German Bureaucracy

Recently moved to Germany and have an appointment at Ausländerbehörde?

Translator or Interpreter for Anmeldung

The first step after moving to Germany is to do your apartment registration, known as ‘Anmeldung’. Depending on where in Germany you live you have to go to your closest Meldebehörde / Bürgeramt or (like in Berlin) to any Bürgeramt within the city.

At the Bürgeramt which is responsible for Anmeldung, you might find that the officials do not speak other languages than German. In this case, you can hire a multi-lingual or a German native speaker to help you with filling forms and talking to the officials; translating and interpreting  on your behalf at the Bürgeramt. The easiest way is to book a Buddy via MyHelpBuddy and you can get someone starting from 25€ per visit, which is one of the cheapest service in Germany.

Translator or Interpreter for Visa extension

As a student, job seeker or an employee, you might have to extend your Visa at the Foreigners Office (Landesamt für Einwanderung, formerly Ausländerbehörde) after you arrive. Sometimes, getting an appointment in Foreigners office is very difficult in bigger cities so one might have to wait in line super early in the morning to get a slot. Ensure that you are in the right Foreigners office because if there are several in one in a city, each handles different visas. One can think that at the Foreigners office, employees speak foreign languages, but unfortunately the rule of not being allowed to speak German also applies at the foreign registration office.

In this case, you can hire an interpreter for the visit at the Ausländerbehörde/ Landesamt für Einwanderung as they might not speak German there.

Certified translators

In case you need to translate your mark sheets, your marriage certificate or any other certificates, you might need a sworn/certified translator. These are people who have taken an oath for confidentiality and who are official authorities/individuals who can do such translations. You can hire a certified translator here.

MyHelpBuddy has over 1000 Buddies who can help you with your (language) struggles when relocation to a foreign country.

Here are some example tasks you can ask your Buddy:

• Book an interpreter to go with you for Anmeldung, Ausländerbehörde, Jobcentrer or any other appointment

• Assistance in filling forms in German

• Book translation help for calling or writing an email in German 

• Translate any text from English to German or any other language (CV, cover letter, etc.)

• Certified translations of mark sheets, drivers license, marriage certificate, etc

• Hire an translator to assist you in apartment viewings
• Finding a Kita spot for your child

• Translator to explain and consult on important points of the German house contract