The first month in Germany is the highest-stakes period of the whole relocation. Miss the registration window and you face fines. Start insurance late and your visa extension or employer payroll runs into proof problems. Open a bank account too late and your landlord cannot return your deposit correctly. This plan lays out the sequence in the right order.
The first 14 days
Register your address (Anmeldung) — this is the deadline that controls everything else.
German law requires you to register at your local residents registration office (Einwohnermeldeamt or Bürgeramt) within 14 days of moving into your first permanent address. This is not optional. Registering late can result in a fine, and it delays every downstream task — your tax ID, your payroll setup, and your residence permit extension all depend on the registration certificate (Meldebestaetigung) you receive on the day.
What you need:
- Your passport or national identity card.
- The Wohnungsgeberbestaetigung — a one-page form your landlord or accommodation provider signs confirming you live there.
- The completed Anmeldung form (some cities require a printed version, others let you fill it out at the office).
Book the appointment as early as possible. In Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg, slots fill up weeks in advance. If you cannot get an appointment within 14 days, document that you tried.
After the appointment you receive the Meldebestaetigung on the spot. Keep multiple copies — banks, employers, insurers, and universities may each ask for one.
Read the full Anmeldung guide →
Week 2: Insurance and banking
Set up health insurance before your employer or university asks for proof.
Health insurance is mandatory in Germany. If you are employed, you are likely automatically enrolled in public health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung) and contributions are deducted from your salary. But you still need to actively choose a provider and get the membership certificate your employer needs.
If you are a student, the rules are different — you qualify for subsidised student public insurance at most providers until age 30. If you are self-employed, you choose between public and private. Getting the wrong category can mean paying more than necessary or having gaps that affect your visa.
Act in week two, not week four. Insurance proof is often needed for:
- Starting payroll at a new employer.
- Enrolling at a university.
- Extending a residence permit.
Read the full health insurance guide →
Open a German bank account in week one or two.
Without a German account you cannot receive your salary, pay rent by SEPA transfer, or set up the direct debits that landlords, utility providers, and streaming services expect. Most landlords also return security deposits to a German account only.
The easiest accounts to open as a newcomer:
- Online banks (N26, DKB, ING) — open fully online with your passport and proof of address. N26 and DKB open before you have the Meldebestaetigung.
- Savings banks (Sparkasse, Volksbank) — branch-based, sometimes require the Meldebestaetigung, but widely accepted and useful for cash.
Open an account during week one or two so salary and deposits land correctly from day one.
Read the full bank account guide →
Month 1: Tax ID and payroll
Your tax ID arrives by post after Anmeldung — you do not apply for it.
The Steuer-ID (tax identification number) is an 11-digit number issued automatically by the Federal Central Tax Office once your Anmeldung is processed. It arrives by post, usually within 2–6 weeks. Keep the letter.
Your employer needs this number to set your tax class correctly. Without it, they are required to withhold at the highest rate (tax class 6), which significantly reduces your take-home pay until you file a tax return to reclaim the difference.
If your tax ID has not arrived after 6 weeks, you can request it again through the Federal Central Tax Office website.
Hand your employer the following documents as early as possible:
- Tax ID (Steuer-ID).
- Health insurance membership certificate.
- Meldebestaetigung (if requested).
- Work permit or EU freedom-of-movement confirmation (if applicable).
Ongoing tasks
After the core sequence, several tasks run in parallel across your first three months:
- Residence permit — if you need one (non-EU citizens), book the appointment at the Ausländerbehörde well in advance. Slots in large cities fill months ahead. Read the residence permit guide →
- Blocked account — if you are on a student visa or job seeker visa, you may need to open a blocked account to prove sufficient funds. This is usually done before arrival but must be maintained. Read the blocked account guide →
- GEZ / Rundfunkbeitrag — Germany's broadcasting fee (around €18.36 per month) is due per household. Register online within the first weeks after Anmeldung.
- Internet and phone — most German providers require a fixed-term contract and a German bank account. Set this up once your account is open.
- Language — integration courses (Integrationskurs) are offered through the BAMF and may be required as part of your residence conditions. Check early.
Why the sequence matters
The tasks above are not independent. Each one unlocks the next:
Address registration (Anmeldung) → Meldebestaetigung (proof of address) → Bank account (address required by most) → Employer payroll registration (IBAN needed) → Tax ID issued automatically (takes 2–6 weeks by post) → Correct payroll tax class → Health insurance proof → Employer enrolment / university registration → Residence permit extension (proof of coverage needed)Disrupting this sequence — by delaying Anmeldung, or by starting a job before sorting insurance — creates cascading delays that can last weeks or months.
The exact order depends on your situation: your visa type, your city (appointment wait times vary significantly), whether you are employed, a student, or self-employed, and what you already arranged before arrival.