About Stuttgart
With a little over 600,000 residents and a total population of around 5.3 million in the surrounding metropolitan region, Stuttgart is the sixth-largest city in Germany. The city is located in the Stuttgart Region, a heavily populated region in the southwest of Germany.
Stuttgart’s robust economy has long drawn employees from all across Germany and beyond, and the region has a population of about 40% foreigners, the majority of whom have assimilated into the local culture.
Due to its position as one of Germany’s economic powerhouses, ex-pats arriving in Stuttgart would anticipate finding a huge, industrialised metropolis. Instead, they will discover a metropolis that is surrounded by lush parks and vineyards.
Visas for Germany
There are numerous visa alternatives available depending on your country of origin. It is typically advised that you contact the German embassy in your country of residence to find out which one you require before entering Germany. Make sure you have all the necessary documents before moving to Germany because Germans adore paperwork.
There is no requirement for an employment visa for nationals of EEA nations, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein. If you are from another nation, you must have employment lined up and provide a copy of your employment contract at the consulate or embassy of Germany that is closest to you.
Germany requires all citizens to register with their local town hall.
You will require your passport and the rental agreement for your home to obtain a registration document (Meldebestätigung). For every home move, including those within the same town, this is a prerequisite. Other government agencies will use this document to confirm your identity and residence.
Please refer to our dedicated content section on Visa and Administration in Germany for further information on both German visas and residence permits.
Finding Accommodation in Stuttgart
A decent location to start looking for housing is in your neighbourhood newspaper, especially on Saturdays when the real estate (Immobilien) section is often printed. Typically, you can also obtain the data online. In most places, free local newspapers are given, and they may contain local advertisements. Online markets are another choice; they offer a variety of houses in the surrounding area.
A “2 Zimmerwohnung” or “2ZW” would be an apartment with two empty rooms that you could use as a one-bedroom plus living room apartment or as a two-bedroom apartment without any additional living space. It’s important to note that Germans count rooms, not bedrooms, i.e. all living spaces other than bathrooms or kitchens.
In Stuttgart, one of Germany’s priciest cities, apartments are far less expensive than houses. Utility expenditures are not included in the listed basic rental price (Kaltmiete or KM). Based on prior renters’ usage, the advertisement will provide a predicted utility cost (also known as NK, or Nebenkosten).
Homes in Germany are frequently rented out without a kitchen, but you might be able to buy one that is already installed by the previous renter and sell it when you move out. Fridges, washers, and dryers are not typically provided, however, some apartments offer basement laundry facilities that can be accessed for a modest fee. If you wish to preserve the drapes, lamp fixtures, and other furnishings from the previous renter, you could have to pay them an “Ablöse.”
