Moving to Germany
A practical first-30-days checklist for newcomers to Germany — the Anmeldung, banking, government registration, groceries, telecom, transport, and housing, with links to the official sources you actually need.
Last updated:
- Currency
- Euro (EUR, €)
- Capital
- Berlin
- Official language
- German
- Dialing code
- +49
- Time zone
- CET (UTC+1) / CEST (UTC+2) summer
Read in another language
English(English)
Get registered with German authorities
Almost every step in Germany — bank account, phone contract, lease, health insurance, tax ID — depends on the Anmeldung (address registration) and the Steuer-ID that follows. Book the appointment as soon as you have an address; in big cities, slots are scarce.
1.Book your Anmeldung at the Bürgeramt
Within 14 days of moving in, you must register your address at the Bürgeramt (also called Einwohnermeldeamt or Kundenzentrum, depending on the city). Bring your passport, residence-permit visa or EU ID, the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (a signed confirmation from your landlord), and your rental contract. You will receive an Anmeldebestätigung — keep it; everything else asks for it.
Service-Berlin Anmeldung2.Wait for your Steuer-ID (tax ID) by post
A few days to a few weeks after the Anmeldung, the Bundeszentralamt für Steuern mails you an 11-digit Steuer-Identifikationsnummer (Steuer-ID). It is your lifelong tax ID — give it to your employer so payroll runs at the correct tax bracket; otherwise you are taxed at the highest rate until it arrives.
Apply for a Steuer-ID — Bundeszentralamt für Steuern3.Sign up with a public or private Krankenkasse
Health insurance is mandatory for residents. Employees earning under the threshold (€73,800/year in 2026) join a public insurer (TK, Barmer, AOK, DAK, BKK, IKK) — pick any; benefits are largely the same and contributions come straight from payroll. Higher earners and freelancers can choose private insurance, but switching back to public is hard once you leave.
Compare public Krankenkassen — gesetzlichekrankenkassen.de4.Apply for or extend your residence title
Non-EU citizens who plan to stay over 90 days need a residence title (Aufenthaltstitel) from the Ausländerbehörde — the Foreigners' Office. Book this in parallel with the Anmeldung; appointment lead times of 2–6 months are normal in Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg.
Make it in Germany — official portal
Open a bank account
A German bank account (Girokonto) with an IBAN is required for salary, rent, and almost every recurring bill. Online banks (N26, ING, Comdirect, DKB) open from a passport scan and a video call; high-street banks (Sparkasse, Volksbank, Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank) take longer but are useful for cash and in-person services.
1.Start with an online bank
N26, ING, Comdirect, and DKB open a free Girokonto from your phone in 1–3 days using a passport and a video-ident call. You receive a German IBAN immediately — enough for salary, rent, and subscriptions. None of them require an Anmeldung first, though some ask for it within a few weeks of opening.
Open an N26 account2.Add a Sparkasse or Volksbank account if you handle cash
Cash is still common in Germany — many cafés, bakeries, and even some doctors' offices prefer it. The Sparkasse and Volksbank networks have the densest branch and ATM coverage, and their Girocard works at small businesses that do not accept Visa or Mastercard. Useful as a complement to the online account.
3.Set up SEPA Direct Debit (Lastschrift) for bills
Most German bills (rent, electricity, internet, gym) run on SEPA Direct Debit — you authorise the company to pull the amount monthly. Banks legally guarantee refunds within 8 weeks if a company takes the wrong amount. Standing orders (Dauerauftrag) are the opposite: you push a fixed amount on a schedule, used most often for rent.
4.Move money in cheaply
Avoid your home bank for the initial transfer — fees of 3–5% are common. Wise and Revolut typically convert at near-mid-market rates with a flat fee under €10 for transfers up to €5,000.
Open a Wise multi-currency account
Find a place to live
German rental markets in big cities (Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Cologne) are notoriously tight. Expect a deposit (Kaution) of up to 3 months' cold rent, the first month's rent in advance, a Schufa credit report, and proof of income at 3x the rent.
