Germany (DE)
Germany is Europe's largest economy and most populous country — a federal parliamentary republic of 16 states (Bundesländer) celebrated for its engineering prowess, rich cultural heritage from Beethoven to Bauhaus, world-famous Oktoberfest and Riesling wines, and one of the most comprehensive social safety nets in the world.
Capital: Berlin
Region: Europe
Language: German
Currency: EUR (€)
Cost of living: Moderate (index 68)
Emergency: 112
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Deadline: Within 14 days of moving into your new accommodation
Where to go: Local Bürgeramt (book appointment online at your city's portal)
Local institution: Einwohnermeldeamt / Bürgeramt
Time: 1–2 hours · Cost: Semester fee: €100–400
Documents needed:
- ✓ Admission letter (Zulassungsbescheid)
- ✓ Passport
- ✓ Anmeldebestätigung
- ✓ Health insurance confirmation
- ✓ Semester fee payment proof
Local institution: Universität / Hochschule
Time: 5 minutes to request; 2 weeks for employer to produce · Cost: Free
Risk if missed: Cannot claim Arbeitslosengeld without it. Pension contribution records may have gaps.
Documents needed:
- ✓ Request in writing from your employer
Tip: Request the Arbeitsbescheinigung at least 2 weeks before your last working day. Also request your Zeugnis (work reference letter) at the same time — you are entitled to a qualified Zeugnis (detailed reference). If your employer delays, send a written reminder with a 5-day deadline. Persistent non-compliance is actionable at the Arbeitsgericht.
Local institution: Arbeitgeber (employer) (Employer)
Time: 1–2 hours · Cost: ~€120/month (student rate at GKV)
Documents needed:
- ✓ University enrolment confirmation
- ✓ Passport
- ✓ Parents' health insurance details (if applicable)
Time: 15 minutes online · Cost: €40–80/year
Risk if missed: Illegal in mandatory states. If your dog injures someone without insurance, you are personally liable for all costs (potentially €100,000s).
Documents needed:
- ✓ Dog's details (breed, age, weight)
- ✓ Your address
Tip: Check24.de or ADAC compare dog insurance. Popular providers: Allianz, Gothaer, HUK-Coburg. Very affordable and essential.
Time: 30 minutes at the Ordnungsamt or online · Cost: Registration: free. Annual tax: €50–180 for first dog, €100–360 for second. "Listenhunde" (restricted breeds): €300–600/year.
Deadline: Within 14 days of moving in with your dog
Risk if missed: Fine up to €10,000 for unregistered dogs.
Documents needed:
- ✓ Dog's vaccination booklet / EU pet passport
- ✓ Proof of address (Anmeldebestätigung)
- ✓ Microchip certificate
Tip: You receive a Hundesteuermarke (metal tag) — your dog must wear this tag at all times in public.
Local institution: Ordnungsamt / Steueramt (Public Order Office / Tax Office)
Time: 30–60 minutes at the office. Book online in advance — appointments fill up fast. · Cost: Free
Deadline: Within 14 days of moving into your accommodation
Risk if missed: Fine up to €500. Cannot open a German bank account, get your tax ID (Steuer-ID), apply for health insurance, or complete most other tasks without the Anmeldebestätigung.
Documents needed:
- ✓ Passport or ID card
- ✓ Rental contract (Mietvertrag)
- ✓ Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (landlord confirmation form — your landlord must provide this)
Tip: Book your appointment online at the Bürgeramt website as soon as you know your address — slots go fast in big cities. Some cities allow walk-ins early in the morning. Take 2–3 copies of all documents.
Local institution: Einwohnermeldeamt / Bürgeramt (Residents Registration Office)
Full task details are available in the Premium plan
Become a Supporter Time: 1–2 hours at the Zulassungsstelle · Cost: €30–100 for registration + new plates
Documents needed:
- ✓ Vehicle registration document (Fahrzeugbrief/Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II)
- ✓ Proof of identity
- ✓ Anmeldebestätigung
- ✓ Liability insurance (Kfz-Haftpflicht) — must be arranged BEFORE registration
- ✓ eVB number from insurer
- ✓ HU/TÜV certificate (if applicable)
Local institution: Kfz-Zulassungsstelle (Vehicle Registration Office)
Full task details are available in the Premium plan
Become a Supporter Time: 1–2 hours for registration appointment · Cost: Free (public school). School supplies: €200–400 per year.
