Moving to Germany — The Complete Expat Checklist

Germany is one of the most popular destinations in Europe for expats — strong job market, high salaries, good quality of life, and a central location. But moving here comes with a learning curve. The German bureaucratic system is thorough, sequential, and unforgiving if you do things out of order.

This guide gives you the right order. Follow the sequence and you'll have everything sorted within your first month.

Before you arrive

Sort out your visa or right to work

EU/EEA citizens and Swiss nationals can move to Germany freely — no visa required. For everyone else, you'll need the right visa before you arrive. Common visa types:

• EU Blue Card — for highly qualified non-EU workers with a job offer and salary above €45,300/year (or €41,042 for shortage occupations in 2026). The most common route for skilled expats.
• General employment visa — for job offers that don't qualify for Blue Card
• Freelance visa — for self-employed professionals
• Job Seeker Visa — 6-month visa to look for work in Germany
• Chancenkarte — new points-based opportunity card for skilled workers without a job offer yet

Find temporary accommodation

Don't try to sign a permanent lease before visiting. Book a furnished room or Airbnb for your first 2–4 weeks. Use this time to view apartments in person and get registered.

Arrange health insurance

Health insurance is mandatory in Germany from day one of residency. If you're employed, your employer will help you enroll in public insurance (GKV). If you're arriving without a job or are self-employed, you need to sort this independently before — or immediately upon — arriving.

Visa and right of residence

For non-EU nationals with a job offer, the typical process is:

1. Apply for the correct visa at the German embassy or consulate in your home country
2. Enter Germany on this visa
3. Register your address (Anmeldung) within 14 days
4. Book an appointment at the Ausländerbehörde (foreigners' authority) to convert to a residence permit

For EU citizens, there's no formal visa process — but you're still required to register your address (Anmeldung) after 3 months of residence.

First week checklist

1. Settle into accommodation — even temporary housing counts as a residence you can register
2. Get a German SIM card — you need a German phone number for nearly everything. Aldi Talk, Congstar, and O2 all offer prepaid SIMs without a contract.
3. Do your Anmeldung — register your address at the local Bürgeramt. Bring your passport and the landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung). You'll receive your Meldebescheinigung on the spot.
4. Open a bank account — with your Meldebescheinigung and passport, you can now open a German bank account. N26 can be opened fully online.

First month priorities

Health insurance

If your employer hasn't enrolled you in GKV, do it immediately. Contact any public insurer (TK, DAK, AOK, Barmer). If you earn above €77,400/year and prefer private insurance, speak to a specialist before making this decision — it's reversible but not easily so.

Tax ID (Steueridentifikationsnummer)

This arrives automatically by post 2–4 weeks after Anmeldung. Give it to your employer as soon as it arrives — until then, they may withhold more tax. You can request it be resent via elster.de if it doesn't arrive.

Residence permit appointment

Non-EU nationals: book your Ausländerbehörde appointment early. In Berlin, wait times can exceed 3 months. Book as soon as you're registered. Bring your job contract, passport, Meldebescheinigung, passport photos, and health insurance confirmation.

Find a permanent apartment

Start your apartment search in parallel with the above. Having Anmeldung and a German bank account already set up makes you a stronger applicant.

Cost of living overview (2026)

Germany is expensive compared to Eastern Europe but affordable compared to London, Zurich, or Amsterdam.

Munich and Frankfurt are the most expensive cities. Berlin is cheaper than either but has risen significantly. Leipzig, Dresden, and smaller cities offer substantially lower costs.

Culture and practicalities

Cash still matters

Germany is surprisingly cash-heavy compared to the UK or Netherlands. Many restaurants, smaller shops, and market stalls are cash only. Always carry €20–50 in cash.

Quiet hours (Ruhezeit)

Germans take noise regulations seriously. Quiet hours are typically 10pm–7am, all day Sunday, and 1–3pm on weekdays in many buildings. Loud music, drilling, or mowing your lawn during these times is genuinely frowned upon — and legally enforceable.

Recycling and waste separation

Waste separation is mandatory and neighbors notice. Different bins for paper (Papiertonne), packaging (Gelber Sack/Wertstoffbox), organic waste (Biotonne), and general waste (Restmüll). Glass goes in separate outdoor containers by color. Get it wrong and you may receive a note from your Hausmeister.

The Deutschlandticket

For €29/month, you get unlimited use of all local and regional public transport (S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams, buses) across the entire country. One of the best deals in Germany. Available at all transport providers.

Language

English is widely spoken in major cities, particularly in tech and professional environments. For daily life — doctors, government offices, landlords — German makes everything easier. Even basic German goes a long way. Apps like Duolingo or Babbel are fine for basics; an evening course (Volkshochschule) gets you further faster.