Moving to Germany: the order you actually do it in

Moving to Germany involves a lot of paperwork, and most of the stress comes not from any single step but from not knowing what order things happen in. Which comes first: the flat or the residence permit? Do you need a bank account before you can register an address, or the other way around? This guide lays out the sequence most people actually follow, so you can see what’s next instead of guessing.

1. Work out which route fits you

Before anything else, figure out which residence permit or visa category actually applies to you. Germany has several routes in: skilled-worker visas, the EU Blue Card, the Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) for jobseekers, family reunification, study permits, and more, and each has different requirements and a different amount of paperwork. Picking the wrong one wastes months. Our visa route finder walks through your situation and points you at the category most people in your position use.

If you’re weighing the Opportunity Card specifically, it works on a points system based on qualifications, age, language skills and work experience; run your own numbers through the Opportunity Card points calculator rather than guessing whether you’d qualify.

2. Gather what your route needs

Once you know your route, each one has its own checklist: recognised qualifications, a job offer, a minimum salary, or proof you can support yourself. If your path runs through the Blue Card, there’s a salary and qualification threshold to clear: check it with the EU Blue Card checker rather than relying on a number you saw somewhere else, since these thresholds are reviewed and change over time.

Many routes also require you to prove you can support yourself financially: commonly by opening a blocked account (Sperrkonto) and depositing a set amount before you travel. The required amount is set centrally and updated periodically, so don’t rely on a figure you’ve seen in an old forum post; our blocked-account calculator works out the current figure and shows you how a blocked account works.

3. Apply and enter Germany

With your documents together, you apply: either for a national (D) visa at a German embassy or consulate in your home country, or in some cases for a residence permit after entering visa-free, depending on your nationality and route. Processing times vary a lot by consulate and season, so this is usually the step where patience matters most. Once approved, you enter Germany, often on a temporary visa that you’ll later convert to a full residence permit at a local immigration office (Ausländerbehörde).

4. Find somewhere to live

You’ll need a fixed address before you can do almost anything else administratively in Germany, so sorting accommodation early pays off. Many landlords ask for German-specific documents (a Schufa credit report, proof of income, sometimes a guarantor) that can be hard to produce before you’ve even arrived; a temporary furnished rental is a common bridge while you look for something longer-term. Whatever you choose, keep the tenancy confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) your landlord gives you; you’ll need it for the next step.

5. Anmeldung: the step that unlocks everything

This is the step that catches newcomers out the most. Anmeldung is the process of registering your address with the local citizens’ office (Bürgeramt or Einwohnermeldeamt). You generally need to do this within about two weeks of moving into a permanent address, and you’ll need your passport, your visa or entry permit, and the landlord’s confirmation from step 4. Book an appointment as early as you can; in larger cities, slots can be scarce.

Anmeldung matters far more than its bureaucratic name suggests, because almost everything that follows depends on it: opening a full bank account, registering for health insurance, getting a phone contract, and converting your visa into a residence permit all typically require the registration certificate (Anmeldebestätigung) you receive at the end of this appointment.

6. Your tax ID arrives after Anmeldung

Once you’re registered, the tax office automatically posts you a Steuer-Identifikationsnummer (tax ID): you don’t need to apply for it separately, and it arrives by mail a little later. Keep it safe: your employer will ask for it before your first payslip, since payroll and social-security contributions won’t run correctly without it. If you want to understand what actually comes out of your paycheck once you’re earning, the German net-salary calculator turns a gross offer into a real take-home figure.

7. Sort out health insurance

Health insurance is mandatory in Germany, and for most employees the choice is between the public system (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung) and, for those who qualify, private insurance. The right choice depends on your income, employment status and personal circumstances, and it has a real effect on your monthly costs either way. Rather than estimating, the health insurance calculator compares public and private costs for your situation so you can decide with real numbers.

8. Open a full bank account, then get paid

With your Anmeldung certificate in hand, you can usually upgrade from a blocked account (or open a fresh account) to a normal current account (Girokonto) that you’ll use for daily life and receiving your salary. Give your employer your account details, tax ID and health-insurance confirmation as early as possible; payroll departments generally can’t process your first pay run properly without all three.

9. Longer term: settlement and permanent residence

Once you’re settled in, the milestones shift from “getting set up” to “staying”. Most residence permits are tied to a renewal timeline, and after a period of continuous residence (which varies by route and can be shorter for Blue Card holders or those with strong German language skills) you may become eligible for a settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) or, eventually, citizenship. The exact conditions depend on your permit type and change from time to time, so check the current rules on BAMF or Make it in Germany when you’re approaching that stage rather than relying on what you read when you first arrived.

The short version

There’s no way to fully skip the sequence (Germany’s systems are built so each step unlocks the next), but knowing it in advance turns a confusing few months into a checklist: pick your route, gather what it needs, apply, find a home, register it, wait for your tax ID and get insured, then open your account and get paid. Each of those steps has a free tool on this site to help you get the numbers right rather than guess.