What should be done by day 14
| Task | Where | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Anmeldung (address registration) | Bürgeramt / Bürgerbüro | Passport, Wohnungsgeberbestätigung, registration form, for families: marriage/birth certificates |
| Bank account | Bank or online bank | Passport (+ Meldebescheinigung for most branch banks; some online banks accept you without it) |
| Health insurance membership | Krankenkasse of your choice | Employment contract; the employer needs the membership certificate |
| Residence permit appointment (non-EU) | Ausländerbehörde | Book now — it must happen before your visa expires |
| Documents to the employer | HR | IBAN, health insurer, tax ID (once it arrives), social security number, permit |
Anmeldung tips
- When you register, you'll be asked your religion. If you state Catholic, Protestant or another church that collects tax, church tax (8–9% of your income tax) is deducted from your salary. Answer truthfully. If you don't belong to one, say "keine" or "ohne".
- Ask for several printed copies of the Meldebescheinigung (registration certificate). Banks, employers and others will ask for it.
- Registration automatically triggers your tax ID letter (Chapter 9) and a letter from the Rundfunkbeitrag service (the broadcasting fee, €18.36 per household per month).
Non-EU: the permit timeline
- Many Ausländerbehörden now take applications online and give appointments weeks later. Applying before your visa expires is what counts. If the appointment is after the expiry date, you get a Fiktionsbescheinigung (§81(4) AufenthG), which keeps your status and right to work.
- Keep the confirmation of your application submission — it is your proof.
Two-week checklist
- ☐ Registered, Meldebescheinigung in hand.
- ☐ German IBAN given to employer.
- ☐ Krankenkasse chosen and membership confirmed.
- ☐ Ausländerbehörde application submitted / appointment booked.
- ☐ Name on letterbox and doorbell (otherwise post, including the tax ID letter, gets returned).