US citizen moving to Germany: visa and residence basics

Good news first: US citizens can enter Germany visa-free for 90 days and apply for a residence permit after arrival — one of the few nationalities allowed to do this. The main paths: 1. Work visa / EU Blue Card: you need a job offer. Blue Card requires a degree plus a salary threshold (lower for shortage jobs like IT, engineering, healthcare). 2. Job-seeker visa: 6 months to find work, if you have a recognized degree. 3. Freelance visa (Freiberufler): for artists, teachers, IT freelancers — you need German clients and a solid business plan. 4. Military/SOFA: if you are on orders, the Status of Forces Agreement covers you — different rules entirely, no visa needed. 5. Student visa: blocked account (Sperrkonto) with roughly 11,000 euro per year. Key steps after arrival: register your address (Anmeldung) within 2 weeks, get health insurance, then apply at the Ausländerbehörde (immigration office) before your 90 days run out. Tip: book the Ausländerbehörde appointment the day you arrive — in big cities wait times are months.