First steps in Germany
First steps in Germany
After moving into your new home, you are required by law to register at the local town hall / Bürgerbüro within
14 days. This applies to all nationalities. Please note that every subsequent change of address must also be
registered at Bürgerbüro within 14 days. If you are staying in temporary accomodation, i. e. a hotel or serviced
apartment, you are required to register after 3months within 14 days if you stay exceeds 3 months period. Please
note that not all hotels/serviced apartments allow a registration at their address.
The earliest registration date is your move-in date.
You need to register in person, or you may give another person a letter of authorization to register on your behalf.
Necessary documents that you will need to present:
After moving into your new home, you are required by law to register at the local town hall / Bürgerbüro within
14 days. This applies to all nationalities. Please note that every subsequent change of address must also be
registered at Bürgerbüro within 14 days. If you are staying in temporary accomodation, i. e. a hotel or serviced
apartment, you are required to register after 3months within 14 days if you stay exceeds 3 months period. Please
note that not all hotels/serviced apartments allow a registration at their address.
The earliest registration date is your move-in date.
You need to register in person, or you may give another person a letter of authorization to register on your behalf.
Necessary documents that you will need to present:
PLEASE LOOK AFTER THIS DOCUMENT WELL.
You will need this confirmation for e.g. opening a bank account, contracts such as telephone, internet, etc., the
consulate (e.g. when you apply for a visa to prove you live in their area of responsibility).
PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOUR NAME IS ON YOUR MAILBOX AS VARIOUS AUTHORITIES WILL SEND IMPORTANT
POST TO THIS ADDRESS.
PLEASE LOOK AFTER THIS DOCUMENT WELL.
You will need this confirmation for e.g. opening a bank account, contracts such as telephone, internet, etc., the
consulate (e.g. when you apply for a visa to prove you live in their area of responsibility).
PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOUR NAME IS ON YOUR MAILBOX AS VARIOUS AUTHORITIES WILL SEND IMPORTANT
POST TO THIS ADDRESS.
You will need your tax ID for all issues regarding tax (tax return, communication with tax office). Your life-long
tax ID will remain the same, even if you are not registered for tax in Germany for certain periods, so.
When you first register, you will automatically be
If you wish to change your tax class, e.g. to 3 for yourself and 5 for your spouse, this can be done any time.
PLEASE LOOK AFTER THIS DOCUMENT WELL.
You will need your tax ID for all issues regarding tax (tax return, communication with tax office). Your life-long
tax ID will remain the same, even if you are not registered for tax in Germany for certain periods, so.
When you first register, you will automatically be
If you wish to change your tax class, e.g. to 3 for yourself and 5 for your spouse, this can be done any time.
PLEASE LOOK AFTER THIS DOCUMENT WELL.
Members of the Roman-Catholic and the Protestant church have to pay church tax in Germany. It is between 8% and 9% of your income tax, depending on the federal state you live in and it is deducted with your income tax.
You are seen as a member of the relevant church if you are baptized, i.e. you do not have to be an active member or go to church regularly.
Please be aware that the question regarding your religious denomination when you register your new address at the local authorities determines your assessment for church tax.
Members of the Roman-Catholic and the Protestant church have to pay church tax in Germany. It is between 8% and 9% of your income tax, depending on the federal state you live in and it is deducted with your income tax.
You are seen as a member of the relevant church if you are baptized, i.e. you do not have to be an active member or go to church regularly.
Please be aware that the question regarding your religious denomination when you register your new address at the local authorities determines your assessment for church tax.
Please be aware that most banks close over lunchtime and do not stay open late in Germany.
General opening hours are:
In smaller towns and suburbs: Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Thu to 6 p.m. City center branches often stay open over lunchtime.
German banks offer services such as checking/current and savings accounts, as well as loans, currency transactions and investments.
To open a bank account, you will need to the following documents:
If you are transferring funds from another country, it can take a couple of weeks for the funds to be credited.
