Cost-free secondee

There are several administrative details you need to take care of before you start your employment with the ECB. Within the first few days of arriving in Germany you will also need to register with the German authorities and, if need be, open a SEPA compliant bank account.

Before coming to Frankfurt

Documents to be provided before the start of employment

Once you have received your secondment contract, please send the following documents as soon as possible by post to the Security Division:

• the privacy statement and security self-declaration form for selected candidates
  
• the original criminal record certificate (does not need to be translated into English)
• a copy of your passport/ID card (please note that you will be required to show your passport/ID card when you start working at the ECB)

Please return a signed copy of the secondment agreement by email to the person and address specified in this document.

Security clearance

To protect the institution and its reputation, the ECB employs only individuals whose criminal history (if any) does not call into question their capacity to maintain high standards of professional ethics in the performance of their duties at the ECB. Please submit the completed privacy statement and security self-declaration form for selected candidates and a criminal record certificate (which does not need to be translated into English) before commencing employment.

Please send both documents in the original by post to:

European Central Bank
Security Division - Clearance
Sonnemannstrasse 20
60314 Frankfurt am Main
Germany

To facilitate the security clearance process:

• send both documents together
• use your official name consistently on all documents
• ensure that all fields are filled in
• make sure your handwriting is legible
• send them to the Security Division – not to the HR department

Useful information

• The time it takes to obtain a criminal record certificate can vary substantially depending on your country of residence. Make sure you initiate this procedure as soon as you are sure that you are going to join the ECB.
• We do not reimburse the cost of obtaining a criminal record certificate.
• Your security clearance will be granted solely on the basis of these two documents.
• In most cases, we process security clearance within five working days.

Please contact us via e-mail if you have any concerns or questions regarding security clearance.

Have a look at the introduction to security clearance for more information.

[email protected] Security self-declaration form Introduction to security clearance

Accommodation

Your accommodation costs will be borne either by yourself or your employer. Various property websites provide information if you want to look for your temporary accommodation – simply type the words "Frankfurt Immobilien" into a search engine.

Travel arrangements

You are responsible for making your own travel arrangements. The costs will be borne either by yourself or your employer.

Childcare facilities

Many children in Germany between the ages of one and six attend Krabbelstube/Krippe or Kindergarten, although this is not compulsory. While, by law, children aged one and above are guaranteed a childcare place, it can be difficult to find one.

Subject to the availability of places, the ECB may be able to offer you childcare for your children between three months and six years of age if you are seconded to the ECB for at least one year. Places may not be available immediately, depending on the age of your child and your desired start date.

For further information, please refer to the section entitled Life in Frankfurt.

International schools

In addition to German state schools, Frankfurt also has a number of international schools.

Please see the section Life in Frankfurt for more information.

After your arrival in Frankfurt

All costs relating to your secondment, including salary, are covered by yourself or your employer.

Registration with the German authorities

Secondees who are EU nationals

Within two weeks of arriving in Germany, cost-free secondees who are nationals of an EU country (and their family) must register their place of residence with one of the Bürgerämter (registration offices) of the town/city in which they live. This must be done in person. You do not have to register if your stay in Germany will not exceed three months. But it is advisable to do so if your contract with the ECB is likely to be extended beyond this time period (as it may help avoid an unnecessary fine).

If you are married, or have children, the original marriage and birth certificates need to be provided with the International Certificate or a certified German translation. If you are divorced, the same applies for the divorce certificate.

You will also need to present a letter from your landlord/rental property manager confirming that you are renting accommodation. This letter has to include the name and address of the landlord/rental property manager, the date on which you will be moving in, the address of the rental property and your name. Failure to comply could result in a €1,000 fine for the landlord.

Planning to live in Frankfurt?

A full list of registration offices in Frankfurt can be found here.

Note that you will receive a verbal warning if you only manage to register with the Frankfurt authorities between two and four weeks of taking up residence in this city. Thereafter, you may be fined. Fines start at €15 and the amount payable will depend on the length of the delay.

EU nationals do not need a residence permit

A German residence permit is not required for EU nationals. The Meldebescheinigung (the certificate issued when registering your place of residence with a Bürgeramt) – together with your personal ID card or passport – is sufficient proof that you are officially registered in Germany as a citizen of another EU country.

Secondees who are non-EU nationals

Cost-free secondees who are nationals of a non-EU country must obtain the relevant visa/permit before arriving in Frankfurt. Further information on the requirements can be obtained from the Auswärtiges Amt (German Federal Foreign Office).

Non-EU nationals (and their family) must register their place of residence with one of the Bürgerämter (registration offices) of the town/city in which they live as soon as possible. A full list of registration offices in Frankfurt can be found here.

If you are married, or have children, the original marriage and birth certificates need to be provided with the International Certificate or a certified German translation. If you are divorced, the same applies for the divorce certificate.

You will also need to present a letter from your landlord/rental property manager confirming that you are renting accommodation. This letter has to include the name and address of the landlord/rental property manager, the date on which you will be moving in, the address of the rental property and your name. Failure to comply could result in a €1,000 fine for the landlord.

Salary and costs of secondment

All costs relating to your secondment, including salary, are covered by yourself or your employer.

Health insurance

Health insurance

The ECB will not provide any health cover. We therefore recommend that you retain your current health insurance cover for the duration of your secondment.

Accident insurance

The ECB does not provide any accident insurance cover for cost-free secondees.