What to do after Anmeldung: step-by-step checklist for non-EU newcomers

Once your Anmeldung is sorted, the authorities will hand over your Meldebescheinigung (registration certificate). This piece of paper is what makes you official – it’s often requested for health insurance, local bank accounts and other daily needs. To help you navigate the next steps, here is the non-EU newcomer checklist for your relocation to Germany.

This article was written in June 2026. Requirements may vary by municipality, immigration status, provider, and personal circumstances.

Set up a local German bank account

Open a local German bank account with a German IBAN after registration to receive salary and manage finances smoothly – foreign accounts may not be suitable in some cases, for example, when receiving scholarships.

Online options like N26 or Revolut often allow you to open an account with fewer documents and within a day. At the same time, banks like Commerzbank or Deutsche Bank make sense if you prefer more traditional ways of managing money and want to have an opportunity to visit a physical office.

Note for students and job seekers: If you are here on a visa that requires a blocked account (Sperrkonto), in most cases, you’ll need to link your new German IBAN to it. This way, you can trigger your monthly payouts and unfreeze the allowance.

After you open a local bank account, you can start sending money home with Profee. 90% of our transfers are delivered within minutes and the service is easy to use. We’ll make sure your money reaches home on time.

Secure your mandatory health insurance registration

Germany generally requires residents to have health insurance. Most residents access it through:

• statutory providers like TK (Techniker Krankenkasse), Barmer, or AOK.
• or private health insurance, either through traditional insurers or tailored expat plans.

Which one you're eligible for depends on your employment status, salary, student status and age, previous insurance history, self-employment, civil servant status and other factors.

Send your provider a copy of the Meldebescheinigung if they ask for it when updating your profile. When the provider finishes the registration process, they usually mail the physical card to your new address.

Apply for your official residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel)

Before your entry visa expires (check the deadline on your document), you must apply for a residence permit at the Ausländerbehörde. Appointments are hard to get, so book your slot on their portal the exact same day you finish your Anmeldung. Bring these core documents:

• Your valid passport and current entry visa
• Application form (find it on the local immigration office website)
• Your Meldebescheinigung
• Proof of your health insurance registration
• Biometric passport photos in the accepted format
• Your employment contract or university enrolment certificate
• Proof of secure livelihood, like your blocked account statements

Rules and document lists may differ, so double-check the exact list on your local authority's website before going.

‘A modern country of immigration opens doors and hearts. It demonstrates a genuinely welcoming culture in everyday life with few bureaucratic obstacles. We need skilled workers from all around the world as our own population is growing older and there are already many vacant positions here.’ – Federal Labour Minister Hubertus Heil.

Handle your utilities setup and home contracts

The base rent usually doesn’t include utilities: water and heating may be included in the additional monthly charges, while electricity, internet, and sometimes gas must be arranged separately.

• Electricity and gas. If you don’t choose an electricity company, the local default supplier will normally provide electricity automatically. This default plan (Grundversorgung) can be more expensive than other offers, so compare prices before choosing a contract on Check24 or Verivox.
• Internet and mobile. Now that you have your registration sorted, you can finally drop the temporary prepaid SIM cards. Sign up for proper home internet and post-paid mobile contracts with providers like Telekom, Vodafone, or O2.

Wait for your Tax ID (Steuer-ID)

Your 11-digit Tax ID (Steueridentifikationsnummer) will arrive by post in 2 to 5 weeks after you’re done with Anmeldung (waiting times are approximate). The authorities forward your details directly, so you don’t need to fill out a separate application.

Hand this number to your employer after you get it. Without it, employers often put you in Tax Class 6, which generally means higher deductions from your salary. You may eventually get that money back through a later payroll calculation or when filing a tax return, but it’s not guaranteed.

Prepare for the mandatory TV tax (Rundfunkbeitrag)

TV tax (Rundfunkbeitrag) is currently 18.36 EUR per month (as of June 2026). It catches most expats off guard, but this broadcasting fee is strictly mandatory per household – it doesn’t matter if you don’t own a television.

The authorities share your Anmeldung data with the Beitragsservice automatically, but it’s better to go to rundfunkbeitrag.de after registering your address and pick the option that fits your living situation:

• Scenario A. You live alone or are the primary payer: Choose Wohnung anmelden (Register Apartment). Enter your move-in date and set up an automatic direct debit – the office will post your unique 9-digit Beitragsnummer (contribution number) to you.
• Scenario B. You are moving into an existing shared flat/WG: Because the rule is strictly one fee per apartment, you don’t need to pay twice. Get your flatmate's 9-digit Beitragsnummer, select Wohnung ist bereits angemeldet (Apartment is already registered) on the portal, and submit their number to prove your household is covered.

Inform your employer and finalise onboarding

Hand your paperwork to HR before the first payroll. To make sure your salary arrives in your German bank account, send them this package:

• Your 11-digit Tax ID (Steuer-ID)
• Your local German IBAN when required
• Your health insurance membership certificate (Mitgliedsbescheinigung)
• A copy of your Meldebescheinigung
• A copy of your work authorisation or residence permit

Always double-check this list with your company, as rules may differ.

FAQ – Relocation to Germany