Moving to Germany: The Complete Checklist

Moving to Germany means relocating as a foreign national: getting the right visa, registering your address, arranging health insurance and setting up your financial and administrative life. The key to a smooth move is doing things in the right order, and this checklist walks you through exactly that.

What should I do before moving to Germany?

Start 2 to 3 months ahead. Confirm your visa route, arrange a temporary address you can register, gather apostilled documents with certified translations, and sort out health insurance. Book your Anmeldung appointment as soon as you have an address, because slots in big cities can fill weeks in advance.

• Confirm your visa situation: EU/EEA citizens can move freely. Non-EU nationals need a visa or residence title that matches their purpose.
• Find temporary accommodation: You need a German address for your Anmeldung, backed by a landlord confirmation. A short-term rental, serviced apartment or sublet can work if the landlord signs the confirmation. Many hotel and holiday stays do not qualify.
• Get your documents apostilled: Birth certificate, university degree, marriage certificate if applicable. Germany often requires certified translations for official documents.
• Book your Anmeldung appointment: Use your city's Bürgeramt portal as soon as you have an address.
• Arrange health insurance: Cover is mandatory. If you are employed, your employer helps with enrollment in public health insurance. If you are self-employed, arrange it before arrival.

Do I need a visa to move to Germany?

EU and EEA citizens do not need a visa or residence permit. Non-EU citizens usually need a visa or residence title before a long-term stay, and the route depends on your purpose: employment, EU Blue Card, self-employment or job seeking. Apply at the German embassy or consulate in your home country.

EU / EEA citizens

You have the right to live and work in Germany without a visa or permit. Just move and register (Anmeldung). No Aufenthaltstitel required.

Non-EU nationals, employed

Only the fixed gross salary counts toward the Blue Card thresholds. Figures are for 2026 and change each year, so check Make it in Germany before you apply.

• EU Blue Card: Gives you residency for several years and a faster route to permanent residence, faster still if you speak B1 German.
• General work visa (§18 AufenthG): For those with a job offer and a recognized qualification who do not meet the Blue Card salary threshold.
• Skilled worker visa: If your foreign degree or vocational qualification has been recognized by the German authorities (anabin database).

Non-EU nationals, self-employed / freelance

You need a Freiberufler visa or self-employment visa (§21 AufenthG). Requirements vary by profession. Recognized freelance professions (Freie Berufe), such as doctors, lawyers, architects, journalists and IT consultants, have an easier path than trade-based self-employment.

Job Seeker Visa

If you have a recognized degree, you can enter Germany for 6 months to look for a job, then convert to a work visa in the country. This avoids long waits for a job-based visa from abroad.

What do I need to do in my first week in Germany?

Register your address first, because banks, the tax office and mobile providers depend on it. Then confirm your health insurance, open a bank account, get a German SIM card and expect your tax ID by post. This is the order that works for most newcomers.

1. Anmeldung: Register your address. Everything else depends on this.
2. Health insurance: If employed, your employer helps with enrollment. If you are doing it yourself, contact the insurer immediately.
3. Bank account: Some online banks, such as N26, let you start the opening process before you have your Anmeldung confirmation. Check the current requirements when you apply.
4. SIM card: A German number is useful for verification on banking, housing and government apps. Aldi Talk or Congstar work well for prepaid.
5. Tax ID (Steuer-ID): It arrives by post after your Anmeldung. You do not apply for it.

How does Anmeldung work and what is the deadline?

Anmeldung is your address registration with the local authorities. You must register within 14 days of moving in. In Berlin it is free. Bring your passport or ID, the registration form and your landlord's confirmation letter (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung). A rental contract does not replace that letter.

Without Anmeldung it is hard to open most bank accounts, get your tax ID or sign a mobile contract.

Source: service.berlin.de. Fees and documents can differ in other cities, so check your city's own page.

Read the full Anmeldung guide →

Do I need health insurance to move to Germany?

Yes. Health insurance is mandatory, and a residence permit requires adequate cover (§2 AufenthG). Employees earning below €84,150 a year from 1 January 2027 (€77,400 in 2026) join public health insurance (GKV) from their first day of work. The 2027 figure was approved by the federal cabinet and still needs Bundesrat approval, expected in November 2026. Above that income, or if you are self-employed, you can choose private health insurance.

