Overview: what new tenants need to sort out in Germany
A move to Germany comes with a long list of official tasks. Most of them depend on one another, so the order matters. The first task is the Anmeldung, your address registration at the local registration office (Bürgeramt). It unlocks your bank account step, your Tax ID and your broadcasting fee letter. The remaining tasks cover residence permits for non-EU citizens, a German SIM card, health insurance and finding a GP (Hausarzt).
The guide is written for new tenants arriving from abroad.
Key takeaways
- Register your address (Anmeldung) within 14 days of move-in. You need the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung from your landlord first. Most other tasks follow from that registration.
- Book your Bürgeramt appointment the day you get your keys. Appointment slots are the biggest bottleneck.
- Get a SIM card.
- In the same week as the registration, non-EU citizens must book a separate residence permit appointment. Anmeldung does not cover your right to stay.
- Health insurance is mandatory from day one. Also look for a GP early.
- Your Tax ID and Rundfunkbeitrag letter arrive on their own after your Anmeldung.
What do you need before you start?
Most delays in this process come from missing paperwork, not from the authorities. Gather the items below in your first days. Several of them come from your landlord, so ask early.
- Passport: needed for the registration, the SIM card and the bank account.
- Rental contract: proof of where you live.
- Wohnungsgeberbestätigung: the landlord's confirmation of your move-in. It is a legal requirement, and the Bürgeramt will not process your registration without it.
- Visa or residence documents (non-EU citizens): needed for the Ausländerbehörde appointment.
- Health insurance and Tax ID: your employer will ask for these details.
- A smartphone with internet access: useful for eSIM activation, video ID checks and appointment booking.
ℹ Info: Our guide to the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung explains what your landlord has to provide.
What are the 8 steps, in order?
Each step below ends with a cue that tells you it is done. The table gives you the full picture first, so you can see which steps run in parallel.
| Step | When |
|---|---|
| 1. Anmeldung | Book on key handover day, register within 14 days |
| 2. Residence permit (non-EU) | Book in the same week, can take weeks to months |
| 3. SIM card | Same week, in parallel with step 1 |
| 4. Health insurance | From day one |
| 5. Bank account | After you hold your Meldebescheinigung |
| 6. Tax ID | Arrives 2 to 5 weeks after Anmeldung automatically |
| 7. Rundfunkbeitrag | Letter follows your Anmeldung automatically |
| 8. GP (Hausarzt) | Start looking early, waits run several weeks |
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Step 1: Register your address (Anmeldung) at the Bürgeramt
Register your address at the Bürgeramt within 14 days of move-in. The Anmeldung is a legal requirement and the starting point for the rest of this checklist.
Ask your landlord for the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung first. It confirms that you have moved in. The Bürgeramt will not process your registration without it.
Book your appointment the day you get your keys. Slots fill up fast, and this is the single biggest bottleneck in the whole process. In Berlin, book through service.berlin.de.
You are done when: you hold your Meldebescheinigung, the confirmation of your registration.
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Step 2: Book your residence permit appointment (non-EU citizens)
Book your Ausländerbehörde appointment in the same week as your Anmeldung to apply for a residence permit. EU citizens can move on to step 3.
Anmeldung registers your address. It does not cover your legal right to stay. That is a separate application, and waits for an appointment run weeks to months in Berlin or Munich.
The residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) is legally required by your employer to prove you have a valid work permit before you can start working in Germany. Additionally, it serves as your official ID to verify your lawful residence to authorities, banks, and health insurance providers.
If your visa expires before the appointment, ask for a Fiktionsbescheinigung. This document ensures your stay is legal in the meantime.
You are done when: you hold your Aufenthaltstitel, the residence permit, and have presented it to your employer.
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Step 3: Get a German SIM card
Buy a German SIM card in parallel with step 1. All providers need your passport and a German contact address. Your temporary accommodation is fine, and no Anmeldung is required.
Lebara is the easiest for non-German speakers, with a fully English website and support. Aldi Talk and Lidl Connect are budget prepaid alternatives. Vodafone CallYa and O2 Prepaid deliver an eSIM digitally right after the ID check.
Provider Best for Lebara Non-German speakers: fully English website and support Aldi Talk, Lidl Connect Budget prepaid Vodafone CallYa, O2 Prepaid Instant eSIM, delivered digitally after the ID check Choose Lebara if language matters most, a budget option if price matters most, and an eSIM if you need a number today.
You are done when: you can make a call and receive a text on your German number.
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Step 4: Start your health insurance
Start your health insurance on your first day, because cover is mandatory from day one. Employees under the income threshold are in the public system (GKV). TK is the strongest pick for English speakers, with a fully English app and hotline. Self-employed people and employees above the threshold can go private (PKV). Ottonova and Feather are the most English-friendly options.
