Moving to Germany: your relocation checklist
How to move to Germany: the visa and residency routes, cost of living, banking, healthcare and taxes you'll deal with, organized by phase. Generate a free plan tailored to your passport, family, and budget below.
Consumer prices run about 8% above the EU average, the average advertised salary is about €44,186 a year and English proficiency is rated “high” (EF EPI).
Moving from the United States? See the Germany from the USA guide.
Budgeting the move? See the cost of living in Germany.
Germany at a glance
Live and regularly refreshed data, each fact with its source.
Climate · Berlin
Jan 2° · Jul 20°
Open-Meteo
Air quality · Berlin
AQI 50 · Good
WAQI
Prices vs EU average
+8%
Eurostat 2025
Internet
~95 Mbps median
Ookla
Messengers
No known issues
OONI, 6 months to July 2026
Foreign-born residents
19.8% of population
World Bank 2024
Population
83.5M
World Bank 2025
Population density
238 / km²
World Bank 2023
Unemployment
3.7%
World Bank 2025
Avg advertised salary
€44,186 / yr
Adzuna, June 2026
English proficiency
high
EF EPI
Safety advisory
Level 2 · Exercise Increased Caution
U.S. State Dept
Currency
EUR
ISO 4217
Timezone
UTC+2
Open-Meteo
No inbound regime (worldwide taxation)
Residents are taxed on worldwide income
Germany has no special expat tax break; progressive rates up to 45% plus solidarity surcharge apply once you become tax resident.
Verified June 2026 · Finance Ministry
Getting set up in Germany: key steps & official resources
The main immigration, tax, healthcare and housing bodies you'll deal with, with the official portals and typical costs. Curated and hand-verified — last reviewed June 2026. Figures are approximate; always confirm the current numbers on the official site.
- You MUST do the Anmeldung (address registration) at the local Bürgeramt, usually within 14 days of moving in — almost everything (bank, tax ID, contracts) depends on it.
- Residence permits are issued by the Ausländerbehörde; skilled workers often use the EU Blue Card (www.make-it-in-germany.com).
- Tax ID (Steuer-Identifikationsnummer) is mailed automatically after Anmeldung; the tax office is the Finanzamt (www.elster.de).
- Health insurance is mandatory — public (gesetzliche, e.g. TK, AOK, Barmer) or private; proof is needed for many steps.
- Renting usually requires a SCHUFA credit report and often a Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung. Portals: ImmoScout24 (www.immobilienscout24.de), WG-Gesucht (www.wg-gesucht.de), Immowelt. Emergency number is 112.
- Key figures (approximate — verify current values): Anmeldung is free but big-city Bürgeramt slots book out weeks ahead; the EU Blue Card salary threshold is ~€48,300/year (2025, lower ~€43,760 for shortage occupations); students need a blocked account (Sperrkonto) of ~€11,904/year; public health insurance costs ~14.6% of income plus an insurer surcharge; rental deposits are legally capped at 3 months' cold rent (Kaltmiete).
The Germany relocation checklist at a glance
1Before you go
- Confirm which visa or residency route fits your situation
- Gather and, where needed, apostille/translate key documents
- Sort out international health insurance for the gap period
- Budget the move and notify your bank of the relocation
2First week
- Register your address with the local authority
- Get a local SIM / mobile number
- Start the local bank account application
- Locate the nearest clinic and pharmacy
3First month
- Complete residency registration and get your ID number
- Enroll in the healthcare system or private insurance
- Set up utilities and a long-term rental contract
- Understand your tax residency obligations
4First 90 days
- Exchange or apply for a local driving license if required
- Build a local support network and language basics
- Review and optimize banking, taxes, and insurance
- Handle school enrollment or childcare if you have kids
This is a general outline. Your personalized plan above adapts every step to where you're moving from, your visa status, and your situation. Always verify official requirements: this is not legal or immigration advice.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to move to Germany?
It depends on your passport and why you are moving: tourist entry rules are different from working, studying or joining family. Generate a free plan above and we check the visa route for your exact passport and situation, using a 238-country visa matrix.
Does Germany have a special tax regime for newcomers?
Yes: No inbound regime (worldwide taxation). Residents are taxed on worldwide income. Germany has no special expat tax break; progressive rates up to 45% plus solidarity surcharge apply once you become tax resident. Status: active, verified June 2026 against Finance Ministry.
What is the weather like in Germany?
In Berlin, average daily temperatures run about Jan 2° · Jul 20° (Open-Meteo historical data, 2025). Regional climates can differ a lot; a city-level plan uses data for your exact destination city.
Can I use WhatsApp and Telegram in Germany?
Network measurements over the last six months show Telegram, WhatsApp, Signal, Facebook Messenger working normally in Germany (OONI, 5 January 2026 to 7 July 2026). This reflects measured reachability, not an official policy statement.
What do jobs pay in Germany?
The average advertised salary is about €44,186 a year (Adzuna job listings, June 2026). For a benchmark role like software engineer, the median advertised band starts around €70,000. Advertised salaries skew toward roles that are posted online, so treat this as a signal, not a guarantee.
How high are taxes on salaries in Germany?
The OECD tax wedge is about 49% (2025): that is the share of what a job costs an employer that goes to income tax and social contributions for a single average worker. It is not your personal income-tax rate, but it is the honest way to compare countries.
How current is this data?
Climate, inflation and life expectancy were refreshed 12 July 2026; prices, taxes and air quality 7 July 2026; messenger reachability 7 July 2026. Tax regimes are hand-verified against official government sources. Every fact on this page shows its source.