The Hamburg Welcome Center (HWC) acts as a central service unit in Hamburg for all domestic and international new citizens, providing extensive information and consulting on all questions concerning as successful start in the Hanseatic City.

Qualified foreign employees not benefit only from the information provided, but also from the administrative services. Here, they can centrally apply for their temporary or permanent residency or receive the freedom of move certification as a EU citizen. In addition, they will be able to register their new home address, receive the German tax card, and other Registration Law certifications.

Furthermore, companies wishing to recruit international staff will find comprehensive advice and consultancy. For further information, click to www.welcome-center.hamburg.de.

Quality of life

People like to live and work in Hamburg - not least because in this city living and working are still two sides of the same coin. Some of the most desirable residential areas in Hamburg are right next to the city centre. And in Hamburg you are never far from the water. Some 60 km of rivers and canals criss-cross the city, their banks adorned with highly desirable neo-classicist residences and attractive 1920s housing blocks. Living in Hamburg means delightful architectural diversity. In a city that has everything from villas or family houses to five-storied apartment houses with beautifully decorated entrance halls and exclusive styling and lofts for the creative community, there is plenty of quality housing in excellent condition.

Foreign visitors to the city are always surprised at how green Hamburg is. There are actually more trees than there are inhabitants and almost half of the city area is green. There are broad "green belts" between the various residential areas with plenty of room for parks on a scale rarely found outside England: Alsterpark, Planten un Blomen with its Japanese Garden, Stadtpark or the various parks along the north bank of the Elbe are just a few examples. The nearest spot of greenery, river, lake, canal or pond is never far away in Hamburg. In a city of some 120 parks it is hardly surprising that around 40% of the total area is green. Hamburg also has some 2,400 bridges - more than Amsterdam, Berlin or Venice.