Option Who it is for English-friendly pick Public (GKV) Employees under the income threshold TK: fully English app and hotline Private (PKV) Self-employed, or employees above the threshold Ottonova, Feather Most employees will land in the public column. The private route only opens if you are self-employed or earn above the threshold.
You are done when: you hold written confirmation of your cover.
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Step 5: Open a bank account
Open a bank account once you have your Meldebescheinigung. Wise is the one option you can start earlier, because it opens before you even land in Germany.
For the widest acceptance and no SCHUFA check, Wise is the safest starting point. It works for almost any passport and gives you a Belgian IBAN that most employers and landlords accept. N26 is fast too, with an English app, a five-minute video ID and no SCHUFA check. It restricts some nationalities, so check its accepted ID list first.
Option Strengths Watch out for Wise Opens before you land, works for almost any passport, no SCHUFA check, Belgian IBAN The IBAN is Belgian, though most employers and landlords accept it N26 English app, five-minute video ID, no SCHUFA check Restricts some nationalities Wise suits anyone who wants an account immediately or holds a less common passport. N26 suits readers with an accepted ID who want a quick app-based setup.
You are done when: you have an IBAN you can give your employer.
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Step 6: Wait for your Tax ID
Your Tax ID arrives by post, automatically, 2 to 5 weeks after your Anmeldung. No action is needed. Keep it safe and hand it to your employer.
It is different from a Steuernummer. You only get a Steuernummer later, if you are self-employed or file a tax return. Make sure your name is on your mailbox so the letter reaches you.
You are done when: the letter has arrived and your employer has your Tax ID.
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Step 7: Understand the Rundfunkbeitrag
Nothing needs registering for the Rundfunkbeitrag, but you should know what it is. It is Germany's mandatory public broadcasting fee, set at 18.36 EUR per month per household and billed quarterly at 55.08 EUR.
It is not optional and it is not tied to owning a TV. Every household pays it, the same way everyone contributes to public radio and TV infrastructure. The address data shared after your Anmeldung triggers it automatically, so you simply receive a letter with your account details. Our Rundfunkbeitrag guide explains how it applies to furnished flats.
You are done when: you have read the letter and set up payment.
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Step 8: Find a GP (Hausarzt)
Find a GP (Hausarzt) before you need one. This step does not depend on anything above, but start early. Appointment wait times run several weeks.
Choose a practice close to home. Ask whether it accepts new patients and whether the team speaks English.
You are done when: you are registered with a practice and have its number saved.
Your completion checklist
Use this list to check your progress by week. It groups the tasks by when they need your attention.
Week of arrival
- Wohnungsgeberbestätigung: received from your landlord.
- Bürgeramt appointment: booked on the day you got your keys.
- Residence permit appointment: booked, if you are a non-EU citizen.
- SIM card: active, with a German number.
- Health insurance: cover confirmed in writing.
Within 14 days
- Anmeldung: completed, Meldebescheinigung (registration) in hand.
- Bank account: opened, IBAN shared with your employer.
In the following weeks
- Tax ID letter: arrived and passed to your employer.
- Rundfunkbeitrag letter: received, payment set up.
- Hausarzt: registered with a practice.
- Fiktionsbescheinigung: requested if your visa expires before your appointment. It replaces the residence permit temporarily, until your appointment.
- Residence permit: arrived and presented to your employer.
What does a finished setup look like?
At the end, you hold a handful of documents and confirmations. These are your Meldebescheinigung (registration), your health insurance confirmation, your Tax ID letter and the Rundfunkbeitrag letter. You also have a German number, an IBAN and a GP.
Some parts of the picture look different from person to person. Non-EU citizens will also hold a confirmed residence permit appointment leading to an Aufenthaltstitel (residence permit), and possibly a Fiktionsbescheinigung to bridge the gap until the appointment. Self-employed readers will add a Steuernummer later.
A finished setup rarely happens in one go. Expect the paper trail to fill in over several weeks, because the Tax ID and the Rundfunkbeitrag letter come by post.
How long does it all take?
The active work is short. The waiting is long. Most of your time goes into booking appointments early and then waiting for the post.
Day one is the day you get your keys. Book the Bürgeramt appointment that day. In the same week, buy a SIM card, start your health insurance and book your residence permit appointment if you are a non-EU citizen to receive an Aufenthaltstitel (residence permit). Your Anmeldung itself must happen within 14 days of move-in.
After the Anmeldung, your Tax ID arrives 2 to 5 weeks later, and the Rundfunkbeitrag letter follows on its own. The residence permit appointment is the slowest item, with waits of weeks to months in Berlin or Munich. GP appointments also take several weeks, so search early.
Delays most often come from a late Wohnungsgeberbestätigung or a missed appointment slot. Both are avoidable with an early start.
What tips make this smoother?
A few small habits remove most of the friction.
💡 Tip: Ask your landlord for the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung before move-in day. Then you can book the Bürgeramt slot the moment you hold your keys.
