Moving to Germany 2026: Anmeldung, Insurance and Costs

Written and reviewed by the EuroGulf Guide editor. Last checked: October 2026.

Moving to Germany comes down to a short list of legal must-dos, done in the right order. Within two weeks of moving into a flat you must register your address (Anmeldung) at the local residents’ registration office. Non-EU nationals must also apply for their residence permit at the local immigration authority (Auslaenderbehoerde). Health insurance is compulsory for everyone, and your tax identification number is posted to you automatically after registration. Rent is usually the biggest cost, and the deposit can be up to three months’ basic rent.

This guide walks through your first weeks step by step: housing, registration, residence permit, health insurance, tax ID, banking and a realistic look at monthly costs. It is written for people arriving to work, study or look for a job. Information comes from Make it in Germany, BAMF, the DAAD, the Federal Ministry of Health and other federal sources, as of October 2026.

A personal note on why I wrote this: when my family moved abroad in 2025, the visa was only the beginning. The real work was the chain that followed, where one office needs a document that only another office can give you. I have not lived in Germany, but that chain looks very familiar there, so this guide focuses on the order of steps.

Quick facts: moving to Germany (as of October 2026)

Item	Details
Address registration (Anmeldung)	Within 2 weeks of moving into a flat (Federal Registration Act, Section 17)
What you need to register	Passport or ID and a landlord’s confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestaetigung)
Residence permit	Non-EU nationals apply in person at the local immigration authority
Health insurance	Compulsory for everyone, statutory or private
Statutory insurance rate 2026	14.6% general rate plus an average additional contribution of 2.9%, shared with your employer
Compulsory insurance income limit 2026	EUR 77,400 a year; above this, employees may choose private insurance
Tax ID	Sent by post by the Federal Central Tax Office after you register
Rental deposit	Up to 3 months’ basic rent (Kaltmiete)
Broadcasting fee	EUR 18.36 per month per household
Foreign driving licence	Usable for up to 6 months, then you may need a German licence

Step 1: Find somewhere you can register

Make it in Germany warns that holiday flats, hostels and hotels usually cannot be registered as your residence. Many newcomers start in a furnished short let or a room in a shared flat (WG) while they search for something long term. Demand is high in Munich, Frankfurt and Berlin, and ads are often online for only a day or two, so prepare a rental application folder in advance: copies of your passport and residence title, an employment contract or recent payslips, and proof of funds.

Before you sign, check whether a price is Kaltmiete (basic rent) or Warmmiete (rent including service charges such as heating, water and waste). Electricity and internet are often separate. A deposit (Kaution) of up to three months’ basic rent is common and is refunded when you move out, minus any damage.

Watch for scams. Make it in Germany and the DAAD both stress that you should not pay rent or a deposit before signing a tenancy agreement and receiving the keys. Charging for a viewing is not allowed. Warning signs include a landlord who is “abroad”, a non-German IBAN, pressure to pay immediately, and photos that look too perfect.

My advice: do not sign a long lease from abroad unless you have seen the flat, at least by live video. If I were moving this year, I would book a furnished place for the first one to three months that explicitly allows address registration, and ask about this in writing before paying.

Step 2: Register your address (Anmeldung)

Section 17 of the Federal Registration Act (Bundesmeldegesetz) says anyone who moves into a flat must register with the registration office within two weeks. Bring:

Your passport or national ID
The landlord’s confirmation of move-in (Wohnungsgeberbestaetigung), completed and signed
Any family members’ documents, if they are moving in with you

Appointments are often booked online through your city’s website. You receive a registration certificate (Meldebestaetigung), which you will need for banking, your tax ID and your residence permit. BAMF notes that registration is compulsory and is what triggers your tax identification number.

Step 3: Apply for your residence permit

If you are not an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, BAMF says you must go to the immigration authority (Auslaenderbehoerde) in person after arriving to apply for your residence title, which is issued as an electronic card. Do this before the national visa in your passport expires. Each office publishes its own document list and booking system, so check your city’s immigration authority website as soon as you have registered your address.

For details on the student route, see our Germany student visa guide. If you are coming to look for work, read our Germany Opportunity Card guide.

Step 4: Sort out health insurance

Make it in Germany is clear that health insurance is compulsory, and that you should have travel health insurance covering the gap between arrival and the start of your regular insurance. There are two systems:

Statutory health insurance (GKV)

Most employees are in the statutory system. According to the Federal Ministry of Health, the general contribution rate in 2026 is 14.6% of contributory income, plus each fund’s own additional contribution, which averages 2.9% in 2026. Employers and employees each pay half, including the additional contribution, and income is counted only up to EUR 5,812.50 a month. A non-working spouse and children can usually be covered free through family insurance, which matters a lot if you move as a family.

Private health insurance (PKV)

Employees earning more than EUR 77,400 a year in 2026 can choose private insurance. Premiums depend on age and health rather than income, children are not covered free, and switching back to the statutory system later can be very difficult. Make it in Germany also notes that non-EU jobseekers who are not employed, for example on a jobseeker visa, must take out private insurance.