Risk if missed: School attendance is legally mandatory. Non-compliance can result in fines and forced school placement.
Documents needed:
- ✓ Child's birth certificate + certified translation
- ✓ Anmeldebestätigung (child's address)
- ✓ Passport / ID
- ✓ Previous school reports or records (if available)
Tip: Contact the Grundschule in your catchment area directly. If you want an international school, apply separately — they have their own registration processes and fees.
Local institution: Grundschule (Primary School)
Full task details are available in the Premium plan
Become a Supporter Time: 1–2 hours for registration · Cost: Free
Documents needed:
- ✓ Birth certificate + translation
- ✓ Previous school reports (Zeugnisse)
- ✓ Anmeldebestätigung
- ✓ Grundschule Übergangsempfehlung (transfer recommendation) if coming from German primary
Tip: Gesamtschule is recommended for newly arrived teens as it is more flexible and allows tracking changes. Language support classes (DaZ) are usually available.
Local institution: Gymnasium / Realschule / Gesamtschule
Full task details are available in the Premium plan
Become a Supporter Time: 1–2 hours to complete the form online via ELSTER · Cost: Free (Freiberufler). €20–50 for Gewerbeschein if commercial trade.
Risk if missed: Operating without registering is illegal. Back-taxes and fines apply.
Documents needed:
- ✓ Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung (completed online via ELSTER)
- ✓ Passport
- ✓ Anmeldebestätigung
- ✓ IBAN
Tip: The full freelancer guide (Freiberufler vs Gewerbetreibender, VAT rules, invoice requirements, quarterly advance payments) is included in the Premium guide.
Local institution: Finanzamt (Tax Office)
Time: 1–2 weeks for registration to be processed · Cost: 14.6% of gross salary (split equally between employer and employee) + supplemental rate ~2.9% average (2026; varies by Krankenkasse from ~2.2% to 4.3%+). For self-employed: full 14.6%+ from income.
Deadline: Before starting work or within 3 months of arriving
Risk if missed: You are uninsured — illegal in Germany. Any medical treatment will be charged at full private rates (emergency treatment: €500–5,000+).
Documents needed:
- ✓ Passport
- ✓ Anmeldebestätigung
- ✓ Employment contract (if employed)
- ✓ Previous health insurance certificate (if available)
Tip: Most popular Krankenkassen for expats: TK (Techniker Krankenkasse) and Barmer — both have English-language service. AOK is the largest and has good regional services.
Local institution: Krankenkasse (GKV) (Public Health Insurance Fund)
Time: 10 minutes online · Cost: €18.36/month (€220.32/year)
Risk if missed: Back-payments will be charged. Persistent non-payment can result in a debt collection order (Vollstreckungsbescheid).
Documents needed:
- ✓ Name, address, IBAN for direct debit
Tip: Register online at rundfunkbeitrag.de. You can pay monthly, quarterly, or annually. Low income earners (Bürgergeld recipients, students on BAföG) can apply for exemption (Befreiung).
Local institution: ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragsservice
Full task details are available in the Premium plan
Become a Supporter Time: 600–700 hours total (typically 6–18 months depending on pace) · Cost: €1.45/unit (total ~€945 for full course). Free if on Bürgergeld or low income.
Risk if missed: Compulsory for those required to attend. Refusal can affect renewal of residence permit.
Documents needed:
- ✓ Residence permit
- ✓ BAMF voucher (Berechtigungsschein or Verpflichtungsbescheid)
- ✓ Passport
Tip: Apply for your course at bamf.de or through your local Jobcenter. Courses run at VHS (Volkshochschule), Goethe Institut, and many private language schools. Evening and weekend courses available for working adults.
Local institution: BAMF — Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (Federal Office for Migration and Refugees)
Full task details are available in the Premium plan
Become a Supporter Time: 1–3 hour appointment. Processing: 4–12 weeks. · Cost: €100 application fee
Deadline: Within 90 days of arrival
Risk if missed: Illegal residence in Germany. Risk of deportation and entry ban. Overstaying is a criminal offence.