1.Search the right portals
ImmoScout24 and Immowelt list the bulk of agency-listed apartments. WG-Gesucht dominates flatshares (Wohngemeinschaft / WG). eBay Kleinanzeigen and Facebook groups carry direct-from-landlord lettings. Move quickly — desirable apartments in Berlin or Munich routinely have 50+ applicants.
Browse rentals on ImmoScout242.Prepare the application package
A complete Bewerbungsmappe contains: passport / ID, last 3 payslips (or work contract for new arrivals), a Schufa-Auskunft (credit report), the Mieterselbstauskunft form, and often a previous-landlord letter (Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung). Get a Schufa report in advance — order online from meineschufa.de or use Bonify free; it takes 2–4 weeks by post.
Order a Schufa-Auskunft3.Sign carefully — Kalt vs Warm rent
Listings quote Kaltmiete (cold rent — the rent itself) plus Nebenkosten (utilities, building services). The Warmmiete is the all-in number you pay. Ask which utilities are included; heating is often metered separately and reconciled annually. The deposit (Kaution) sits in a separate account and is refundable; landlords have up to 12 months after move-out to return it minus any damages.
4.Understand the Mietspiegel and tenant protections
Big cities publish a Mietspiegel — an official rent index showing fair-market rents by neighbourhood and apartment age. Rent caps (Mietpreisbremse) limit how much new contracts can exceed the index in supply-strained areas. Tenancies are strongly protected: termination by the landlord requires a specific legal reason, and notice periods scale with how long you have lived there.
Tenant rights — Deutscher Mieterbund
Get a German phone number and home internet
A German phone number is needed for two-factor authentication on most domestic services. Prepaid SIMs work without an Anmeldung; postpaid contracts require a registered address and a SEPA mandate, sometimes a Schufa check.
1.Buy a prepaid SIM on day one
Prepaid SIMs from ALDI Talk, congstar, Lidl Connect, and the major carriers (Vodafone CallYa, o2 Prepaid, Telekom MagentaMobil Prepaid) are sold at supermarkets, kiosks, and electronics stores. Identification by passport is now mandatory — bring it. From around €10/month you get 5–15 GB and EU roaming.
2.Switch to a postpaid contract once you have an Anmeldung
Telekom (the historical incumbent) has the strongest 5G coverage; o2, Vodafone, and the discount MVNOs (winSIM, sim.de, freenet) compete on price. Contracts are often 24-month with auto-renewal — a 2021 law now caps renewals at 1 month and requires clear cancellation routes.
3.Compare home broadband
Most addresses have a choice between DSL/Glasfaser via Telekom, cable via Vodafone (formerly Kabel Deutschland / Unitymedia), and increasingly direct fibre via Deutsche Glasfaser, Tele Columbus, and city-utility ISPs. The Bundesnetzagentur broadband map shows what is genuinely available.
Bundesnetzagentur broadband checker
Where to buy food and household goods
German supermarkets cluster sharply by price tier. Discounters dominate (Aldi and Lidl together hold around 32% market share). Edeka and Rewe are the standard mid-tier; specialty shops cover what supermarkets do not.
1.Discount chains: Aldi (Süd & Nord), Lidl, Penny, Netto
The discounter format was invented in Germany. Aldi (split into two regional companies — Aldi Süd in the south/west, Aldi Nord in the north/east) and Lidl run tight ranges (around 1,500 SKUs) and price most basics 30–40% below Edeka or Rewe. Penny (REWE Group) and Netto (Edeka) are the second-tier discounters and stock more branded goods. Cash and Girocard accepted; many Aldi stores still do not take Visa/Mastercard.
2.Standard weekly shop: Edeka, Rewe
Edeka and Rewe are the two largest mid-tier supermarket chains. Both run apps with digital coupons (Rewe Bonus, Edeka Genuss+) where members see meaningfully lower prices on featured items. Rewe stores tend to be cleaner and broader; Edeka has the strongest fresh ranges in many regions, especially in suburban Edeka E centers.
