First 30 Days in Germany: The Complete Expat Checklist (2026)

Moving to Germany is exciting. It is also one of the most document-heavy processes you will encounter as an expat. The first month sets the foundation for everything: your tax status, your health coverage, your ability to sign contracts, open accounts, and legally work. Do things in the wrong order and you will spend weeks untangling avoidable delays.

This guide gives you a clear, week-by-week plan. It tells you what to do, in what order, and why the sequence matters. It also tells you what most expats get wrong.

Before You Arrive: What to Prepare in Your Home Country

A lot of what makes the first month hard can be prevented before you land. The following steps are worth completing from home.

Gather your key documents. You will need your passport, any existing visa or entry documents, proof of employment or enrollment (if applicable), and your birth certificate. If you are bringing family members, get their documents too. Have certified translations ready for any documents not in German or English.

Arrange temporary accommodation before arrival. To complete your Anmeldung — Germany's mandatory address registration — you need a real address. Not a hotel, not a friend's sofa. You need a permanent address where a landlord will sign a confirmation form. Expats who arrive without accommodation lined up often wait two to three weeks before they can even begin the registration process, which delays everything else.

Check your health insurance status. If you are coming from an EU country, your European Health Insurance Card may cover you temporarily. If you are coming from outside the EU, you need to arrange coverage for your arrival period. Some employers handle this on day one. If you are a freelancer or self-employed, you will need to arrange your own coverage before arrival. Read our German health insurance guide before you land.

Tell your bank back home you are moving. You will need to use your home country bank account for the first few weeks. Let them know you will be making transactions from Germany so your card does not get blocked.

Bring cash. Germany is still heavily cash-dependent. Many offices, local shops, and landlords will expect cash payments. Arrive with at least 200–300 euros in notes.

If you are on a non-EU visa, confirm entry requirements. For non-EU nationals, some visa types require you to apply before arrival. Others allow you to enter and apply in Germany. Check the correct process for your nationality on the German Embassy website or consult an immigration lawyer. Our Visa and Residence Permit guide covers this in detail.

Days 1–3: SIM Card, Cash, and Temporary Housing

Your first priority when you land is staying connected and getting oriented. Do not try to complete any official paperwork in the first few days unless you already have a permanent address confirmed.

Get a German SIM card on day one. You can buy prepaid SIM cards at airports, supermarkets (Rewe, Edeka), electronics stores (MediaMarkt, Saturn), and phone shops. The main networks are Telekom, Vodafone, and O2. For a prepaid card you only need your passport. Monthly prepaid plans start from around 10 euros. You do not need an Anmeldung for a prepaid SIM. You will need one later if you want a proper monthly contract.

Withdraw cash. Use an ATM from a major bank (Sparkasse, Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank) to avoid high fees. Many smaller shops, markets, and even some government offices are cash only.

Confirm your address situation. If you are staying in temporary accommodation while searching for a flat, that is fine for the first few days. However, you need to have a permanent address confirmed as early as possible, because your Anmeldung appointment cannot be booked without one.

Book your Bürgeramt appointment now. Even if you are still settling in, do not delay this. In Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, and Frankfurt, appointments fill up two to six weeks in advance. The earlier you book, the earlier you complete your Anmeldung, and the earlier everything else can follow.

Days 4–7: Anmeldung (Address Registration) — Why It Must Come First

The Anmeldung is the single most important task in your first month. Everything else depends on it.

You are legally required to register your address within 14 days of moving in. Failure to register can result in a fine of up to 1,000 euros. More importantly, without your registration certificate — the Anmeldebestätigung — you cannot open a German bank account at most banks, apply for your residence permit, or access most public services.

What you need for the appointment:

• Your passport (and residence permit or visa if you are non-EU)
• A completed Anmeldung form (available from your city's website)
• A signed Wohnungsgebergerbestätigung — a landlord confirmation form. Your landlord fills this out and signs it. A rental contract alone is not enough.

The appointment itself is short. Once you are at the Bürgeramt, the process takes five to ten minutes. You hand over your documents, answer a few basic questions, and receive your Anmeldebestätigung on the spot. Keep multiple copies. You will be asked for it repeatedly in the weeks ahead.

Read our full Anmeldung guide for city-specific appointment booking links, a complete document checklist, and tips for getting an earlier slot.

Days 8–14: Open a Bank Account and Get Health Insurance

Once you have your Anmeldebestätigung, you can move quickly on banking and health insurance. Both are easier with the registration certificate in hand.