Documents needed:
- ✓ Passport + copies
- ✓ Anmeldebestätigung
- ✓ Biometric passport photos (2x)
- ✓ Application form (Antrag auf Erteilung eines Aufenthaltstitels)
- ✓ Proof of employment (contract) or Blue Card job offer
- ✓ Health insurance certificate
- ✓ Proof of accommodation
- ✓ Bank statements or proof of sufficient funds
- ✓ University degree + certified translation (for Blue Card)
- ✓ Application fee: €100
Tip: Book your Ausländerbehörde appointment AS SOON AS you arrive — waiting times in Berlin and Munich can be 4–12 weeks. While waiting for your appointment, your entry visa or the 90-day Schengen period covers you.
Local institution: Ausländerbehörde (Foreigners Authority / Immigration Office)
Full task details are available in the Premium plan
Become a Supporter Time: EU: exchange in 1–4 weeks. Non-EU: 4–12 weeks. Some countries require a theory and/or practical test. · Cost: €40–300 depending on country
Risk if missed: Driving with an expired permission is illegal and invalidates car insurance.
Documents needed:
- ✓ Foreign driving licence (original)
- ✓ Official translation if not in EU language
- ✓ Anmeldebestätigung
- ✓ Passport
- ✓ Biometric photo
- ✓ First aid certificate (8 hours)
- ✓ Eye test certificate
- ✓ Conversion fee: €40–150
Tip: Check the specific rules for your home country on the ADAC website (adac.de). Some countries (USA, Canada, Australia) require a theory and practical test.
Local institution: Fahrerlaubnisbehörde / Straßenverkehrsamt (Driving Licence Authority)
Time: 30–60 minutes at the office. Allow 2–6 weeks for processing. · Cost: €35–80 for EU; up to €3,500 for full non-EU process including driving school
Risk if missed: Driving with an unexchanged non-EU licence after 6 months is illegal — potential fine and invalidated insurance.
Where to go: Führerscheinstelle at your local Bürgeramt or Straßenverkehrsamt. Book an appointment online.
Documents needed:
- ✓ Current foreign driving licence (original)
- ✓ Biometric passport photo
- ✓ Anmeldebestätigung (address registration)
- ✓ Passport or ID
- ✓ Sehtest certificate from an optician (eyesight test, ~€10)
- ✓ First Aid course certificate (Erste-Hilfe-Kurs, 9 hrs, ~€30) — if not already held
Tip: Check whether your country has a direct-exchange agreement (e.g. USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea). If so, no test is needed. Book the eyesight test at any optician — it takes 5 minutes.
Local institution: Führerscheinstelle (Driving Licence Office (part of the Bürgeramt/Straßenverkehrsamt))
Time: 10 minutes online (N26, DKB) or 30–60 minutes at branch · Cost: Free (N26, DKB, Comdirect) or €3–10/month (traditional banks)
Documents needed:
- ✓ Passport
- ✓ Anmeldebestätigung (address registration confirmation)
- ✓ German phone number (for most online banks)
Tip: N26 and DKB are the most popular choices for expats — 100% English app, free account, no fees abroad. Traditional banks (Sparkasse, Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank) have better branch networks but are slower to open.
Local institution: Bank / Sparkasse (Bank)
Time: Automatic — employer registers within first month · Cost: Free
Documents needed:
- ✓ Your employer registers you — no action required from you in most cases
Tip: Check your first payslip to ensure correct deductions are being made. Your Sozialversicherungsnummer is your permanent social security number — note it down.
Local institution: Deutsche Rentenversicherung
Time: 15 minutes to apply; 4–6 weeks for card to arrive · Cost: Free
Where to go: Automated via your employer's HR. Self-employed: apply at Deutsche Rentenversicherung (online or by post).
Documents needed:
- ✓ Passport or ID
- ✓ Anmeldebestätigung
- ✓ Employment contract or proof of self-employment
Tip: Check your first payslip — your Sozialversicherungsnummer appears as "SV-Nummer" or "Vers.-Nr." Keep the plastic Sozialversicherungsausweis card safe. You use this number for your entire working life in Germany.
Local institution: Deutsche Rentenversicherung (German Pension Insurance)
Time: 2–8 weeks searching; 1–2 weeks for paperwork · Cost: Deposit: up to 3 months cold rent (Kaltmiete)
Risk if missed: Without a registered address you cannot complete the Anmeldung, open a bank account, or access most services.
Documents needed:
- ✓ Passport / ID
- ✓ Schufa credit report (request free copy at meineschufa.de)
- ✓ Last 3 payslips or proof of income
- ✓ Completed Selbstauskunft (rental application form)
- ✓ Bank statements (sometimes requested)
Tip: Use ImmoScout24 and Immowelt. Write a short intro letter in German. Attend viewings promptly — apartments in Berlin, Munich, Hamburg go within hours. Having a German bank account helps.
