growing dynamically.

Yes, en masse! Fuel, cigarettes, services (hairdresser, dentist, mechanic) — much cheaper. The markets in Słubice draw thousands of German customers weekly. It’s a business opportunity.

Very good. Both Słubice and Frankfurt (Oder) are calm, safe cities. The Polish-German police cooperate. CCTV, well-lit streets.