First Steps After Moving to Germany: Registration, Residence Permit, Bank, Work, and Insurance

It’s best to break down the first few weeks after moving to Germany into several essential tasks: registering your address, sorting out your residence permit, opening a bank account, getting health insurance, and starting the paperwork for work or school. Some of these steps depend on the city and your status, so be sure to check the requirements on the websites of local authorities.

1. Register your address: Anmeldung

If you’ve moved into an apartment or a room in Germany, you usually need to register your residence within two weeks of moving in. You can register at the Bürgeramt, Bürgerbüro, Einwohnermeldeamt, or another local Meldebehörde—the name depends on the city.

The following documents are most often required for Anmeldung:

• passport or other form of identification;
• your visa document or eAT, if you already have one;
• Wohnungsgeberbestätigung – confirmation from the landlord or host;
• a completed city application form, if required;
• Documents for family members, if the family is registering together.

After registering, you will receive a Meldebescheinigung. This document is often required by banks, insurance companies, employers, the immigration office, and for other procedures.

2. Check your residence status and registration with the Ausländerbehörde

If you arrived on a national D visa, the visa itself usually covers only the initial period. After that, you may need an electronic residence permit—elektronischer Aufenthaltstitel (eAT). The Ausländerbehörde (Foreigners’ Registration Office) in your place of residence is responsible for issuing it.

What to do after Anmeldung:

• Check the validity of your visa and the entry requirements;
• Find the website for the Ausländerbehörde in your city or district;
• Check whether you need to submit an online application, make an appointment, or submit documents through the portal;
• Prepare your passport, photo, registration, proof of purpose of stay, insurance, and financial documents, if required for your status;
• Save the confirmation of your appointment or application submission.

Appointment availability at the Ausländerbehörde varies greatly from city to city. If the earliest available appointment is far in the future, it’s important to at least submit your application on time or obtain confirmation of your request through the agency’s official channel.

3. Open a bank account

You’ll need a German bank account for your salary, rent, utility bills, insurance, cell phone service, and regular SEPA debits. The bank usually asks for proof of identity, a German address, and sometimes proof of your residence status or a tax ID number, if you’ve already received it.

When choosing a bank account, check the following:

• a monthly service fee;
• card fees and cash withdrawal fees;
• support for English or Russian, if that’s important;
• the ability to open a bank account with your visa type and documents;
• conditions for incoming international money transfers;
• whether there are in-person offices or if the process is entirely online.

Transfers from Russia and other countries subject to sanctions require separate verification. Bank policies, limits, available currencies, and compliance checks are subject to change, so do not rely on outdated lists of banks or fixed amounts from previous years. Before making a transfer, verify the rules with both the sending and receiving banks, and for large amounts, prepare documentation proving the source of the funds in advance.

4. Get health insurance

In Germany, there is a general requirement to have health insurance. It is important for new residents to determine as soon as possible whether they are covered by the public system (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV), private insurance (private Krankenversicherung, PKV), or temporary coverage for the transition period.

Usually, the options depend on your status:

• Employees with a standard employment contract are often enrolled in the GKV through their employer;
• Students should choose appropriate student or private health insurance in accordance with the rules applicable to their status;
• Self-employed individuals and entrepreneurs should compare GKV and PKV based on their income, age, and risks;
• Family members can sometimes be covered under Familienversicherung if the conditions are met.

Before signing a contract, check not only the price but also the coverage start date, retroactive payments, family coverage terms, dental services, deductibles, and rules for switching insurance plans.

5. Start the employment and tax formalities

If you plan to work, prepare a German resume, your educational documents, and proof of your work experience. For many professions, it’s helpful to check in advance whether you need Anerkennung—recognition of your qualifications.

To look for a job, you’ll need:

• A resume in the German format;
• a cover letter, if one is expected in your field;
• diplomas, certificates, and translations;
• recommendations and employment references, if available;
• A LinkedIn or Xing profile for professional networking.

You can read more about the structure of a resume in the article on Lebenslauf at 10_PUBLISHED/content/en/Lebenslauf CV for Finding a Job in Germany.

After registration (Anmeldung), your tax identification number (Steuer-ID) is usually sent by mail. Your employer, bank, and certain official procedures will require this number. If you haven’t received the letter, you can find out how to request a resend through the Bundeszentralamt für Steuern or by following local instructions.

6. Put together a basic folder of documents

To avoid having to search for documents before every appointment, create a digital and a physical folder.

Essentials:

• passport and visa;
• Meldebescheinigung;
• a lease agreement and a landlord’s confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung);
• health insurance or proof of application;
• an employment contract, a letter of acceptance from a university, or another document confirming the purpose of your stay;
• birth and marriage certificates, if you moved with your family;
• translations and apostilles, if they were already used in the visa application process;
• Letters from government agencies with an Aktenzeichen or Kundennummer.

Common Mistakes After Moving

• putting off your Anmeldung and then not having the necessary document for the bank or government agencies;
• wait until your visa expires before contacting the Ausländerbehörde;
• Open a bank account without verification of incoming international transfers;
• buying insurance based solely on price without checking your status and the start date of coverage;
• Submit originals to government agencies without copies;
• Do not keep letters containing case numbers.

A Quick Checklist for the First Few Weeks

• Register for the Anmeldung and obtain a Meldebescheinigung.
• Check your visa’s expiration date and the procedure for applying at the Ausländerbehörde.
• Choose health insurance that matches your status.
• Open a bank account and check the terms for money transfers.
• Prepare your Lebenslauf, educational documents, and work experience records.
• Put together a folder with your key documents and case numbers.

This order helps you navigate the bureaucracy: first, your address and residency status; then insurance, a bank account, a job, and other everyday services.