Your journey to Germany starts here!

All residents in Germany, including international newcomers, are required to register their address with the responsible authorities within two weeks of moving in or out. Depending on the federal state and the city, the resident registration office is called Einwohnermeldeamt, Bürgeramt, or Bürgerbüro.

This is the most important step you need to take after arriving in Germany. Without the registration confirmation (Meldebescheinigung), you won’t be able to apply for a residence permit and get many German services.

Check with the registration office whether you have to make an appointment and which documents you must provide. A signed confirmation from your landlord (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) is always required (download here).

Remember to put your name on the post box as soon as possible. Most public offices communicate via letters and send important documents by post.

If you come to Germany on an entry visa, you can start to work immediately and have a couple of months to change your temporary visa to a residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel or Aufenthaltserlaubnis). If you come from one of the “best friend” countries* and don’t need an entry visa, you must get a residence permit before you can start to work.

You need to make an appointment at the Ausländerbehörde or Ausländeramt, the office for foreigners. You can usually find a list of required documents on their website, and you will have to book an appointment online or by calling/emailing them.

Be prepared that you may not be able to get an appointment right away. You have to wait weeks or even months for appointments in larger cities. It usually takes several weeks to process the applications and receive the physical residence card (elektronischer Aufenthaltstitel), depending on how many authorities have to be involved.

*  Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America

Health insurance (Krankenversicherung or KV) is compulsory in Germany. Choosing an insurance provider and informing your employer about it is one of the first things you must do after arriving in Germany. Germany has two health insurance systems: public and private. The majority of people in Germany have public health insurance.

Contributions to public health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung or GKV) are calculated as a percentage of your income. There are many public health insurers. Their price and coverage are almost the same. Contributions to private health insurance (private Krankenversicherung or PKV) depend on your age and health condition when you sign up. You can choose how much coverage you want. The cost and coverage vary a lot.

Besides health insurance, there are a lot of insurances you can get voluntarily for different aspects of your life. Liability insurance (Privathaftpflichtversicherung) is the most common one. It covers damages caused by you to others or their belongings.

Although you could also receive your salary into a bank account in another EU country, some employers will insist on paying the salary into a German account. In addition, rents and utility bills are usually paid via direct debit (Einzugsermächtigung) from a German account.

Newcomers usually opt for one of the online banks where you can open an account online, and the service is offered in several languages.

Whether or not you have to organize your utilities depends on the type of housing you choose.

If you rent a room or share a flat (Wohngemeinschaft or WG), you will usually pay an all-inclusive rate. In this case, utilities are handled by the landlord or lead tenant.

If you rent a single-occupancy apartment, you will need to pay rent, additional costs (Nebenkosten), and some utilities. Typically, one energy company provides for the whole building and is chosen by your landlord. You will only have to take care of your own internet and phone connections.

In some cases, you need to arrange for any of the utilities that you want to make use of yourself. This means you must look for an electricity, water, gas, and internet provider.

You should figure out what doctor to go to before you actually need to see one. Generally, German residents can choose their primary care doctors regardless of location. However, some practices will only register patients from their local area.

It is best to ask colleagues or other internationals to recommend you a general practitioner (Hausarzt or Allgemeinarzt) or a pediatrician (Kinderarzt). These doctors will be your first point of contact for most medical issues and will refer you if you need to consult a specialist.

When you move your residence to Germany, your non-EU driver’s license is only valid for up to six months. You should therefore apply for a German driver’s license before this period expires if you wish to continue driving a car in Germany.

Citizens of some countries enjoy a special reciprocal arrangement where they can exchange their foreign driver’s license relatively simply for a German one. If your country is not listed, you must take either a theoretical or practical exam (or both) to get a German license. You can check this list of requirements by country to see how you can exchange your license.