Time: 1–2 hours to compare and switch · Cost: Varies by provider and consumption; average ~€100–€180/month for a 2-person household
Documents needed:
- ✓ German bank account (IBAN)
- ✓ Apartment address
- ✓ Meter readings from move-in day (photograph the meters)
Tip: Use Verivox or Check24 to compare tariffs. Take meter readings (Zählerstand) immediately on move-in day and photograph them. Most cheap tariffs require a German IBAN.
Time: 30 minutes online · Cost: €400–1,200/year depending on car, age, no-claims history
Documents needed:
- ✓ Vehicle registration
- ✓ Driving licence
- ✓ No-claims history from previous insurer
Tip: Use comparison sites: check24.de or verivox.de. Bring your no-claims bonus (Schadenfreiheitsklasse) documentation from your home country insurer — it can significantly reduce your premium.
Full task details are available in the Premium plan
Become a Supporter Time: 1 hour at signing; 2–8 weeks for land registry processing · Cost: Fixed by law: ~1.0–1.5% of property value for purchase; ~€500–1,500 for GmbH formation
Where to go: Find a notary at bundesnotarkammer.de or by searching "Notar" + your city. Book in advance — popular notaries have 4–6 week wait times.
Tip: Request the contract draft in advance (you are entitled to it 14 days before signing under German law). For non-German speakers: the notary will read the contract in German — you can bring a certified interpreter or request a summary in English beforehand.
Local institution: Notar (Notary (public official))
Where to go: Your local Ordnungsamt / Finanzamt
Local institution: Ordnungsamt / Finanzamt
Time: 10 minutes online · Cost: €18.36/month (€220.32/year). Set up direct debit to avoid missed payments.
Where to go: Register online at rundfunkbeitrag.de or by filling in the form that arrives by post after Anmeldung.
Tip: Only ONE fee per household — if you share a flat where someone already pays, you do not need to register separately. Set up a SEPA direct debit (Lastschrift) to avoid forgetting quarterly payments. Low-income recipients of Bürgergeld or BAföG can apply for an exemption.
Local institution: ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragsservice (Broadcasting Contribution Service)
Time: 2–4 weeks after Anmeldung (arrives by post automatically) · Cost: Free
Documents needed:
- ✓ Your registered address (Anmeldebestätigung required first)
Tip: You do NOT need to apply — it is sent automatically after Anmeldung. If it does not arrive within 4 weeks, contact the Bundeszentralamt für Steuern online to request it. Keep this number permanently — it never changes.
Local institution: Bundeszentralamt für Steuern (Federal Central Tax Office)
Time: 10 minutes · Cost: €6–10
Where to go: DEKRA, TÜV, GTÜ, ADAC, or most petrol stations and car accessory shops (e.g. A.T.U). Also orderable online at umwelt-plakette.de.
Documents needed:
- ✓ Vehicle registration document
Tip: Most petrol vehicles registered after 2007 qualify for a Green sticker. Older or diesel vehicles may only get Yellow or Red — check your registration document (Fahrzeugschein) for the emissions class.
Full task details are available in the Premium plan
Become a Supporter Time: Application: 30 minutes. Waiting time: 6–18 months in cities. · Cost: €0–400/month (income-based)
Risk if missed: Long wait without childcare. If you cannot find a place, you may have a legal right to sue the municipality for costs of a private alternative.
Documents needed:
- ✓ Child's birth certificate
- ✓ Anmeldebestätigung
- ✓ Income documents (for fee calculation)
Tip: Apply to at least 10–15 facilities simultaneously. Use municipal portals: KitaFinder (Munich), Kita-Navigator (many NRW cities), or kitaplatz.de. Also apply directly to private and church-run Kitas (Caritas, AWO, Diakonie).
