The first four weeks in Germany are the most important — and the most chaotic. You're trying to set up your life in a new country while navigating bureaucracy in a language you probably don't fully speak yet, in a system that assumes you already know how it works.
Here's a clear order of operations based on what actually needs to happen first and what can wait.
Week 1: The non-negotiables
Get a SIM card. First day, before anything else. You need a working German number for almost every registration process. Aldi Talk, Congstar, and O2 all have easy prepaid options available at any supermarket or electronics store without needing a German bank account or address yet.
Sort your accommodation. If you haven't already, your first priority is somewhere stable to sleep. Short-term furnished apartments are your best bet — services like Wunderflats, ExpatRio, or even Airbnb for the first few weeks. Avoid committing to a long-term rental before you've had time to explore neighborhoods.
Register your address (Anmeldung). This is the most time-sensitive step. You're legally required to register within 14 days of arriving in Germany. Go to your local Bürgeramt with your passport, rental agreement, and the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (a form your landlord signs confirming you live there). Book the appointment online in advance — walk-in slots are rare in big cities. Without your Anmeldung, almost everything else is blocked.
Week 2: Money and identity
Get a German bank account. With your Anmeldung certificate in hand, you can open a bank account. For expats, N26 and DKB are the easiest to open without German bureaucracy getting in the way. Traditional banks like Sparkasse or Deutsche Bank are useful long-term but harder to access in the first weeks.
Get your tax ID (Steuer-ID). This arrives by post 2–4 weeks after your Anmeldung, automatically. You don't apply for it — it just comes. Keep the letter. Your employer will need it, and it follows you for life in Germany.
Set up health insurance. If you're employed, your employer handles this — they'll ask you which public health insurer (Krankenkasse) you want, and the cost is split between you and them. TK (Techniker Krankenkasse) and AOK are the most common. If you're self-employed or on a visa without an employer yet, you'll need to arrange this yourself.
Week 3: Getting settled
Open a blocked account if needed. If you came on a student visa or are applying for one, a blocked account (Sperrkonto) at Fintiba or Coracle is required to prove you have sufficient funds. This should have been done before arrival, but if it wasn't, handle it now.
Register with the Ausländerbehörde. Depending on your visa type and nationality, you may need to register with the foreigners' office to get your residence permit card. Check whether this applies to you — EU citizens don't need this, but non-EU citizens usually do. Appointments fill up fast, so book as early as possible.
Get a local transport card. The Deutschlandticket gives you unlimited travel on all regional public transport across Germany for €49/month. It's one of the best deals in the country and makes getting around dramatically easier, especially while you're still finding your feet.
Week 4: The longer game
Start learning German. Even if your job is fully in English, German will make your daily life significantly easier. Start with an app (Duolingo, Babbel) or find a local VHS (Volkshochschule) language course — they're affordable and everywhere.
Sort your driving licence if needed. Germany recognizes EU driving licences directly. For non-EU licences, you have 6 months to drive on your foreign licence, after which you need to convert it to a German one. The process varies by country of origin.
Connect with expat communities. This sounds optional but it isn't, especially if you're arriving alone. Internations, local Facebook groups, and subreddits like r/germany are genuinely useful — not just for social life but for practical questions about things that don't make sense yet.
What about the visa side?
This checklist assumes you've already arrived with the right visa in place. If you're still figuring out which visa applies to your situation — work visa, study visa, Blue Card, job seeker visa — that's where we can help before you even get on the plane.
We guide internationals through the process personally, step by step. Take a look at our Services page or reach out on Telegram to talk through your situation.