Once an account has been opened, an EC-Karte will be issued. This is invaluable for transactions; it can be used for payments in shops, hotels, ticket offices, department stores and even supermarkets. It is also the card to use for getting cash from ATMs (Geldautomat). The bank will issue a personal identification number (PIN) for you for obtaining cash from an ATM. There is a fee if you go to a bank that is not affiliated with your bank. You will sometimes need your PIN when paying with your EC-Karte in shops, alternatively you will be asked for your
signature.
If your debit card is stolen, report it to your local bank immediately.
Hotline for reporting card losses (most EC and credit cards): Tel: 116116
Bank account statements (Kontoauszüge) are regularly sent to your home. There is a charge for this service. If you want to avoid this charge, you must go to the bank once a month and insert your EC-Karte into the machine to print off a statement or collect the statements from online banking.
Any bills you receive, you can pay by bank transfer (Überweisung). Sometimes, there is a form included with the bill; otherwise, blank forms are available at the bank. If you need assistance, a bank clerk can show you how to fill them in correctly. Drop the completed form in the drop-box at your bank. If you hand in the completed form, some banks will charge extra.
Some banks offer self-service terminals where you can enter bank transfers. This service is free of charge. Most banks also offer online banking for their checking/current accounts.
A standing order (Dauerauftrag) can be used for regularly recurring payments of a set sum, e.g. rent, insurance premiums, music lessons etc. The sum is deducted automatically from your account on an agreed date and transferred to the account of the recipient. The bank will provide the form, or it can be set up online.
Direct debit (Lastschrift) can be used for recurring sums that vary in size, e.g. telephone, gas and electric bills.
You give the recipient a direct debit authorization (Einzugsermächtigung / SEPA-Lastschriftmandat) which authorizes the recipient to deduct the respective amounts from your account. The authorization can be cancelled any time to stop the direct debit. As a safeguard against abuse, you have the unrestricted right to recall any sum that was deducted within 90 days.
Please be aware that most banks close over lunchtime and do not stay open late in Germany.
General opening hours are:
In smaller towns and suburbs: Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Thu to 6 p.m. City center branches often stay open over lunchtime.
German banks offer services such as checking/current and savings accounts, as well as loans, currency transactions and investments.
To open a bank account you will need to the following documents:
If you are transferring funds from another country, it can
take a couple of weeks for the funds to be credited.
Once an account has been opened, an EC-Karte will be issued. This is invaluable for transactions; it can be used for payments in shops, hotels, ticket offices, department stores and even supermarkets. It is also the card to use for getting cash from ATMs (Geldautomat). The bank will issue a personal identification number (PIN) for you for obtaining cash from an ATM. There is a fee if you go to a bank that is not affiliated with your bank. You will sometimes need your PIN when paying with your EC-Karte in shops, alternatively you will be asked for your
signature.
If your debit card is stolen, report it to your local bank immediately.
Hotline for reporting card losses (most EC and credit cards): Tel: 116116
Bank account statements (Kontoauszüge) are regularly sent to your home. There is a charge for this service. If you want to avoid this charge, you must go to the bank once a month and insert your EC-Karte into the machine to print off a statement or collect the statements from online banking.
Any bills you receive, you can pay by bank transfer (Überweisung). Sometimes, there is a form included with the bill; otherwise, blank forms are available at the bank. If you need assistance, a bank clerk can show you how to fill them in correctly. Drop the completed form in the drop-box at your bank. If you hand in the completed form, some banks will charge extra.
Some banks offer self-service terminals where you can enter bank transfers. This service is free of charge. Most banks also offer online banking for their checking/current accounts.
A standing order (Dauerauftrag) can be used for regularly recurring payments of a set sum, e.g. rent, insurance premiums, music lessons etc. The sum is deducted automatically from your account on an agreed date and transferred to the account of the recipient. The bank will provide the form, or it can be set up online.
Direct debit (Lastschrift) can be used for recurring sums that vary in size, e.g. telephone, gas and electric bills.
You give the recipient a direct debit authorization (Einzugsermächtigung / SEPA-Lastschriftmandat) which authorizes the recipient to deduct the respective amounts from your account. The authorization can be cancelled any time to stop the direct debit. As a safeguard against abuse, you have the unrestricted right to recall any sum that was deducted within 90 days.
