Germany
Your start in Hamburg
Germany's second-largest city is a city and a state at once, with about 1.87 million residents in seven districts. City-wide authorities, district offices and the Hamburg Service locations share the work; most services start at hamburg.de or the 115 service number, and the Hamburg Welcome Center helps people who move for work.
At a glance
Hamburg is both a city and one of Germany's 16 federal states (a city-state, like Berlin and Bremen). On 31 December 2025, 1,869,473 people lived in Hamburg according to the official population update by the Statistikamt Nord, 0.4% more than a year earlier; 91,309 people moved to the city in 2025. The population register, which the statistical office uses for neighbourhood figures, counted about 1.98 million residents with their main home in Hamburg.
Because Hamburg is a state and a city at the same time, many tasks that elsewhere are split between state and local government are handled by the same administration. Knowing which office handles what saves you wasted trips.
The Senate, the authorities and the seven districts
- The Senate (Senat) is the state government, with the First Mayor (Erster Bürgermeister) at its head. Eleven specialised authorities (Fachbehörden), which correspond to the ministries of other states, and two Senate authorities run citywide matters such as the interior, schools, housing and transport.
- The seven districts (Bezirke) are Hamburg-Mitte, Altona, Eimsbüttel, Hamburg-Nord, Wandsbek, Bergedorf and Harburg. Each has a district office (Bezirksamt) and an elected district assembly (Bezirksversammlung). The districts are made up of more than 100 neighbourhoods (Stadtteile), such as Ottensen, St. Pauli or Winterhude, and flat listings usually name the neighbourhood.
Who handles what
Hamburg Service vor Ort (local service locations across the city):
- Residents' affairs (Einwohnerangelegenheiten): registering your address, ID cards, passports and registration certificates. You can book at any location; registration in person costs €16 per person or family (2026).
- Foreigners' affairs (Ausländerangelegenheiten): residence matters for people with a lawful residence status. Only the office for your district of residence handles your case, by appointment.
District offices (Bezirksämter): among other things the childcare departments that issue the Kita voucher, social services centres and health offices.
Citywide offices:
- Hamburg Welcome Center (Süderstraße 32b): first residence permits after entry for training, studies, work and self-employment, extensions and settlement permits for skilled workers, and information on working and living in Hamburg.
- Office for Migration (Amt für Migration): the arrival centre for asylum seekers, residence matters for people whose stay is not yet secured, and all naturalisation applications.
- Tax offices (Finanzämter): which one is responsible depends on your address; second-home tax and dog tax are handled centrally.
- Landesbetrieb Verkehr (LBV): driving licences and vehicle registration.
Federal bodies such as the employment agency and the job centre (Jobcenter team.arbeit.hamburg) also have Hamburg offices; the Germany overview explains their roles.
hamburg.de, the online services and 115
- hamburg.de describes each administrative service with documents, fees and responsible offices, and links to online services and appointment booking. Residence permits, the Kita voucher and many other applications are submitted online through the Serviceportal Hamburg. The pages are mostly in German; hamburg.com has English versions of many service pages.
- Appointments at Hamburg Service locations are booked online or by phone; for residents' affairs, new slots are released every day at 7:00 and 10:00.
- 115 is Hamburg's public service number, staffed Monday to Friday from 7:00 to 19:00 (from abroad +49 40 115). It answers questions about the administration and books appointments for residents' affairs, but not for foreigners' affairs.
Help in your language
The Hamburg Welcome Center is the central contact point for people moving to Hamburg for work and for their employers, with a reception, a phone hotline and a website in German and English. In the same building, the Zentrale Anlaufstelle Anerkennung (ZAA) advises on the recognition of foreign qualifications.
The sections below follow the order in which most newcomers need them. The guides are general information, not legal advice; check the official pages they link before you act.
An overview of moving to Germany and your first month in Hamburg, the documents to bring, what life here costs, and the emergency numbers to save on day one.
Arrival Usually a few weeks of preparation for EU citizens; often several months for people who need a national visa Arrival Spread over about four weeks; most single steps take one appointment or one online application Moving Plan several weeks to a few months, because apostilles, legalisation and new civil-status certificates are issued in your home country Money About 30 minutes to build a first budget with the figures below Moving About one hour at the customs office for the declaration, plus preparation of the inventory and documents Emergencies About 10 minutes to save the numbers in your phone
Somewhere to live, an appointment to register your address, a German phone number, a bank account and a transport ticket.
Housing Often several weeks to a few months of active searching Registration 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 Internet and mobile 15–30 minutes in a shop, or 20–40 minutes online including the identity check Banking The application itself usually takes 15 to 45 minutes online or one appointment in a branch. Card, PIN and online-banking access are often sent separately by post, so plan for the account to be fully usable some days after you apply. Transport About 15 minutes to choose a ticket and set up the app
Registering your address within two weeks of moving in, the landlord's confirmation you need for it, the tax ID that follows, and deregistering when you leave.
Registration 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 A few minutes for the person signing it; ask for it when you get the keys Taxes Nothing to do for the first letter; a few minutes to request it again online Registration A few minutes to fill in the form; a short counter visit or a letter
Which residence status fits your situation, the main permits for work, job search, study and family, how residence permits work in Hamburg, and the routes to permanent residence and citizenship.
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 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 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 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 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. 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. Universities Plan 6-12 months from the first university application to arrival; the visa alone can take several weeks to months 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 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 Citizenship A few hours for the online application once you have all certificates; processing in Berlin often takes many months Residence and visas
Finding a flat in Hamburg, the documents landlords ask for, avoiding scams, understanding your lease, the rent index and rent cap, and setting up energy and internet.