Local institution: Krippe / Kindertagesstätte (Infant / Toddler Daycare)
Time: Application: 30 minutes. Placement: 2–6 weeks (shorter than Krippe) · Cost: €0–250/month
Documents needed:
- ✓ Child's birth certificate
- ✓ Anmeldebestätigung
- ✓ Health insurance card
Local institution: Kindergarten
Time: 1–2 hours · Cost: Free
Documents needed:
- ✓ Pension statements
- ✓ New German bank account (IBAN)
- ✓ Proof of address
Time: 30 minutes to fill in. Processing: 4–8 weeks. · Cost: Free
Documents needed:
- ✓ Application form (Antrag auf Kindergeld)
- ✓ Child's birth certificate + certified German translation
- ✓ Passport / residence permit (for non-EU parents)
- ✓ IBAN for payment
- ✓ Your Steuer-ID and child's Steuer-ID
Tip: Apply online via the Familienkasse portal or in person at your local Agentur für Arbeit. Payments are backdated only 6 months — apply quickly. Kindergeld is paid until the child is 18 (up to 25 if in education or training).
Local institution: Familienkasse (Family Benefits Office (part of Agentur für Arbeit))
Time: 1–4 weeks to find and register. First appointment: 30–60 minutes. · Cost: Free with public health insurance
Documents needed:
- ✓ Krankenkasse card (health insurance card — sent by your insurer)
- ✓ Passport
Tip: Ask neighbours or colleagues for recommendations. Use Doctolib, Jameda or arztsuche.de to find Hausärzte accepting new patients. In cities, finding a new Hausarzt can be very difficult — start searching immediately.
Local institution: Hausarzt / Allgemeinmediziner (General Practitioner (GP))
Time: 1–2 weeks to find and register · Cost: Free with GKV health insurance
Documents needed:
- ✓ Child's health insurance card
- ✓ Yellow U-Heft (vaccination booklet — bring from home country if possible)
- ✓ Passport
Tip: Use Doctolib or Jameda to find Kinderärzte accepting new patients. The yellow U-Heft is the German child health booklet — ask your Kinderarzt for a new one if you don't have one.
Local institution: Kinderarzt / Kinderfacharzt (Paediatrician)
Time: 30–60 minutes for first appointment · Cost: Registration visit: €50–100. Annual vaccinations: €80–150.
Documents needed:
- ✓ Pet passport or vaccination booklet
- ✓ Microchip certificate
Tip: Use Doctolib or search "Tierarzt [city]" on Google Maps. Register your pet's microchip with TASSO (tasso.net) — free national pet database.
Local institution: Tierarztpraxis (Veterinary Clinic)
Time: 15–30 minutes · Cost: €10–30 for starter pack. Monthly plan: €10–30 (data-only or calls+data)
Documents needed:
- ✓ Passport (required for registration)
Tip: Budget options: Aldi Talk, Lidl Connect, Congstar, ALDI TALK (all use major networks). Best coverage: Telekom network. Activate with passport in store. Many online banks require a German number for account opening — get SIM before opening bank account.
Time: 1–2 weeks for installation (technician visit usually required) · Cost: €30–45/month for 100–250 Mbit connection
Documents needed:
- ✓ Anmeldebestätigung (address confirmation)
- ✓ Bank account (IBAN)
Tip: Check if your apartment has an existing contract (ask landlord). Telekom has the best coverage but is most expensive. Consider a no-contract option (Prepaid DSL) while settling in before committing to 24 months.
Time: 15 minutes to register + PostIdent verification (10 min at a post branch) · Cost: Free
Where to go: Free registration in the Post & DHL app (iOS/Android) or at dhl.de. Identity verification (PostIdent) required once.
Tip: After registering, choose a preferred Packstation near your home or workplace. Parcels held for 9 calendar days before return. You can also send parcels from Packstations 24/7.
Local institution: DHL / Deutsche Post (German postal service)
Where to go: bahn.de/deutschlandticket / local transport authority
Local institution: VVS / BVG / MVV / HVV
Where to go: ausweisapp.bund.de / id.bund.de
Local institution: Bundesministerium des Innern / AusweisApp2
Time: 1–2 hours for first appointment · Cost: Free
Documents needed:
- ✓ Passport
- ✓ Anmeldebestätigung
- ✓ CV
- ✓ Qualifications/certificates
Tip: Register online at arbeitsagentur.de before your appointment. They will assess your profile and suggest relevant job listings, courses and support.
Local institution: Agentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency)
Full task details are available in the Premium plan
Become a Supporter Time: 1–2 hours to compare providers and set up · Cost: Minimum contribution: 4% of prior year gross income minus state bonus
Tip: Use the official Riester-Förderrechner on bmas.de to calculate your bonus. Compare providers via Finanztip or Stiftung Warentest. WARNING: if you later move outside EU/EEA, all received state bonuses must be repaid — factor this into your planning. Riester portability within EU/EEA is guaranteed.
