From locals, for internationals
Germany, unlocked.
The German system in one place, in plain English.
Take the free 2-minute check and get a personal report: what is sorted, what is quietly costing you, and what to fix first. No sign-up, no German required.
Germany Financial Check
2 of 7 sortedFree, about 2 minutes, no sign-up to start.
Two minutes of questions. A report you can act on.
Answer 8 quick questions
Health cover, liability, your home, pension, tax, investing and your plans. No sign-up, no documents needed.
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Every area, money and home, marked Sorted, Needs a look, or Fix this now, so you know what matters first.
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The why behind each status, what it could be costing you, and the exact next step for every gap. Yours to keep, by email.
Your report
SampleHi Alex, 4 of your 7 areas need a closer look.
Your income puts both systems in reach. We model public vs private with your numbers before the choice locks in.
Often €1,200 / yearNo scheme found beyond the statutory one. A portable third pillar keeps your retirement growing, and not tied to Germany.
Compounding you cannot buy backYou filed recently. We flag the deductions internationals miss most, so next year stays claimed too.
Sample report. Yours is built from your answers.
Which sounds like you?
Studying in Germany
Health cover, your first income, and a setup that does not cost you later. Cheap to get right now, expensive to fix in ten years.
What students should sort firstEmployed in Germany
Salary, benefits, the public-or-private health question, and what to do with what is left each month.
See what professionals missFounder or freelancer
No employer sorts your health cover, pension or taxes. You get the freedom, and all the decisions.
See how we help foundersHiring internationals
Relocating talent is the easy part. Keeping them means their life here works: home, cover, money. We handle that side.
How we support companiesMight leave one day? Read what happens to your pension, investments and cover, whichever group you are in.
Not knowing the system has a price. Every year.
The German system quietly rewards the people who understand it. Everyone else pays for the gaps, and never sees the bill. The most common ones:
The tax refund you never file
€1,300 / year unclaimedA move for work, a commute, a home office, a second household. Most internationals are owed a four-figure refund and simply never claim it.
Money asleep in a 0% account
3% a year, gone quietlySavings sitting still in a current account while inflation quietly eats 2 to 5% of them every single year.
The health decision made in a hurry
€1,200 / year overpaidPublic or private, chosen once in your first weeks. The wrong call in a rush follows you for decades.
Subsidies left on the table
€1,600 / year missedEmployer top-ups, state bonuses and allowances written for you, that you never knew to ask for.
Figures are illustrative, for a typical international household.
Real people who built their financial life here too.
“I arrived not speaking the language and made every expensive mistake myself. Now I make sure you do not have to.”
Artur Jarosiewicz
Lead expat advisor
English, German
“They found tax refunds I had no idea existed. The advice paid for itself, easily.”
Sofia M.
Product designer, from Spain
“They told me one product I was about to buy was not worth it. They talked me out of a sale. That honesty is why I stayed.”
Priya K.
Researcher, from India
“Sorted my liability insurance in one short call. My landlord had the proof the same week.”
Daniel O.
Software engineer, from Nigeria
Client stories are illustrative pending published tecis Expat reviews.
You pay us nothing. Here is how that works.
The first conversation is free. If you take out a product, the provider pays us a commission, never you, and that never decides what we recommend: we compare around 250 pre-vetted partners and put the reasoning in writing so you can check it.
And if a product is not worth it for you, we say so. Walking you away from a sale is part of the job.
Unlock Germany is an independent, English-first brand powered by tecis Finanzdienstleistungen AG, a Swiss Life company advising across Germany since 1986. You deal with us; tecis provides the platform, licensing and the vetted partner panel behind the scenes.
Prefer to explore on your own first?
8 free calculators and plain-English guides, no email needed.
Questions expats actually ask.
What happens to my pension if I leave Germany?
The statutory contributions you have paid are generally preserved. Within the EU or EEA your record stays connected; move further afield and you may be able to claim a refund or face a waiting period. On top of that we set up private and company pensions whose payouts are not tied to Germany, so your retirement keeps working wherever you end up.
Should I choose public or private health insurance?
It depends mainly on your income, age, health and family plans. Public (GKV) is the default and usually the best value. Private (PKV) can mean better cover and, while you are young and healthy, sometimes lower premiums, but it is a long-term commitment that is hard to reverse and premiums tend to rise with age. We model both for your situation before you decide.
Do I really need private liability insurance?
For most people in Germany, yes. Private liability (Privathaftpflicht) is inexpensive, often around €30 to €60 a year, covers the costly everyday accidents you would otherwise pay for yourself, and landlords frequently ask for proof before you sign a lease.
How far back can I claim a tax refund?
Usually up to four years. With a move for work, a commute, a home office, a second household or paid training, refunds are often in the four figures. We point you to what you can claim, or connect you with a tax partner who files it for you.
Do I have to speak German to work with you?
No. Your advisor, your documents and your plan are all in English. We bring in the German terms only where they matter, and explain them in plain language.
Still have a question? Take the free 2-min check, or book a quick call and just ask.
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The International's Guide to Money in Germany: the full picture in plain English, free by email.