Germany rewards order. The first 30 days of a German move set up - or undermine - the next two years of operating there. Below is the checklist we put cases through, in the order that usually works.
Day 1-3: arrive with the documentation pack
What you should bring:
- Passport with the right visa
- Employment contract or business plan, depending on the route
- Health insurance evidence valid in Germany
- Marriage and birth certificates for family routes, apostilled and translated
- Recent income statements
- Criminal record certificate where required
Day 3-10: rental and Wohnungsgeberbestätigung
Get into your accommodation. For Anmeldung (residence registration) you'll need the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung - a confirmation from the landlord that you live at the address. Without it, Anmeldung is impossible.
If you arrived without a long-term rental, lock in a furnished mid-term that allows registered residence. Some short-term and tourist-style rentals do not - check before signing.
Day 7-14: Anmeldung
Anmeldung at the local Bürgeramt or Einwohnermeldeamt is the universal handle for German life. Once registered, you get the Meldebescheinigung (registration certificate). This unlocks:
- Steuer-ID (tax ID, mailed to you a few weeks later)
- Residency permit appointments
- Bank account opening at most retail banks
- SIM and broadband contracts
- Energy and utility setups
In busy cities, Anmeldung appointments are weeks out. Book the appointment as soon as you have an address - don't wait until arrival.
Day 10-20: bank account
With the Meldebescheinigung in hand:
- Choose between the major German retail banks (Sparkasse, Volksbank, Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, ING, DKB) and online-first banks (N26, Comdirect, others)
- Bring Meldebescheinigung, passport, employment contract / income evidence
- Open the account and request the EC card / debit card
A German current account (Girokonto) is the universal financial handle.
Day 14-25: residency permit
For non-EU movers, the residency permit appointment at the Ausländerbehörde is the formal acceptance. The timeline depends on the city. Bring:
- Passport and visa
- Meldebescheinigung
- Employment contract or business plan
- Income and health insurance evidence
- Biometric photos
- Any sector-specific evidence
Day 20-30: health insurance enrollment
German health insurance is mandatory and is either statutory (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung) or private (private Krankenversicherung), with eligibility depending on income, employment status, and route.
Electing private over statutory is a long-term commitment; the path back from private to statutory is not trivial in some cases. Decide deliberately, not in a hurry.
Day 25-30: tax and Schufa
- The Steuer-ID arrives in the post; share it with your employer for payroll.
- Open a Schufa relationship through the bank or directly; this credit score will determine rental applications later.
- File the Schufa Auskunft now so a copy is available when needed for landlords.
What we tell movers to avoid
- Skipping Anmeldung in the first weeks because "we are still settling in." Almost nothing else opens cleanly without it.
- Signing a short-stay rental that doesn't allow registration.
- Opening a bank account without the Meldebescheinigung and hoping the bank will accept "in process." Some do; many don't.
- Mixing private health insurance with later doubts; choose with eyes open.
The Germany that frustrates people is the Germany of skipped steps. The Germany that works is the Germany of clean sequencing.