Opening a German Bank Account

A German bank account is essential for paying rent, receiving your salary, and setting up direct debits for utilities and insurance. Most landlords and employers will not accept foreign bank accounts.

Traditional German banks (Sparkasse, Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank) typically require your Anmeldung, passport, and an in-person appointment. Processing times can take several weeks.

Online banks are faster and more expat-friendly. N26 and bunq both offer German IBANs and can be opened largely online, with English-language interfaces throughout. Our Banking Guide compares all the main options in detail.

Getting Health Insurance

Health insurance is mandatory in Germany from your first day of residence. There are no exceptions.

There are two types: public insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung) and private insurance (private Krankenversicherung). If you are employed and earn below the income threshold, you will typically be enrolled in public insurance automatically through your employer. If you are self-employed, freelancing, or a student, you need to arrange your own coverage.

The main public insurers are TK (Techniker Krankenkasse), AOK, and Barmer. All three have varying degrees of English-language support. TK is generally regarded as the most accessible for English speakers. Read our health insurance guide for a full comparison of public insurers and what each covers.

For expats who need private or expat health insurance — including freelancers and those on certain visa types — Feather Insurance offers English-language advice and a range of plans suited to expat situations. You can also browse the full health insurance listings in the FindEnglish directory.

Once you have insurance, register with a general practitioner (Hausarzt) as soon as possible. Finding an English-speaking doctor with available slots can take time. Our guide to finding English-speaking doctors in Germany explains how to search by city. You can also browse English-friendly clinics and specialists in the FindEnglish directory.

Days 15–21: Tax ID, Social Security Number, and Work Setup

By the end of week two, your Anmeldung is done and your bank account is open. Now you focus on getting your tax and employment paperwork in order.

Tax Identification Number

Your tax identification number (Steueridentifikationsnummer) is automatically assigned when you complete your Anmeldung. The letter arrives by post to your registered address within two to four weeks. You do not need to apply for it separately.

You need this number to receive your full salary. Until your employer has it on file, they are required to withhold tax at the highest rate. You will get that money back through your annual tax return, but it is worth chasing the number if the letter has not arrived by week four.

Read our full Tax ID guide for what to do if the letter does not arrive and how to request your number directly from the Finanzamt.

Social Security Number

Your social security number (Sozialversicherungsnummer) is issued by your health insurance provider once you are enrolled. If you are employed, your employer will request it as part of your onboarding. If you are self-employed, you may need to apply through the Deutsche Rentenversicherung. This number is linked to your pension contributions and stays with you for life in Germany.

Work Setup for Employees

If you are employed, your employer will guide you through the remaining onboarding documents. You will need to provide your tax ID, social security number, bank account details (IBAN), and health insurance confirmation.

Work Setup for Freelancers and Self-Employed

If you are self-employed or freelancing, you will need to register with the Finanzamt (tax office) and potentially complete a business registration (Gewerbeanmeldung), depending on your type of work. The distinction between freelance (Freiberufler) and commercial self-employment (Gewerbe) has significant tax consequences and is worth clarifying early. Consult an English-speaking tax advisor before proceeding. Browse the tax advisor directory or read our guide to finding English-speaking tax advisors.

Days 22–30: Internet, Utilities, and Settling In

By week four, your core bureaucracy should be done. Now you can focus on getting your home set up properly.

Internet

Setting up home internet in Germany takes longer than most expats expect. Providers such as Telekom, Vodafone, and o2 require your Anmeldung and typically have installation lead times of two to six weeks. Start this process as soon as you have your registration certificate — meaning you should be contacting providers in week two, not week four.

In the meantime, your SIM card's mobile data can serve as a temporary solution. Many providers offer high-data prepaid plans for exactly this reason.

For help comparing and arranging utilities and internet, browse English-friendly utility services in the FindEnglish directory.

Utilities

Electricity and gas are often handled by the building management (Hausverwaltung) or included in your Nebenkosten (utility costs rolled into your rent). Check your rental contract to confirm what is included. If utilities are not included, ask your landlord which providers serve your building — this is usually the fastest route to setting them up.

Public Transport

Germany's public transport network is extensive. The Deutschlandticket (58 euros per month as of early 2026) gives unlimited travel on all regional public transport across the country. It is one of the most practical purchases you can make in your first month. Set it up online through your city's transit provider or the DB Navigator app.

Registering Your Car (If Applicable)

If you are bringing a vehicle from abroad or purchasing one in Germany, it must be registered at the Kfz-Zulassungsstelle (vehicle registration office). You will need your Anmeldung, insurance certificate, and vehicle documents. Check the rules for your specific nationality — some nationalities can drive on a foreign licence for up to six months, others must convert it sooner.