Time: 30 minutes per year · Cost: Free
Tip: Checklist: (1) Is your Krankenkasse still cheapest? Compare supplementary rates at krankenkasseninfo.de. (2) Has the Beitragsbemessungsgrenze changed — are you now above the GKV ceiling? (3) Is your gross salary above the new Mindestlohn? (4) Have tax bands shifted — adjust payroll deductions. Settle-in-Berlin and IamExpat publish annual "What changes on January 1" roundups.
Full task details are available in the Premium plan
Become a Supporter Time: 24 months waiting period then 8–16 weeks processing · Cost: Free to apply
Where to go: Apply to Deutsche Rentenversicherung by post or via RV-Online portal (rv.de) after 24 months abroad.
Documents needed:
- ✓ Rentenversicherungsausweis (social insurance card)
- ✓ Passport
- ✓ Proof of address abroad
- ✓ Bank account details outside Germany
- ✓ Employment records (Arbeitsbescheinigung) from German employers
Tip: Keep a forwarding address abroad — the refund cheque or transfer goes there. EU/EEA, Swiss, and UK citizens are NOT eligible for a refund due to totalization agreements — their contributions count toward their home country pension instead. Check your country's status at the Deutsche Rentenversicherung before planning on a refund.
Local institution: Deutsche Rentenversicherung (German Pension Insurance)
Time: 10 minutes to order · Cost: Free (once per year)
Where to go: Order online at meineschufa.de — select "Datenkopie nach Art. 15 DSGVO" (free, not the paid "BonitätsAuskunft"). Takes 1–2 weeks to arrive by post.
Tip: Request your Datenkopie in January so it is fresh for apartment hunting season. If you find errors, submit a correction request to SCHUFA with supporting documentation — they must investigate within 30 days. Legitimate negative entries (unpaid debts, late payments) remain for 3 years after settlement.
Local institution: SCHUFA (Credit Reference Agency)
Full task details are available in the Premium plan
Become a Supporter Time: 1–2 hours to prepare documents; 4–8 weeks for approval · Cost: Free
Where to go: Wohnungsamt at your Bezirksamt or Rathaus. Some cities (e.g. Berlin) offer online applications.
Documents needed:
- ✓ Last 3 months' payslips or income proof
- ✓ Passport or ID
- ✓ Anmeldebestätigung
- ✓ Rental contract or proof of housing need
Tip: The WBS is valid for 1 year. In Berlin, WBS holders can access the entire Wohnungsbaugesellschaft (state housing company) portfolio. Apply before you need to move — it is not retroactive. Refugees, low-income families, and large households get additional priority points.
Local institution: Wohnungsamt (Housing Office (at the Bezirksamt/Rathaus))
Time: 15 minutes · Cost: Free
Tip: Note: (1) your building's specific quiet hours (Mittagsruhe 1–3pm and evening 10pm–6am are most common, but some buildings are stricter); (2) which bin goes out on which day; (3) who is responsible for Treppenreinigung (stairwell cleaning) and when.
Documents needed:
- ✓ EU/EEA passport or national ID
- ✓ Anmeldebestätigung
- ✓ Proof of purpose (employment, study, or self-sufficiency)
Tip: You do NOT need this certificate to live and work in Germany as an EU citizen. Your EU passport + Anmeldebestätigung is sufficient for all practical purposes.
Local institution: Ausländerbehörde (Foreigners Authority)
Full task details are available in the Premium plan
Become a Supporter Time: 2–4 hours research + Ausländerbehörde appointment · Cost: €100 application fee at Ausländerbehörde
Documents needed:
- ✓ University degree (must be recognised)
- ✓ Job offer meeting salary threshold
- ✓ Passport
- ✓ Anmeldebestätigung
- ✓ Health insurance proof
Tip: The premium guide includes step-by-step Blue Card application, recognition of foreign qualifications (anabin database), shortage occupation list, and fast-track permanent residence pathway.
Time: 30 minutes to compare and sign up online · Cost: €50–€150 per year depending on apartment size and city
Documents needed:
- ✓ German bank account (IBAN)
- ✓ Apartment address and size (m²)
Tip: Compare via Check24 or Verivox. Most policies are cheap and can be set up entirely online. Coverage often also includes simple theft (Fahrraddiebstahl) if you add the bicycle option.
