ANKUNFT First Week in Germany Checklist.

You've landed, and the to-do list can feel endless. It isn't: most of it doesn't need to happen this week, and some of it doesn't need to happen at all until later. This checklist focuses on what actually matters most right now, roughly in order.

Still preparing to fly, or haven't left yet? Start with the Pre-Departure Checklist → instead: this page picks up right after you land.

Your confirmed German address is used for later registrations, and your phone quickly becomes essential for university communication, banking and appointments: worth sorting both early, even if nothing else is urgent yet.

Anmeldung means registering your residence with the local registration authority (Bürgeramt or Einwohnermeldeamt). If you've moved into accommodation in Germany, you generally have two weeks from your move-in date, not your arrival date, to register.

• Found your local Bürgeramt
• Checked whether you need an appointment
• Checked whether online registration is available
• Prepared your passport/ID
• Prepared your Wohnungsgeberbestätigung
• Prepared any city-specific form
• Completed registration within the deadline
• Kept your registration confirmation (Meldebescheinigung)

If your housing provider doesn't provide it in time, contact your local Bürgeramt directly rather than letting the deadline pass: don't just wait it out.

Health insurance matters for more than healthcare: it's also required for university enrolment.

• Confirmed your insurance is active
• Checked your university has received the required notification
• Asked your insurer if anything's still missing
• Saved your insurance documents
• Kept your insurance card/details accessible

For most students, the insurer transmits confirmation electronically, directly to the university: commonly referred to as the M10 notification. Confirm with your specific insurer that it's actually been sent, rather than assuming it happened on its own.

This step applies if you're studying at a university. Doing an Ausbildung instead? Your onboarding runs through your training company and vocational school, not Immatrikulation: see the Ausbildung Roadmap → for what that involves.

1. Completed Immatrikulation (enrolment)
2. Paid the Semesterbeitrag by the deadline
3. Submitted any outstanding documents
4. Confirmed your enrolment status
5. Downloaded your Immatrikulationsbescheinigung
6. Activated your university email/account
7. Collected your student ID
8. Checked orientation/induction dates
9. Found your faculty/department and campus buildings

Don't assume every university works the same way. Exact documents, fees, deadlines and onboarding steps are university-specific: your enrolment portal always takes priority over this checklist. More on the full journey: Study in Germany →

The first few days can be expensive. Before relying on your normal financial setup, make sure you can actually pay for the basics:

A German bank account can make everyday payments easier, but there's no universal rule that you need one immediately. Check what your blocked-account provider, landlord and university actually require before assuming you need a German account right away: requirements and onboarding steps differ by bank.

This section applies depending on your nationality and current immigration status: EU/EEA and Swiss citizens generally don't need this step. If you need a German residence title (Aufenthaltstitel):

1. Register your addressAnmeldung first
2. Contact your AusländerbehördeCheck its current procedure & document list
3. Apply in good timeBefore your visa's validity runs out

• Checked the validity and conditions of your current visa
• Identified your responsible Ausländerbehörde
• Checked its current application procedure
• Requested/booked an appointment, where required
• Checked the authority's current document list
• Kept proof of your application/contact

Germany still relies heavily on physical mail for important documents.

📄 Your Germany document folder

Build one physical folder and one digital backup, covering:

Don't buy a long-term transport product until you know what your university's semester ticket already covers. And you don't need to explore everything immediately: just know where the places you'll actually need are.

All three are free. From a mobile phone, you need a SIM card in the phone: Germany has blocked emergency calls without a SIM since 2009. Non-urgent crime reports can also go through the police's official Onlinewache.

Also save:

Not everything needs solving this week. These can normally wait:

Focus first on anything that has an actual deadline: none of the above does.

Tick these off as you go: it remembers where you left off on this device, and the arrivals board at the top follows along.

Still building your everyday German? Learn German resources →

• Counting the Anmeldung deadline from arrival, not move-in. These aren't always the same date.
• Assuming a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung delay excuses a late registration. Contact the Bürgeramt instead of waiting it out.
• Assuming private insurance automatically satisfies your university. Check whether an exemption is actually needed.
• Trying to obtain your Steuer-ID manually in week one. It arrives automatically by post: chasing it early wastes time.
• Leaving your residence-permit appointment until your visa is about to expire. Book it early: slots fill up fast in bigger cities.
• Assuming every blocked-account provider releases funds the same way. Check your specific provider's process.

This page is a practical planning tool, not legal, financial or immigration advice. For anything time-critical, confirm directly against these official sources.

Registration, insurance, immigration and financial requirements vary by nationality, university and individual circumstances. This guide doesn't replace the official instructions of your university, your Bürgeramt, your Ausländerbehörde or your health insurer. Last reviewed: September 2026.