3.Premium and specialty: Kaufland, real, dm, Rossmann
Kaufland (Lidl group) runs hypermarket-style stores with extensive ranges. dm and Rossmann are the dominant drugstore (Drogeriemarkt) chains — they sell toiletries, baby food, OTC supplements, and basic groceries; not pharmacies (which is the Apotheke). Wochenmärkte (weekly farmers' markets) and bio shops (Alnatura, Denn's, Bio Company) cover organic and specialty needs.
4.Pfand: bottle deposits
Most plastic and glass drink bottles carry a Pfand (deposit) of €0.08–0.25, refunded when you return them to a supermarket Leergut machine. Single-use plastic bottles are €0.25; reusable glass €0.08–0.15. The deposit is included on your receipt, separately listed; budget for it on big shops.
5.Online delivery: Rewe, Picnic, Knuspr, Flink
Rewe delivers in most cities; Picnic (Netherlands-origin) delivers from a milk-truck fleet at supermarket prices in many cities; Knuspr offers same-day organic delivery. Flink and Gorillas-style 10-minute grocery apps cover urban centers but with smaller ranges and small markup.
Get around — public transit and driving
German cities have excellent public transit. The Deutschlandticket (49–58€/month, depending on year and operator) gives unlimited regional and city travel anywhere in Germany. Driving is on the right; EU/EEA licences are valid indefinitely, others convert within 6 months of becoming a resident.
1.Buy a Deutschlandticket
The €58/month (2025/26 rate) Deutschlandticket covers all public transit (subway, tram, bus, regional train) in every German city and every regional rail journey. Buy through DB Navigator, your local transit operator, or directly through your employer (many companies offer it as a benefit at a discount).
Deutschlandticket — Deutsche Bahn2.Use Deutsche Bahn for intercity travel
Deutsche Bahn (DB) operates ICE (high-speed), IC, and Regionalzug services connecting all major cities. The DB Navigator app handles tickets, reservations, and journey planning. Sparpreis tickets booked weeks ahead can be 50–70% cheaper than walk-up; the BahnCard 25/50/100 (€59.90–8,310/year) gives 25%, 50%, or 100% discounts.
Book trains — Deutsche Bahn3.Driving licence: convert or sit a German test
EU/EEA licences are valid in Germany indefinitely. Non-EU/EEA licences are valid for 6 months after your Anmeldung; after that you must convert at the Führerscheinstelle. Some countries (USA — varies by state, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, Israel) qualify for direct exchange; others require both German theory and practical tests, which together cost €1,500–2,500 if you start from zero.
Foreign driving licences — ADAC4.Ride-hailing and car-sharing
Uber and Bolt operate in major cities (Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Cologne) but coverage is uneven outside them. FreeNow (formerly mytaxi) connects to regulated taxis. Car-sharing — Share Now (a BMW/Mercedes joint venture) and Miles — covers most large cities by the minute.
Topic deep dives
Once you have the basics in place, these in-depth guides cover the parts of life that come up after the first month — and the social norms newcomers most often notice.
Other countries
Frequently asked questions
How fast does an Anmeldung appointment open in Berlin?
Slow. In Berlin and other big cities, slots can be 6–12 weeks out. Watch service.berlin.de in the early morning when fresh slots open daily; refresh often. The 14-day legal deadline is officially counted from move-in, but authorities are pragmatic when no slot is available — bring a screenshot of your booking attempts.
Public or private Krankenkasse?
Most newcomers should pick public. Public coverage is broad, switching between public Krankenkassen is easy, and most doctors accept it. Private looks cheaper for young, healthy, high earners — but rates rise sharply with age and once you opt out of public, returning is restricted. Take advice if your income is above the threshold.
Do I need to learn German?
In Berlin and parts of Munich, Hamburg, and Frankfurt you can survive with English in tech and finance jobs and most consumer services. To deal with bureaucracy, doctors, schools, and small business owners, German is a meaningful unlock. Subsidised Integrationskurse start once your residence title is issued.
Why is the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung so important?
It is the legal proof that you live where you say you live. Without it, the Bürgeramt cannot complete your Anmeldung. Without an Anmeldung, you cannot get a Steuer-ID, a long-term contract phone, or a residence permit extension. Always agree the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung in writing before signing the lease.