Students

Students are generally required to take out statutory insurance, with some exceptions, such as students over 30.

Step 5: Wait for your tax ID

You do not apply for the tax identification number (Steuer-ID). The Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt) sends it by post once the registration office has transmitted your data. If it has not arrived after three months, you can request it from the BZSt with your name, address, date and place of birth. Your employer needs this number for payroll.

Step 6: Open a bank account

A German current account makes rent, salary and contracts much easier. Under German law (Zahlungskontengesetz), consumers legally resident in the EU have a right to a basic payment account (Basiskonto) if they do not already have a payment account in Germany. BaFin explains the rules and limited grounds for refusal. Many landlords will also want to see a German account and, later, a Schufa credit report, which you can only build after living in Germany for a while.

Step 7: Everyday admin you will hear about

Broadcasting fee (Rundfunkbeitrag). EUR 18.36 a month per household, whether or not you own a TV. The contribution service writes to you after you register. Flatmates share one fee.
Utilities and internet. If not included in the rent, you are automatically supplied by the local default energy supplier until you choose a contract. Internet installation can take weeks, so order early.
Driving. BAMF says you can drive on a foreign licence for up to six months.
School. Children living in Germany must attend school, and most state schools are free.

What does it cost to live in Germany?

Costs depend heavily on the city and your household. Official figures for students give a useful baseline, as of October 2026:

Cost item	Official figure
Typical student budget	EUR 900 to 1,200 per month, depending on city (DAAD)
Average student spending	EUR 876 per month (DZHW Social Survey 2023, via DAAD)
Average student accommodation	Around EUR 489 per month (DAAD)
Room in a shared flat	Around EUR 790 in Munich, EUR 328 in Jena (DAAD)
Student residence room	Around EUR 280 per month on average (DAAD)
Health insurance (employee)	Half of 14.6% plus half of your fund’s additional rate, on income up to EUR 5,812.50 a month
Broadcasting fee	EUR 18.36 per month per household
Rental deposit	Up to 3 months’ basic rent, paid once
Estate agent (if you hire one)	Usually around 2 to 3 months’ rent (Make it in Germany)

Working professionals and families should expect higher housing costs than student averages, especially in large cities. Search your city name plus “Mietspiegel” to see the local rent index before you negotiate.

Documents to bring from home

Passport valid for your whole planned stay, plus copies
Visa and the documents used for it
Birth and marriage certificates for all family members, with certified translations if needed
Degree certificates and transcripts, plus any recognition decision
Employment contract or university admission
Proof of health insurance for the first weeks
Driving licence, and an international permit if your country issues one
Children’s school reports and vaccination records

Timeline for your first weeks

When	What to do
Before travel	Book a registrable short let, buy travel health insurance, gather certified documents
Days 1 to 14	Register your address (Anmeldung) and collect your Meldebestaetigung
Weeks 1 to 4	Join a health insurance fund, open a bank account, start your residence permit appointment
Weeks 2 to 6	Tax ID arrives by post; give it to your employer
Before your visa expires	Attend the immigration authority appointment
Within 6 months	Check whether you need to convert your driving licence

Common mistakes to avoid

Missing the two-week registration window. It is a legal duty, and many other steps depend on it.
Paying a deposit before signing. A request for advance payment is a typical scam pattern.
Letting your visa expire before the residence permit appointment. Book as soon as you are registered.
Leaving gaps in health insurance. Cover must be continuous from arrival.
Choosing private insurance without thinking long term. Switching back is often not possible.
Assuming you must apply for the tax ID. It is sent automatically after registration.

I check these steps against federal sources, but city offices handle details differently. If something here does not match what you experienced, email contact@eurogulfguide.com so I can review it.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to register my address in Germany?

Two weeks from moving into the flat, under Section 17 of the Federal Registration Act. You need your ID and the landlord’s move-in confirmation.

Is health insurance mandatory in Germany?

Yes. Everyone living in Germany needs statutory or private health insurance. Employees earning up to EUR 77,400 a year in 2026 are generally in the statutory system.

How much money do I need to move to Germany?

It depends on your city and household. The DAAD estimates EUR 900 to 1,200 a month for students. Add a rental deposit of up to three months’ basic rent and your first month’s rent.

When will I get my tax ID?

After you register. The Federal Central Tax Office posts it once it receives your data from the registration office. If nothing arrives within three months, you can request it.

Can my family get health insurance through me?

In the statutory system, a non-working spouse and children can usually be included free of charge through family insurance. Private insurance charges separately for each person.

Official sources

Rules, rates and local procedures in Germany change and can differ between cities and federal states. This guide is general information, not legal, tax or insurance advice. Check with your local registration office, immigration authority and health insurer. Last checked October 2026.

Moving to Germany 2026: Anmeldung, Health Insurance, Costs and Your First Weeks