Full task details are available in the Premium plan
Become a Supporter Time: 30–60 minutes to write; optional: 1 hour with a notary for certified version · Cost: Free for holographic will. Notarial will: €100–400 depending on estate value.
Documents needed:
- ✓ Handwritten document (pen on paper — no typewriter or computer)
- ✓ Your full name, date of birth
- ✓ Location and date of writing
- ✓ Your signature
Tip: Store your will in the Zentrales Testamentsregister (Bundesnotarkammer) for ~€16 — it will be found automatically when you die. If you have assets in multiple countries, consult a Fachanwalt für Erbrecht (specialist inheritance lawyer) about coordinating jurisdictions. Under EU Succession Regulation, you can elect your home country's inheritance law explicitly in writing.
Time: 15 minutes online · Cost: Free
Documents needed:
- ✓ Passport
- ✓ German address
Tip: Search "[your country] embassy Germany registration" or "Auslandsregistrierung". UK: FCDO Register your location. Australia: smartraveller.gov.au. US: Step.state.gov. Ireland: citizensabroad.ie.
Time: 10 minutes online · Cost: €28.90 for 6 months (2026); €37.90 for 12 months
Where to go: Online at deutschepost.de/nachsendeauftrag or in person at any Post branch.
Tip: Order at least 5 days before your move. Also notify: your bank, Krankenkasse, Finanzamt, employer, and any subscription services directly — the Nachsendeauftrag is a safety net, not a substitute for updating your address.
Local institution: Deutsche Post / DHL (German Post)
Time: 30 minutes to find and apply · Cost: €5–20/month membership fee
Tip: Find clubs via vereinsheim.de, the DOSB club finder (dosb.de), or your city's Sportamt website. Most Vereine are welcoming to non-German speakers — the sport is universal. Children's Verein membership is often subsidised.
Time: 30–60 minutes to register and browse opportunities · Cost: Free
Tip: Platforms: vostel.de (Berlin-focused, English-friendly), nebenan.de, Freiwilligenzentren (one in every city — find yours via bagfa.de). Many refugee support organisations, food banks, and cultural institutions actively recruit English-speaking volunteers.
Full task details are available in the Premium plan
Become a Supporter Time: 2–4 hours with a Steuerberater · Cost: €150–400 for a consultation
Documents needed:
- ✓ Pension statements
- ✓ Tax return from home country
- ✓ Double taxation agreement reference
Time: 15–30 minutes · Cost: ~€30 administrative fee
Where to go: Your local Standesamt (registry office) — in person only.
Documents needed:
- ✓ Passport or ID
- ✓ Anmeldebestätigung
Tip: Kirchensteuer is applied retroactively from the date of your Anmeldung unless you opt out promptly. The Kirchenaustritt has no spiritual implications — it is purely an administrative deregistration from the state's church tax records. You can still practise your religion.
Local institution: Standesamt (Registry Office)
Full task details are available in the Premium plan
Become a Supporter Time: 10 minutes at your bank or broker (online form) · Cost: Free
Tip: Submit a Freistellungsauftrag to every bank or broker where you hold savings or investments. If you have multiple accounts, split the €1,000 across them (e.g. €500 at your bank, €500 at your broker). Update amounts when you open or close accounts. If you have a joint account with a spouse, file jointly for €2,000 total. Tip: do this in January each year as amounts can carry over configuration.
Local institution: Bank / Broker
Documents needed:
- ✓ Bank account (IBAN for direct debit)
Tip: Buy via your local transit app (BVG, MVV, HVV, etc.) or Deutsche Bahn app. Some employers subsidise it (Jobticket). Cancel by the 10th of the month to avoid next month's charge.
Full task details are available in the Premium plan
Become a Supporter Time: 1–2 hours to apply; 4–12 weeks processing · Cost: Free to apply
Where to go: Wohngeldstelle at your district/city Rathaus.
Documents needed:
- ✓ Rental contract
- ✓ Last 3 months' payslips or income statements
- ✓ Anmeldebestätigung
Tip: Use the Wohngeldrechner on bundesregierung.de before applying to estimate your entitlement. Benefits are paid from the date of application, not retroactively, so do not delay.
Local institution: Wohngeldstelle (Housing Benefit Office (at local Rathaus))