The Biggest Mistakes Expats Make in Their First Month

Arriving without a permanent address. Without a fixed address where the landlord will sign a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung, you cannot complete your Anmeldung. Temporary housing is fine to live in, but it does not count. Arrange a proper lease before you land.

Trying to open a bank account before Anmeldung. Most traditional German banks require your registration certificate. Jumping straight to banking without it wastes time. Get your Anmeldung done first.

Not booking the Bürgeramt appointment early enough. In major cities, appointments fill up four to six weeks in advance. Book immediately — even before you arrive, if you already have your address confirmed. Every week of delay is a week without a tax ID or complete bank setup.

Assuming the tax ID arrives quickly. It takes two to four weeks by post. That is normal. Follow up with your Finanzamt if it has not arrived after four weeks — do not wait longer than that, because it is holding up your net salary.

Not registering with a doctor early. Finding an English-speaking general practitioner with open slots can take weeks. Register as soon as you have your health insurance card. Do not wait until you are unwell.

Thinking a rental contract is enough for Anmeldung. It is not. You need the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung — a separate form signed by your landlord. Many new arrivals show up at the Bürgeramt without it and are turned away. Confirm your landlord has signed it before your appointment.

Your Complete Checklist at a Glance (Printable)

Before Arrival

• Confirm permanent accommodation with a landlord willing to sign Wohnungsgeberbestätigung
• Gather passport, visa, birth certificate, and other key documents
• Get certified translations for documents not in German or English
• Arrange travel or interim health insurance coverage
• Notify your home country bank of the move
• Bring at least 200–300 euros in cash
• Confirm visa entry requirements if non-EU

Days 1–3

• Buy a German prepaid SIM card
• Withdraw cash from a major German bank ATM
• Book your Bürgeramt appointment for Anmeldung
• Confirm your Wohnungsgeberbestätigung is signed

Days 4–7

• Complete your Anmeldung at the Bürgeramt
• Receive your Anmeldebestätigung — make multiple copies
• Contact internet providers to begin setup (2–6 week lead time)

Days 8–14

• Open a German bank account
• Enrol in health insurance (public or private)
• Register with an English-speaking general practitioner

Days 15–21

• Provide bank details and health insurance confirmation to your employer
• Wait for tax ID letter by post (arrives within 2–4 weeks of Anmeldung)
• Apply for social security number if not issued automatically
• Register with the Finanzamt if self-employed or freelancing

Days 22–30

• Confirm internet installation date
• Set up electricity and gas if not included in rent
• Purchase a Deutschlandticket for public transport
• Register vehicle if applicable

FAQ: Most Common First-Month Questions

What should I do first after arriving in Germany?
Book your Bürgeramt appointment for the Anmeldung. Do this on day one or two. Appointments fill up fast in major cities, and everything else — your bank account, tax ID, and residence permit — depends on having your registration certificate.

Do I need Anmeldung before opening a bank account?
For traditional German banks, yes. Most require your Anmeldebestätigung as part of the account opening process. Some online banks allow you to begin the application without it, but you will still need to provide it to complete verification. In practice, getting your Anmeldung done first saves time.

How long do I have to register my address in Germany?
You are legally required to register within 14 days of moving into your new address. This applies to both EU and non-EU citizens. Late registration can result in a fine of up to 1,000 euros, though first-time offenders are rarely fined if they register as soon as possible.

Can I get health insurance before Anmeldung?
In some cases, yes. If your employer arranges public health insurance, they can start the process before your Anmeldung is complete. However, most insurers will require your registration certificate to finalise your membership. Arrange coverage as early as possible and provide the Anmeldebestätigung as soon as you have it.

When do I get my German tax ID?
Your tax identification number is automatically issued when you complete your Anmeldung and arrives by post within two to four weeks. You do not need to apply separately. If it has not arrived after four weeks, contact your local Finanzamt or visit in person to request it.

How do I set up internet in Germany as an expat?
You need your Anmeldung to sign up for a home internet contract. Contact providers such as Telekom, Vodafone, or o2 as soon as you have your registration certificate and allow two to six weeks for installation. Use mobile data from your prepaid SIM as a temporary connection in the meantime.

Last updated: March 2026

This guide is for informational purposes only. Rules, deadlines, fees, and procedures change and can vary by city and individual circumstances. This is not legal, tax, or immigration advice. For your specific situation, consult a qualified professional. Where official sources conflict with information in this guide, always defer to your local authority or a licensed advisor.