Moving to Germany checklist

8–12 weeks before moving

This is the phase for decisions that take time: paperwork from your home country, entry requirements and a realistic budget.

• Check that your passport or ID card is valid well beyond your planned arrival.Renewing from abroad usually takes longer than at home.
• Check whether you need a visa or a residence title, based on your nationality.EU/EEA and Swiss citizens have freedom of movement; most other nationalities need a permit. The Federal Foreign Office and BAMF explain which rules apply to you.
• Research cities and regions: rent levels, job market, transport and language courses differ a lot.
• Estimate your total moving costs: transport, deposit, first rent, insurance and a buffer until the first salary.A rental deposit may be up to three months of base rent (§ 551 BGB).
• Start job research early and note which employers hire in your language.
• If your profession is regulated or you want it recognised, start the recognition procedure now.Recognition can take several months and is handled by different bodies depending on the profession.
• Research health insurance options for your situation (employed, self-employed, student, family member).
• Collect personal documents: birth certificate, marriage or civil status documents, diplomas, references, vaccination records, driving licence.
• Ask your current health insurer or authority which cross-border cover applies while you travel.

4–8 weeks before moving

• Secure accommodation, even if temporary for the first weeks.Never transfer money for a flat you have not seen through a verifiable channel.
• Prepare your German CV (Lebenslauf) and, where asked for, a cover letter (Anschreiben).
• Collect work references and certificates (Zeugnisse) and scan them.
• Compare health insurance providers and note what you will need to register.
• Check how you will pay in the first weeks: a card that works in Germany, and a plan for opening a bank account.
• Organise transport of your belongings and compare shipping with buying locally.
• Arrange certified translations only where they are actually required.Requirements vary by authority and document; ask before paying for translations.
• Make paper copies and encrypted digital backups of every important document.
• Continue or start a German course, even at a basic level.

1–4 weeks before moving

• Confirm your accommodation in writing, including the exact address and move-in date.
• Ask your landlord or host about the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung.It is the landlord's written confirmation that you moved in and is normally required for your address registration.
• Book travel and check baggage rules for documents and valuables.
• Prepare the documents you will need for the Anmeldung and keep them in hand luggage.Many Bürgerämter require an appointment booked weeks in advance — check your city's website before arrival.
• Bring some cash and a working payment method for the first days.
• Plan your mobile and internet setup: check roaming, or plan a German SIM after arrival.
• Save important addresses and numbers: your address, Bürgeramt, employer, insurance, emergency contacts.
• Deregister in your home country where this is required, and redirect your post.

First days after arrival

A short preview only — the full sequence is in the First 30 Days content.

• Book and attend your Anmeldung appointment at the Bürgeramt.
• Wait for your tax ID (Steuer-ID), which is usually sent by post after registration.
• Complete your health insurance registration and open a bank account.
• Register for the Rundfunkbeitrag if no one in your household has done so.