Your first weeks in Germany

Book a Bürgeramt appointment and bring your landlord confirmation. Everything else depends on this.

Prepaid works without a SCHUFA check and can be activated the same day.

The Deutschlandticket covers regional transport nationwide for a flat monthly fee.

You will need an IBAN for rent, salary and almost every contract.

Public (gesetzlich) or private. Employees are usually in the public system by default.

Arrives by post after Anmeldung. Your employer needs it to tax you correctly.

Installation appointments can take two to six weeks — order early.

Take a meter reading on your first day and register with a provider.

Your German credit record. One free self-report per year.

Book at the Ausländerbehörde as soon as your Anmeldung is done.

Check whether your licence can be exchanged before the six-month window closes.

Waiting lists are long — register as early as you can.

Integration courses and VHS classes are the cheapest route to B1.

Haftpflicht costs a few euros a month and is expected by most landlords.