Guides to German bureaucracy
Free, plain-language guides to the official procedures every newcomer faces — with links to the official sources. For a checklist personalized to your situation, create a free account.
Deutschland
- Open a bank accountYou need a German/SEPA account (IBAN) for salary, rent and insurance. Online banks open accounts before Anmeldung; traditional banks usually want your Meldebescheinigung.
- Register for the broadcasting feeEvery household pays the public broadcasting fee (€18.36/month, one fee per flat). You will get a letter after Anmeldung — register yourself or respond to it to avoid back-payments.
- Get your tax ID (Steuer-ID)Your lifetime tax number. It is created automatically after your first Anmeldung and arrives by post in 2–3 weeks. Your employer needs it to pay you correctly.
- Get health insuranceHealth insurance is mandatory in Germany. Most employees join public insurance (GKV); high earners and the self-employed can choose private (PKV). You need it for your residence permit and your employer needs proof.
- Get personal liability insuranceNot legally required but considered essential in Germany — it covers damage you accidentally cause to others (landlords often ask for it). A few euros per month.
- Get a German SIM / mobile planA German mobile number makes everything easier — banks, delivery services and Behörden expect one. Prepaid SIMs require passport identification (PostIdent/video).
Berlin
- Register your address (Anmeldung)By law you must register your address within 14 days of moving in. The Anmeldung certificate (Meldebescheinigung) unlocks almost everything else: tax ID, bank account, residence permit.
- Apply for your residence permitNon-EU citizens need a residence permit from the Landesamt für Einwanderung (LEA). Apply well before your visa expires — submitting the application protects your status (Fiktionsbescheinigung).
- Convert your driver's licenseNon-EU licenses are valid for 6 months after you register. After that you must convert (umschreiben) — depending on your country this may require theory/practical tests.
München
- Register your address (Anmeldung)By law you must register within 14 days of moving in. In Munich the Bürgerbüro handles it — the certificate (Meldebescheinigung) unlocks tax ID, bank and residence permit.
- Apply for your residence permitNon-EU citizens apply at Munich's Ausländerbehörde (KVR). Apply before your visa expires — the application itself protects your status (Fiktionsbescheinigung).
- Convert your driver's licenseNon-EU licenses are valid for 6 months after registration; then you must convert at the Führerscheinstelle (KVR). Depending on your country, tests may be required.