Know exactly what to do to settle in Germany.
Answer a few questions about your move and get your personal step-by-step plan — every task in the right order, from the official German sources. In 2 minutes.
- Built on official German sources
- Free to start — no credit card
- Your data stays private
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Personalised from official German rules
Everyone gets a different plan
Pick a situation — see which steps are yours, and which you skip.
- Employment contract
- Work visa
- Anmeldung (address registration)
- Tax ID (Steuer-ID)
- Bank account
- Residence permit
- Health insurance
- Kindergeld (child benefit)
An example Skilled worker plan · 8 of the 16 core steps on this map
What you'll get
Your exact tasks, in the order they unlock
This is what your plan looks like. Every task shows its deadline, the documents it needs, and what finishing it unlocks next — so the bureaucracy never blocks your move by surprise.
Your progress
Your Germany setup path
- 04
- 05
- 06
Tasks in Setting up the basics
Anmeldung (Address registration)
RequiredNeeds Wohnungsgeberbestätigung, passport, rental contract
Open bank account
Set up public transport access
Set up mobile SIM plan
CompletedTask 1 of 4
Anmeldung
Register your address with the city so your tax ID, banking, and permit tasks can continue.
- Registration
- Required
Documents to prepare
- Passport
- Rental contract
- Wohnungsgeberbestätigung
Build your plan to see these as your own real tasks, in your order.
Your personalised Germany admin plan in minutes
Tell us your situation
Arrival date, city, citizenship, purpose of move, household details — about 2 minutes, and you can start without an account.
Get your personalised plan
We branch on your visa, city, and household — so you see only the tasks that apply to you, ordered by real deadlines and dependencies.
Work through each task with guidance
See what to do, which documents to prepare, what to watch out for, and what each completed task unlocks next.
Built around how German bureaucracy actually works
Personalised plan
See only the tasks that apply to your visa, city, move type, and timeline.
Dependency mapping
Know what each task depends on and which next tasks it unlocks.
Ask anything about your move
A built-in assistant that knows your whole plan and answers from the official source behind each step — even your confusing German letters.
Built for the reality of moving to Germany
German bureaucracy is confusing — not because you are not capable, but because the sequence is genuinely unclear and the stakes are real. Starting in Germany exists to give you one calm, structured place to see what applies to you and what to do first. See the official sources behind every step.
I built Starting in Germany after moving here myself — figuring out, the hard way and after the fact, how the pieces actually fit together. That your Anmeldung is the key that unlocks the rest: your tax ID only arrives by post once you've registered, and until it reaches your employer, your first paychecks are taxed at the emergency rate. The frustration of discovering each dependency too late is exactly what this tool is built to prevent. — Jayesh Sandhu, founder
Stop finding out the right order too late.
Walk into your first weeks in Germany prepared.
Build your personal Germany plan and start from wherever you are.
Guides
Calm, practical guidance for each major task
Use these focused walkthroughs when you need extra context beyond your plan, without digging through scattered tabs.
Built for real onboarding moments
Documents, timing, and order of operations explained clearly for newcomers handling German bureaucracy.
First steps in Germany: your 30-day arrival checklist
The right order for address registration, insurance, banking, and tax ID — before deadlines stack up.
Best for
Anyone arriving in Germany
Read guideHealth insurance in Germany: public vs private setup
Choose the right route, prepare the supporting evidence, and get written proof quickly.
Best for
Employees, students, freelancers
Read guideMoving to Berlin: registration, admin, and first steps
Berlin's Bürgeramt slots book out weeks ahead. Learn the booking strategies, insurance setup, and housing paperwork for Berlin newcomers.
Best for
Anyone moving to Berlin
Read guideMoving to Munich: KVR, registration, and first steps
Munich uses the KVR for residence permits and Bürgerbüros for Anmeldung. Housing is competitive — prepare documents before viewing.
Best for
Anyone moving to Munich
Read guideQuestions people ask before they start
Starting in Germany provides practical guidance and information to help newcomers navigate German bureaucracy. It is not a legal service, official government platform, or substitute for professional legal or immigration advice.