💡 Tip: Open a Wise account before you fly. You then have an IBAN from day one and no gap while you wait for your Meldebescheinigung.
💡 Tip: Check N26's accepted ID list before you start the video check. A refused ID wastes a day.
💡 Tip: Choose an eSIM if you need a number immediately. Vodafone CallYa and O2 Prepaid deliver it right after the ID check.
What mistakes should you avoid?
These errors cost the most time, and each one is easy to rule out in advance.
- Waiting to book the Bürgeramt appointment. Slots fill up fast, and you have only 14 days.
- Assuming Anmeldung covers your right to stay. It does not. Non-EU citizens need a separate residence permit application.
- Letting your visa expire without a Fiktionsbescheinigung. Ask for it if your appointment falls after the expiry date.
- Mixing up the Tax ID and the Steuernummer. You get the Tax ID automatically. The Steuernummer only comes later, for self-employment or a tax return.
- Ignoring the Rundfunkbeitrag letter. The fee is mandatory for every household, whether or not you own a TV.
FAQs about the German admin checklist
What is the Anmeldung and why does it come first?
The Anmeldung is the official registration of your address with the local authority. In Berlin, that is the Bürgeramt. You must complete it within 14 days of moving in. The registration office will not process it without a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung. This is a confirmation from your landlord that you have moved in. Landlords are legally required to provide it. Ask for it before or on the day you collect your keys. Book your appointment on the same day. Slots fill up fast, and this is the biggest bottleneck in the whole checklist. After the appointment, you receive your Meldebescheinigung. This document is the key for several later steps. Your bank account step builds on it. Your Tax ID is triggered by it. Your broadcasting fee letter follows from it. Treat it as the first domino.
Do I need an Anmeldung to get a German SIM card?
No. You can buy a German SIM card before your Anmeldung. All providers in this guide need your passport and a German contact address. Your temporary accommodation counts as that address. This means you can sort your phone number in the same week you arrive. Do it in parallel with step 1, because a working number helps with appointment confirmations, bank verification and contact with your landlord. Lebara is the easiest option for non-German speakers. Its website and support are fully in English. Aldi Talk and Lidl Connect are budget prepaid alternatives. If you want service immediately, choose an eSIM from Vodafone CallYa or O2 Prepaid. Both deliver it digitally right after the ID check. Start with a prepaid plan. You can switch to a contract later, once you know what you need. Keep your passport handy during the ID check.
Do I have to pay the Rundfunkbeitrag if I do not own a TV?
Yes. Every household pays the Rundfunkbeitrag. It is Germany's mandatory public broadcasting fee. It does not depend on owning a TV. The fee is 18.36 EUR per month per household. It is billed quarterly, so each bill is 55.08 EUR. You do not register for it yourself. The address data shared after your Anmeldung triggers it automatically. You then receive a letter with your account details. Read that letter and pay it on time. Think of the fee the way you think of other shared infrastructure. Everyone contributes to public radio and TV, whether or not they use it. If you live with flatmates, check the letter and the official site to see how your household is counted, as it may well be that you can split the cost amongst all flatmates. For a fuller explanation, including how the fee applies to furnished flats, read our Rundfunkbeitrag guide.
Which health insurance should I choose as a newcomer?
Health insurance is mandatory from day one in Germany. Which system you join depends on your work situation. Employees under the income threshold join the public system, called GKV. TK is the strongest pick for English speakers. It offers a fully English app and hotline. Self-employed people and employees above the threshold can choose private insurance, called PKV. Ottonova and Feather are the most English-friendly options. Start your cover on your first day. Do not wait for your Anmeldung. Your employer will usually ask for proof of insurance, so keep your confirmation handy. Compare the two routes in the table above before you commit. A private plan can be hard to leave later, so read the terms carefully. Ask your employer or an independent adviser if you are unsure which route fits you.
What if my visa expires before my residence permit appointment?
Ask the Ausländerbehörde for a Fiktionsbescheinigung. This document keeps you legal while your application for an Aufenthaltstitel (residence permit) is pending. It matters when your visa expires before your appointment date. In Berlin and Munich, waits run weeks to months, so this situation is common. Do not assume that your Anmeldung covers you. It does not. The Anmeldung registers your address. It does not give you a legal right to stay. That is a separate application. Book your residence permit appointment in the same week as your Anmeldung. Bring your passport, your visa and your rental contract, and check the authority's website for the full document list. Keep a copy of every email and booking confirmation. These help if you ever need to show that you applied in time. If you cannot find any appointment, ask the authority about its urgent options.
Sources
- Service Berlin: appointments with the Bürgeramt
- Wunderflats Hub: Die Wohnungsgeberbestätigung ausstellen, Schritt für Schritt erklärt
- Wunderflats Hub: Rundfunkbeitrag, wer muss zahlen und was gilt für möblierte Wohnungen
- ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragsservice: Rundfunkbeitrag
- Bundeszentralamt für Steuern: Tax ID
