Moving to Siegen

Siegen, one of Germany’s ‘greenest’ cities, is a popular destination amongst expats. Located in the North-Rhine Westphalia region, Siegen is conveniently located for travel elsewhere in Germany and Europe. Siegerland Airport serves the city, although international visitors will require the use of nearby airports in major cities such as Cologne or Frankfurt. Nevertheless, moving to Siegen is fairly easy since the city is well connected via rail and road. Once you’ve found your perfect home in Siegen, it’s good to know that shopping in Siegen is convenient so you can kit out your new home exactly as you want it. Siegen is an artsy town so you will find a range of independent artists’ shops as well as several galleries and malls, and major retailers like IKEA. Good quality education is available for all ages, which is great news if you are moving to Siegen as an expatriate family. The University of Siegen, which has around 15,000 students, is renowned for its international and cultural diversity and also offers programs in English. For those planning on living in Siegen, InterNations can be an invaluable resource, with forums and discussion groups that you can use to find out more about relocating to the area, or simply to socialize and network.

Working in Siegen

Much of Siegen’s economy centers on the metalworking industry. Other strong sectors include administration and management. The University of Siegen also welcomes international researchers and scholars for collaborative research with its well-respected and diverse faculty, which gives expats in Siegen a great opportunity to share their work in a different educational setting. Visa requirements for Germany vary significantly between originating countries, so make sure to inform yourself in depth before moving to Siegen. EU nationals as well as expatriates hailing from Iceland, Switzerland and Norway do not need to procure a visa for their stay in Germany. For nationals from other countries who need an employment visa and permit, an intra-company transfer is often the easiest way of getting there, as your employer will help you with the necessary paperwork. Non-EU expats who intend to move to Siegen to find work or for self-employment will find that getting a residence and work permit can get quite tricky, so make sure to properly inform yourself. If you're planning on working in Siegen, InterNations' content section and Expat Magazine is a fantastic way to read more about working and living in Germany or abroad in general.