Guides for Germany
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Arrival Local guide Your first 30 days in Berlin: a step-by-step planA prioritised plan for your first month in Berlin, from housing and address registration to tax ID, bank account, health insurance, residence permit, phone and transport ticket, and why the order matters. Spread over about four weeks; most single steps take one appointment or one online application Arrival Local guide Your first 30 days in Hamburg: a step-by-step planA prioritised plan for your first month in Hamburg, from a first address and the Anmeldung to health insurance, bank account, tax ID, residence permit, hvv ticket, broadcasting fee, waste and childcare, with the Hamburg-specific offices, fees and waiting times for 2026. Spread over about four weeks; most single steps take one appointment or one online application Arrival Local guide Your first 30 days in Munich: a step-by-step planA prioritised plan for your first month in Munich, from a first address where you can register and the Bürgerbüro appointment to tax ID, bank account, health insurance, the residence permit at the SZE, phone and MVV ticket, and why the order matters. Spread over about four weeks; most single steps take one appointment or one online application Arrival Usually a few weeks of preparation for EU citizens; often several months for people who need a national visa Moving Plan several weeks to a few months, because apostilles, legalisation and new civil-status certificates are issued in your home country Moving About one hour at the customs office for the declaration, plus preparation of the inventory and documents Registration Local guide Registering your address in Berlin (Anmeldung)How to register your Berlin home within 14 days of moving in, what to bring to the Bürgeramt, who can register online, what to do if appointments are scarce, and what arrives afterwards, including your tax ID. Usually a short counter visit once you have an appointment, plus time to collect the landlord confirmation and fill in the form Registration Local guide Registering your address in Hamburg (Anmeldung)How to register your Hamburg home within two weeks of moving in, where to book an appointment, what to bring when you arrive from abroad, what it costs in 2026, who can register online, and what happens afterwards. The counter visit itself usually takes 15 to 20 minutes when you arrive from abroad; add time to get an appointment and the landlord confirmation Registration Local guide Registering your address in Munich (Anmeldung)How to register your Munich home within 14 days of moving in, which of the six Bürgerbüros to use, what to bring, why newcomers from abroad register in person, and what arrives afterwards, including your tax ID. A short counter visit once you have an appointment, plus time to collect the landlord confirmation and fill in the form Registration A few minutes to fill in the form; a short counter visit or a letter Registration A few minutes for the person signing it; ask for it when you get the keys Residence and visas Local guide Applying for a residence permit in HamburgWhich Hamburg office handles your residence permit - the Hamburg Welcome Center, your district's foreigners' affairs office or the Office for Migration - how the online application works, waiting times and fees in 2026, and what to do in urgent cases. 15 to 25 minutes for the online application once your documents are ready; about 8 to 10 weeks until you are offered an appointment for a first permit or an extension (2026) Residence and visas Local guide Getting or extending a residence permit at Berlin's immigration office (LEA)How residence permits work in practice at Berlin's Landesamt für Einwanderung (LEA) in 2026 - online applications, appointments, documents, biometrics, fees, card pickup and what protects your status while you wait. About 30-60 minutes for the online application if your documents are ready; then several weeks or longer until the LEA replies, plus about 4-6 weeks for the card after your appointment Residence and visas Local guide Getting or extending a residence permit in Munich (SZE)How Munich's immigration office, the Servicestelle für Zuwanderung und Einbürgerung (SZE), handles residence permits in 2026 - online applications, the invitation to an appointment, fees, processing times, card pickup and what protects your status while you wait. About an hour for the online application once your documents are scanned; a decision can take several months Residence and visas Visa from abroad: several weeks to a few months, depending on the embassy (with the fast-track procedure, an appointment within three weeks and usually a decision within three more). In Berlin: at least 2 to 3 months for an online application, then 4 to 6 weeks for the eAT card. Residence and visas Preparing documents (legalisation, translations, an A1 course and exam) often takes several months. Visa processing varies widely by embassy. In Berlin, allow at least 4 weeks after the joint appointment for the eAT card. Residence and visas For EU/EEA citizens, usually just the address registration appointment. For non-EU family members, one appointment at the immigration office plus about 4 weeks until the residence card is ready. Residence and visas Gathering documents (ZAB statement, language certificate, blocked account) often takes several weeks. Visa processing varies by embassy; some missions state about 6 to 10 weeks, others around two months. Residence and visas About 1-2 hours for the online application if your documents are ready; then weeks to months until the interview, plus at least 4 weeks for the card Residence and visas Several weeks to several months, depending on the route, the German embassy abroad and the local immigration office. In Berlin, expect at least 2 to 3 months for a decision after an online application, plus 4 to 6 weeks for the card. Residence and visas Residence and visas Recognition can take weeks to months (recognition bodies have two months once documents are complete in the fast-track procedure). Visa: varies widely by embassy. In the fast-track procedure, an appointment within three weeks of pre-approval and usually a decision within three more weeks. In Berlin: at least 2 to 3 months for the residence permit, then 4 to 6 weeks for the card. Citizenship A few hours for the online application once you have all certificates; processing in Berlin often takes many months Housing Local guide Finding a flat in BerlinHow the Berlin rental market looks in 2026, where flats are advertised, how to handle viewings and applications, what to check before you sign, and how to make sure you can register at your new address. An active search over several weeks or months is normal. Once your document folder is ready, each individual application is quick to send. Housing Local guide Finding a flat in HamburgHow Hamburg's rental market works in 2026, what flats cost, where to search (including the city-owned SAGA and the housing cooperatives), how to qualify for subsidised housing, and how to apply, avoid scams and check the rent before you sign. Often several weeks to a few months of active searching Housing Local guide Finding a flat in MunichWhat Munich's rental market looks like in 2026, where flats are advertised, how the city's own housing company, subsidised housing and the München Modell work, what to check before signing under the rent cap, and how to make sure you can register at your new address. Often several weeks to months; plan an hour or two a day while you search actively Housing Local guide Getting a housing eligibility certificate (WBS) for social housing in BerlinWhat the Wohnberechtigungsschein is, who can get one in Berlin, the income limits behind WBS 100 to WBS 220 in 2026, how to apply online or by post, and how to use it with the state-owned housing companies. 1–2 hours to collect documents and fill in the forms; processing time varies by district Housing Local guide Temporary accommodation in Berlin: furnished rentals, sublets and registrationYour options for the first weeks or months in Berlin, why it matters whether you can register at the address, what to check in sublets and furnished rentals, and how to avoid common scams. Start looking one to three months before you arrive Housing Local guide Tenant rights in Berlin: rent cap, rent increases, repairs and noticeYour main rights as a tenant in Berlin in 2026, including the rent cap for new leases until the end of 2029, the Berlin rent index 2026, rent increases, defects and rent reduction, notice periods, owner-occupation notices, deposits, and where to get free advice. About 20 minutes to read. A free rent check or advice appointment usually requires booking ahead. Housing Local guide Tenant rights in Hamburg: rent index, rent cap and where to get helpHow Hamburg's rent index 2025 works, the rent cap for new leases (valid until 2029), the 15% limit on rent increases, service-charge statements, notice periods and deposits, and the tenants' associations and public legal advice that can help you. About 20 minutes to read; checking a rent with the rent index takes about 15 minutes