First steps in Germany

So, you have just arrived in Germany and now want to know what your first steps in Germany should be? Firstly, there are some administrative procedures and official matters that you have to take care of. But we also have some information on topics that you might encounter in your private life. We also have some tips on how to make social contact in Germany and improve your language skills.

In the first place, it is important to find permanent accommodation in Germany. If you did not already make arrangements for this before entering the country, now is the time. You can find an apartment through advertisements in newspapers or online. In some large cities, you might well have to be patient when looking for an apartment because there will be a lot of applicants.

Are you from a third country? In this case you will have to apply for a residence title after arriving in Germany. You can do this at the Foreigners’ Registration Office responsible for you. You can find out what documents you need, what costs you will have to pay and more here: Applying for a residence title in Germany.

Once you have found an apartment, you must register your address within two weeks. If you come from a third country, you will need your residence title, among other things, to register. You can find out more about the required documents and the procedure here: Registration obligations in Germany.

Every citizen in Germany receives a tax identification number. This will be sent to you by post after you have registered your address. Keep this number safe. You will need your tax ID again and again for employment, taxes and other matters.

Note: Your employer will take care of registering you for social security. In this regard, you will receive a social security card with a social security number by post. You must make sure to look after this well, too. If you do not have a job yet and need a social security number earlier, you will have to apply for it yourself.

In Germany, everyone must have at least statutory health insurance, so you must arrange for health insurance as soon as possible. There are various health insurance companies in Germany. The services are usually very similar. It is best to compare them and choose the health insurance company that suits you best.  

You can then register online or by post and will need the following documents:

• Passport or residence title
• Registration certificate (from the city authorities after registering your address)
• Tax identification number
• Employer’s certificate (if you have a job)
• Certificate of enrolment (as a student)

If you do not have a job yet and have to have your degree recognised in Germany, you should take care of this as soon as possible. The procedure can take several months and may require post-qualification measures. You can find out more about this topic here: Recognition in Germany.

For all financial matters, it is a good idea to open a bank account in Germany. You can do this in person at a bank branch or online with an online bank. It is important to remember that you will have no in-person contact with staff at online banks, but rather only online or by telephone. If personal contact and maybe also face-to-face support are important to you, then a bank with bricks-and-mortar branches is probably the better choice. However, this additional service is also noticeable in the fees: branch banks usually charge higher fees than online banks.

To open a bank account, you will need the following documents:

• Passport or ID card  
• For non-EU citizens: often your residence title
• Registration certificate
• Tax identification number
• Proof of salary (if you want a credit card or overdraft facility)
• Employment contract (if a regular deposit of money is required)

To avoid high telephone costs, you should consider concluding a mobile phone contract or getting a prepaid card.

If you want to conclude a mobile phone contract, unfortunately you are likely to need what is known as a SCHUFA report. This information is used to check your creditworthiness. Since you will not have been in Germany long enough to build up this creditworthiness, you may not be able to conclude a mobile phone contract. It therefore makes sense to get a prepaid card for the time being.  

In order to settle in properly in Germany, it is important to build social contacts. Look for leisure activities, such as sports in a club, participation in courses, visits to youth centres, family centres, communities, etc. – just do what you enjoy and get to know new people in the process. You can find more information here: Tips for Everyday Life in Germany.

In order to handle everyday life in Germany with success, you should constantly improve your knowledge of the German language. New social contacts can already help you in achieving this goal. You can also watch movies in German, listen to podcasts, read, etc. Try to listen to and speak German as much as possible.