After Arrival
Official Formalities in Germany
The legal and administrative steps to complete in your first weeks in Germany. Follow them in order — each one is the precondition for the next.
- Legal deadline for address registration
- 14 days
- Blocked account and current account
- 2 accounts
- When to apply for the residence permit
- Before expiry
- Home internet installation time
- Several weeks
Legal deadline for address registration
Blocked account and current account
When to apply for the residence permit
Home internet installation time
1. City Registration (Anmeldung)
Registering your new German address with the local registration office (Bürgeramt) is a legal obligation and must happen within 14 days of moving in. Appointments book out weeks ahead, so plan the date before you arrive.
- Passport or identity card
- Landlord's confirmation of tenancy (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung)
- Completed registration form (Meldeschein)
- Appointment confirmation — most cities do not accept walk-ins
2. Banking and Blocked-Account Activation
To draw your monthly allowance and pay rent and insurance, you need two separate accounts.
Activating the blocked account (Sperrkonto)
The account you opened from home is activated with your address registration. After activation, the monthly amount is transferred to your current account.
Opening a current account (Girokonto)
Open a standard account at a German bank for rent, insurance and daily spending. Most banks waive account fees for students.
3. Residence Permit (Aufenthaltstitel)
Before your visa expires you must apply to the immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) for a long-term residence permit. Appointments can take months, so do not leave this to the last weeks of your visa.
Book an appointment
Take a slot through your city's online appointment portal. Some cities handle requests by email, and replies can take weeks.
Get your certificate of enrolment
Request a current Immatrikulationsbescheinigung from your university — it is the core document of the application.
Prepare your finance and insurance proof
Bring valid health insurance confirmation and your blocked-account statement. Your registration certificate is also required.
4. Phone and Internet
A local number and a home connection make both daily life and official correspondence easier.
SIM card
Prepaid and contract (Vertrag) options are both common. Contract lines usually require an address registration and a German bank account.
Home internet
Installation can take several weeks. Applying on the day you move in shortens the time you spend without a connection.
Rules differ from city to city
After Arrival
Follow the formalities in your journey
Your Dreemli journey keeps the post-arrival stage, your appointment dates and any missing documents in one place.