What is relocation and how can a relocation company help?

What do you think of when you hear the word “relocation”? Often, people don’t know what relocation actually entails, or what a relocation company does, and all the fantastic benefits that come with being supported during a move. Relocation consultants IRC Berlin explain all… 

Oftentimes, companies offer their employees a job or promotion in a new location. This could be somewhere else in the country, or on another continent entirely! 

What is a relocation package?

Sometimes, this new job offer also comes with a relocation package, whereby the employee is offered support in all areas legal, financial and organisational. 

In a nutshell, a relocation partner in the destination country steps into work with the employee and their family to ensure a successful transition to their new home country. A comprehensive relocation package should ensure that an employee will be able to fully concentrate on their new position and feel supported in their new circumstances.

In Germany, this can include both small and big administrative tasks and other things, such as: 

Visa & Immigration

Entering Germany for a short-term assignment or job is more than simply arriving at the airport. Its regionally-specific bureaucracy, which varies from state to state, can be confusing and time-consuming to navigate, especially if you don’t speak the language.

Relocation companies work with immigration lawyers and contacts within official bodies to coordinate the entire visa application process and ensure everything is approved on time. 

Once you have arrived in Germany, your local contact will be able to assist you with applications and extensions for residence permits, registering with the local authorities, and tying up all loose ends when the time comes for you to leave Germany.  

Home search & Property handover

On-the-ground relocation partners can also help you find a home before you even arrive in Germany, avoiding the stress and cost of having to house-hunt at a later stage. Taking into account your budget and preferences, they will assemble a list of suitable properties and even attend viewings on your behalf.

Once you’ve found a place to live, your relocation agent can also assist with the property handover, supporting you through formalities like lease negotiations, supplying you with a rental contract in English, and helping you to set up your utilities.

Family support

Relocation companies don’t just focus on the employee themselves; they also offer support to the employee’s spouse and children. This could include career consulting or coaching sessions for the spouse, or support for finding schools and kindergartens for the little ones. 

Orientation

Moving isn’t just about admin - although it can sometimes feel like it! Most relocation companies will also offer orientation packages that focus on helping you to feel at home in your new surroundings. 

This might include tours of the local area, activities to help you widen your social circle, and even ongoing support as you continue to adapt to your new environment. 

What are the advantages of working with a relocation company?

There are many advantages to working with a relocation company. Above all: they have expertise and experience in some of the most fundamental aspects of relocation, such as immigration and visa requirements. 

A relocation consultant also understands what issues can arise during a local or international move and is able to provide tailor-made support for each individual client, no matter if they are moving with a family, have specific needs at their new location, or are required to dive straight into work and don’t have time to spend on all the details. 

Having professional support can help you deal with all the unique challenges that relocation brings. A relocation company provides in-depth knowledge and up-to-date information about your destination country, thus giving you great local insight. 

This is where IRC comes in. Managed from the head office in Berlin, their widespread team of local consultants bring all the local expertise and useful contacts needed to make your relocation a success. IRC is also expanding their services to include packages for private relocation and a service to assist companies in finding new office space.