Housing Often several weeks to a few months of active searching Housing One to three hours to collect, redact and combine your documents once; then minutes per application Housing About 10 minutes to read; a few minutes of checks for each promising listing Housing About 15 minutes to read; keep it open while you compare listings or check a contract Housing About 20 minutes to read; checking a rent with the rent index takes about 15 minutes Utilities About 15 minutes on move-in day for the meters, plus 30–60 minutes to compare and sign a contract Internet and mobile 30–60 minutes to compare and order; activation from a few days to several weeks, much longer if fibre still has to be built Housing Notice at least three months ahead; the handover itself takes about an hour; the deposit can take up to six months or longer for the part held back for service charges
Finding a job and applying the German way, getting your qualifications recognised, your rights as an employee, minijobs and student jobs, freelancing, and registering with the employment agency.
Jobs Varies widely by field and language level. Plan in weeks or months rather than days: many employers run several interview rounds before making an offer. Jobs Several hours to prepare a solid German-style CV and cover letter the first time, then about one to two hours to tailor each application. Employment A few hours to research and prepare; usually 3-4 months for the procedure once your application is complete (about 2 months in the employer-led accelerated procedure) Employment About 20 minutes to read; keep it at hand when you sign a contract or if a problem arises. Employment About 15 minutes to read. Check the rules before you sign a contract for a side job. Employment Trade registration and the tax questionnaire take a few hours. The tax number arrives by post once the tax office has processed your questionnaire. For non-EU nationals, a residence permit for self-employment can take several months. Employment About 15 to 30 minutes for each online registration, plus an appointment with the Agentur für Arbeit afterwards. Allow more time to gather documents for the benefit application.
Choosing health insurance, finding a doctor in Hamburg and help out of hours, pharmacies and prescriptions, pregnancy and birth, and personal liability insurance.
Insurance About 30 minutes to choose a statutory insurer and apply online; private insurance applications take longer because of the health questionnaire Healthcare An hour or two of searching and phoning to find a family practice; out-of-hours help is available at any time on 116117 Healthcare A few minutes at the pharmacy, longer if a medicine has to be ordered Family Spread over the pregnancy: regular check-ups, a few hours to find a midwife and choose a hospital, and a few hours after the birth for registration and applications Insurance About an hour to compare and buy a personal liability policy online Emergencies About 10 minutes to save the numbers in your phone
Banking, how tax works for employees, filing a tax return, social security and pensions, your credit record (SCHUFA) and the broadcasting fee every household pays.
Banking The application itself usually takes 15 to 45 minutes online or one appointment in a branch. Card, PIN and online-banking access are often sent separately by post, so plan for the account to be fully usable some days after you apply. Taxes About 20 minutes to read; checking your tax class and payslip takes a few minutes each month Taxes Two to four hours for a simple employee return once you have your documents. ELSTER registration takes extra time because the activation code is sent by post. Money About 20 minutes to read; nothing to apply for as an employee, because your employer registers you Money About 10 minutes to request a free data copy online; the copy arrives by post. Access through the SCHUFA account requires a one-time identity check. Money About 10 minutes online to register or to tell the contribution service who already pays Money About 30 minutes to build a first budget with the figures below
Hamburg's U-Bahn, S-Bahn, buses and harbour ferries, the nationwide Deutschlandticket, and exchanging a foreign driving licence.
Transport About 15 minutes to choose a ticket and set up the app Transport About 10 minutes to order online; a phone ticket can take up to 48 hours to appear, a chip card arrives by post Driving One appointment to apply; processing usually takes from about two weeks to three months, plus time for a first-aid course, eye test, lessons and tests if your licence requires them
The Kita voucher and finding a place, Hamburg schools and support for children learning German, child benefit and parental allowance, pregnancy and birth, and bringing your family to Germany.
Childcare About an hour for the application; plan several months for the voucher and the place search Schools A few hours to research schools; registration takes one appointment, placing a newly arrived child can take several weeks Family About 20 to 30 minutes for the online application once you have both tax IDs. Processing time varies. Family About 1 to 2 hours to complete the application with all documents, plus processing time at the Elterngeld office Family Spread over the pregnancy: regular check-ups, a few hours to find a midwife and choose a hospital, and a few hours after the birth for registration and applications 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.
Learning German, the state-funded integration course, and making friends and finding community in Hamburg.
Language Months to years, depending on your goal - the federally funded integration course plans 600 lessons of language teaching to get from beginner to B1 Language The general course has 700 lessons of 45 minutes - at around 20 lessons a week that is roughly 35 teaching weeks; part-time courses take longer. Allow a few weeks before the start for paperwork and placement. Making friends and finding community in HamburgPractical ways to meet people in Hamburg - sports clubs, free German conversation groups at the public libraries, Volkshochschule courses, volunteering, neighbourhood cultural centres and local festivals - and where to find support if the first months feel lonely. A few hours a week, over several months
Shop opening hours and Sundays, public holidays, quiet hours and neighbours, waste separation, consumer rights and legal help.
Shopping A few minutes to plan your weekly shop around Sundays and public holidays Local government About 5 minutes to read; add the dates to your calendar Culture 10 minutes to read; a quick look at your house rules Utilities About 15 minutes to learn the system Consumer rights 15 minutes to read; individual advice at the Verbraucherzentrale Berlin takes about 20 minutes Consumer rights An hour to find the right advice service; applying for Beratungshilfe usually takes one visit or letter to the local court.
Neighbourhoods on the map
Select a pin to read about a neighbourhood.
Map of neighbourhoods in Hamburg