Public health insurance charges a 14.6% base rate plus a fund-specific supplemental rate (2.9% official average in 2026), split with your employer. Private health insurance premiums are based on your age and health at entry, not your income. If you earn over €84,150, you have a genuine choice, and many expats compare both before deciding.

For a full breakdown, read the public health insurance guide and the expat health insurance guide.

Which bank account should I open when moving to Germany?

You need a German IBAN for salary, rent and most direct debits. Online banks such as N26 and DKB are common first choices for expats, while traditional banks such as Commerzbank and Deutsche Bank offer branches for in-person help. Check each bank's current Anmeldung requirement before you apply.

• N26: Fully online with an English-language app. Often used for arrival week.
• DKB: Online bank, widely used by residents, usually requires your Anmeldung. A common long-term option.
• Commerzbank / Deutsche Bank: Traditional banks with branches. Useful if you want in-person support, but check the account fees.

Read the full bank account guide →

How do I get my German tax ID (Steuer-ID)?

You do not apply for it. After you register your address, the Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt) assigns your permanent 11-digit tax ID once the registration office sends your data, and mails it to you. Your employer needs it for payroll. If nothing arrives after three months, contact the BZSt.

In that case, send the BZSt a copy of your ID document and your registration confirmation. Your surname must also be visible on your mailbox, or the letter may not be delivered. Read more in our taxes in Germany guide.

How do I find an apartment in Germany?

Expect strong competition in Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Stuttgart, so prepare your documents before you view. Landlords typically ask for a SCHUFA report, recent payslips, a passport copy and a Selbstauskunft (tenant information form). Search on ImmobilienScout24, ImmoWelt, WG-Gesucht and expat housing groups.

• ImmobilienScout24: the largest listing portal.
• ImmoWelt: another large portal with a similar range.
• WG-Gesucht: shared flats and short-term sublets.
• Facebook expat housing groups: useful, but be careful with advance payments.

Read the full apartment hunting guide →

Do I need to speak German to live in Germany?

No, you can manage in the major cities with English, especially in tech, finance and international companies. Official letters, landlords and doctors are still mostly in German, so even basic German makes daily life easier. Most expats start a language course in their first months.

• A1/A2: Enough for daily situations such as shopping and simple conversations.
• B1: Helps with most bureaucratic interactions and, for Blue Card holders, speeds up permanent residence.
• B2/C1: Comfortable for work and study in German.

Which city in Germany should I move to?

It depends on your job, budget and lifestyle. Berlin is the startup hub with the largest international scene, Munich has the highest salaries and rents, Hamburg offers a port-city job market with strong quality of life, and Frankfurt is the finance centre. Each city has its own Bürgeramt process and rental market.

What is the complete moving to Germany checklist?

The full checklist runs from 2 to 3 months before your move to about six months after arrival. The table shows what to do, when and where. The one hard legal deadline is Anmeldung within 14 days of moving in. The lists underneath give the detail for each stage.

Sources: service.berlin.de (Anmeldung), BZSt (tax ID), European Consumer Centre Germany (broadcasting contribution).

2–3 months before

• Apply for visa at German embassy
• Get documents apostilled / certified translations
• Book temporary accommodation with a real address
• Research health insurance options

4–6 weeks before

• Book Anmeldung appointment online
• Arrange international health insurance or interim coverage
• Sort out international bank transfer / FX (compare fees, as banks often charge more than specialist providers)

Week 1 in Germany

• Attend Anmeldung appointment, get Meldebescheinigung
• Enroll in health insurance (public GKV or private)
• Open an online bank account for immediate banking
• Get a German SIM card

Weeks 2–4

• Receive Steuer-ID by post, give to employer
• Start apartment search with full application package ready
• Open a second long-term account if needed

Months 2–6

• Review health insurance: if earning over €77,400, compare private health insurance options
• Register with a Hausarzt (family doctor)
• Start German language course
• File first German tax return, which often results in a refund

Moving to Germany: FAQ

Sources

Checked on 14 October 2026. Health insurance figures: Sozialversicherungs-Rechengrößenverordnung 2026 (Deutsche Rentenversicherung), §241 SGB V, Bundesanzeiger, 10 Nov 2025. Residence requirement: §2 AufenthG. Anmeldung: service.berlin.de. Tax ID: Bundeszentralamt für Steuern. EU Blue Card: Make it in Germany. Registration deadline and broadcasting contribution: European Consumer Centre Germany.