Resources for Newcomers to Germany

Welcome to Germany! Moving to a new country can be both exciting and overwhelming. This resources page provides all the essential information to help you settle in smoothly, from legal requirements and daily life essentials to job hunting and cultural tips.

📜 Legal & Administrative Tasks

🏛️ Registering Your Address (Anmeldung)

• What is it? When moving to Germany, you must register your address at the local Bürgeramt (citizen's office) within 14 days of arrival.

• Where to do it? Find your local Bürgeramt here.

• Documents Needed:

  • Passport

  • Rental contract (Mietvertrag)

  • Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (landlord confirmation form)

🆔 Residence Permit (Aufenthaltstitel)

• Who needs it? If you are not an EU/EEA citizen, you may need a residence permit.

• Apply at the Ausländerbehörde (foreigners' office) in your city.

• Types of Residence Permits:

  • Study Visa (Studentenvisum)

  • Work Visa (Arbeitsvisum)

  • Freelance/Self-Employed Visa

💳 German Health Insurance (Krankenversicherung)

• Mandatory for all residents (public or private).

• Top Public Providers: TK (Techniker Krankenkasse), AOK, Barmer.

• Top Private Providers: Allianz, Mawista (for students/expats).

🏡 Housing & Utilities

🏠 Finding an Apartment (Wohnungssuche)

• Popular Rental Websites:

  • Immobilienscout24.de

  • WG-Gesucht.de (for shared flats)

  • Immonet.de

• Documents Needed for Renting:

  • Proof of income (Lohnabrechnung)

  • SCHUFA Credit Report (Get it from MeineSchufa.de)

  • Copy of your ID/passport

🔌 Setting Up Utilities

• Electricity Providers: Vattenfall, E.ON, EnBW

• Internet Providers: Telekom, Vodafone, O2

• Water & Garbage: Usually included in Nebenkosten (additional costs) in rent

🚗 Transportation & Mobility

🚆 Public Transport

• Train & Bus Schedules: Deutsche Bahn

• Local Transport Apps:

  • DB Navigator – Train schedules

  • Citymapper – Best for urban travel

  • Nextbike – Bike rental service

🚘 Driving in Germany

• License Exchange: If you're from the EU/EEA, your license is valid.

• Non-EU Licenses: Check if your country has an exchange agreement or if you need to take a test.

• Car Rentals & Ride-sharing: SIXT, Miles, BlaBlaCar

💼 Finding a Job in Germany

🔍 Job Search Websites

• Indeed.de

• Stepstone.de

• LinkedIn Jobs

• EURES (EU Job Portal)

🏢 Freelancing & Business Registration

• Freelancers need to register as self-employed at the Finanzamt (tax office).

• Platforms to find freelance work:

  • Fiverr, Upwork, Malt.de

💰 Taxes & Social Security

• Tax ID (Steuer-ID): Automatically assigned after Anmeldung.

• Tax Class (Steuerklasse): Determines how much tax you pay.

🏥 Healthcare & Emergencies

🚨 Emergency Numbers

• 112 – Fire & Medical Emergency 🚑

• 110 – Police 🚓

• 116 117 – Non-emergency doctor on-call

🏥 Finding a Doctor

• Hausarzt (General Practitioner): First point of contact.

• Doctor Finder: Doctolib (for online appointments).

• Pharmacies (Apotheken): Look for a green "A" sign or use the 24-hour pharmacy finder.

🛍️ Shopping & Daily Life

🛒 Supermarkets & Grocery Stores

• Budget-Friendly: Aldi, Lidl, Netto

• Standard: Rewe, Edeka, Kaufland

• Organic Stores: Bio Company, Alnatura

• International Stores: Turkish, Asian, and Middle Eastern markets available in most cities.

📦 Online Shopping & Delivery

• Amazon.de

• Zalando.de (Clothing)

• Lieferando.de (Food delivery)

📚 Education & Language Learning

🏫 Studying in Germany

• Tuition-Free Public Universities – For EU and some non-EU students.

• DAAD Scholarships – For international students.

🗣️ Learning German

• Online Courses:

  • DuoLingo

  • Goethe Institute

• In-Person Courses:

  • Volkshochschule (VHS) – Affordable government-sponsored classes.

  • Private Language Schools: Berlitz, DeutschAkademie

🎭 Culture, Events & Social Life

🎉 Annual Festivals & Events

• Oktoberfest (Munich, Sept-Oct) – The world-famous beer festival 🍻

• Christmas Markets (Nov-Dec) – Found in almost every German city! 🎄

• Carnival (February/March) – Celebrated in Cologne, Mainz, and Düsseldorf.

🎟️ Entertainment & Things to Do

• Museums: Check the Museum Pass for discounts.

• Theater & Opera: Berlin, Hamburg, Munich have world-class venues.

• Nightlife & Bars: Germany has vibrant beer gardens, clubs, and pubs.

🤝 Expat & Community Support

💬 Expat Groups & Forums

• Toytown Germany – Expat forum

• InterNations – Global expat network

• Local Facebook Groups for expats in each city

📌 Final Tips for Newcomers

✅ Always carry cash – Not all places accept credit cards.
✅ Sundays are quiet – Shops are closed, plan accordingly!
✅ Respect Recycling Rules – Germany has strict waste separation.

Need more help? Bookmark this Resources Page and check back for updates! 🚀