Your first 30 days in Germany: complete checklist

The first month in Germany is a sequence: some steps physically cannot happen before others. This checklist orders everything by what unlocks what.

Days 1–3: Anmeldung and the essentials

Book your Anmeldung (city registration) appointment the moment you have keys. Slots in Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg are often booked out weeks ahead, so check daily for cancellations if nothing is available. You'll need your passport, lease, and a signed Wohnungsgeberbestätigung from your landlord. You have 14 days from move-in to register by law, though in practice most Bürgeramt offices allow some flexibility if appointments genuinely weren't available.

Buy a European SIM or eSIM immediately if you haven't already. You'll need a working German or EU number for almost every account you open this month.

Days 3–7: bank account and health insurance

With your Anmeldung confirmation (the Meldebescheinigung) in hand, open a bank account, which can be done same-day if you didn't already set one up before arrival. Enrol with a health insurance provider (Krankenkasse) in parallel; your employer will need the fund's name for payroll, and students need proof of coverage before finalising university enrolment.

If you're employed, hand your employer your bank IBAN and insurance confirmation as soon as both exist. Delays here can push back your first paycheck.

Days 7–14: tax ID and registrations

Your Steuer-Identifikationsnummer (tax ID) is generated automatically after your Anmeldung and mailed to your registered address. It usually arrives within two to three weeks, sometimes longer. Your employer needs it to run payroll correctly, so flag to HR that it's in progress if it hasn't arrived by your start date.

Register for the Rundfunkbeitrag (public broadcasting fee) with ARD, ZDF, and Deutschlandradio's joint Beitragsservice. Every household must pay this regardless of whether you own a TV, currently around €18.36/month, billed per address rather than per person. It's compulsory and unregistered households do get followed up on. If you're sharing an address with someone else, such as a flatmate or family member, agree upfront who registers and link your ARD account number to theirs so the household isn't billed twice.

Set up home internet if you haven't. Providers like Vodafone, O2, Deutsche Telekom, and 1&1 typically need 2–4 weeks to install a line, so this is worth starting in week one even though it lands in this window.

Days 14–21: settle the practical stuff

• Phone contract: switch from a prepaid SIM to a proper contract (Handyvertrag) once you have a bank account and, ideally, some SCHUFA history; contracts are cheaper than prepaid long-term.
• Supermarkets: Rewe, Edeka, and Lidl cover most needs; Aldi and Netto are budget-friendly; bring your own bags, and note that most shops close on Sundays entirely.
• Transport: the Deutschlandticket (around €63/month, occasionally discounted regionally) covers regional and local public transport nationwide, worth getting even before you've decided on a car.
• Liability insurance (Haftpflichtversicherung): not legally required but nearly universal, cheap, and covers you for accidental damage you cause to others.

Days 21–30: the finishing touches

• Confirm your Anmeldung details match your bank, insurance, and employer records exactly; mismatches cause delays later.
• If applicable, book your residence permit appointment at the Ausländerbehörde. These have some of the longest wait times of any appointment in Germany, so book the moment your visa situation allows it.
• Save the following emergency numbers: 112 (fire/ambulance, EU-wide), 110 (police), and locate your nearest Apotheke (pharmacy) for after-hours medical needs.
• Register your child for school or Kindergarten if relocating as a family. Municipal deadlines vary and some cities have long waitlists.

A quick reference order

1. Anmeldung appointment
2. Bank account
3. Health insurance
4. Employer notification (IBAN + insurance)
5. Tax ID (arrives automatically)
6. Rundfunkbeitrag registration
7. Internet and phone contract
8. Deutschlandticket and liability insurance
9. Residence permit appointment (if applicable)