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German Passport holder wants to move to Germany
Hello, I'm a South African born from a German family (my german is very limited and would most likely need to do dedicated course for it as well) and I have recently received my German passport. I wish to move to Germany for better life standards. However I do not have the means/funds to support myself through an integration course. I unfortunately also do not have a degree and will most likely need some vocational training. I do have 3 years working experience as an IT helpdesk assistant and 2 years as a general manager for a very small bakery(before covid). What steps/actions can I follow/take to proceed in becoming part of German society?
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Hello @Anthony , Welcome — and congratulations on receiving your German passport.
That’s a major milestone and opens up many opportunities for you. As a German citizen, you now have full legal rights to live and work in Germany.
As you mentioned, you could consider starting with Dual Vocational Training (Duale Ausbildung). This program combines practical work experience with classroom learning—and you’ll receive a wage during the training. However, a good command of German is essential, as both the training at school and the daily work environment are conducted in German. A minimum B2-level is usually required. You can find more information here:
Dual Vocational Training – Handbook Germany
You can also begin searching for a job. Even without a formal degree, your IT Helpdesk experience is valuable—especially in entry-level IT support roles. Look into international companies or startups, where English is often the working language. Here’s a helpful guide on job searching and applications in Germany:
Job Search & Application – Handbook Germany
Limited German skills might be your biggest challenge—but it’s absolutely manageable. There are many options available to learn German, including free and low-cost courses:
Learning German – Handbook Germany
To access support services such as those offered by the Jobcenter (e.g. Bürgergeld)), you will need to register your address (Anmeldung) or provide a German address to which the Jobcenter can send correspondence.
You can also get in touch with the Welcome Centres in each state. Some of them can help you to search for a job or provide more detailed information. You can find them here:https://handbookgermany.de/en/local-search under Official offers & network partners’ search engines
Example:
https://handbookgermany.de/en/local-search-mecklenburg-vorpommern#faq_4420
If you have any further questions, please let us know. Please bear in mind that we are an online forum and can only provide initial information. Best Barbara