Germany
Your start in Munich
München
Bavaria's capital has about 1.6 million registered residents in 25 districts. City departments run registration and the immigration office (both in the Kreisverwaltungsreferat, KVR), childcare and housing support citywide. Most services start at stadt.muenchen.de, the 115 service number or the city's Welcome Center for newcomers.
At a glance
Munich is the capital of the Free State of Bavaria and an independent city (kreisfreie Stadt) that does not belong to any district. On 31 July 2026, 1,605,264 people had their main residence in Munich, according to the city's statistical office; at the end of 2025, 30.6% of residents did not hold German citizenship.
The surrounding district of Munich (Landkreis München), with towns such as Garching, Unterföhring or Ottobrunn, is a separate authority. If you live there, your registration office and immigration office are not the city's.
The city administration: departments and districts
The city administration is organised into 15 departments (Referate). The ones newcomers meet most often are:
- Kreisverwaltungsreferat (KVR): the six citizens' offices (Bürgerbüros) for registering your address, the registry office, the driving licence office and the Servicestelle für Zuwanderung und Einbürgerung (SZE), Munich's immigration and naturalisation authority at Ruppertstraße 19.
- Sozialreferat: the city youth office, the social services centres (Sozialbürgerhäuser), housing and migration, including registration for subsidised housing (SOWON), the free tenant advice (Mietberatung) and the München-Pass for people on low incomes.
- Referat für Bildung und Sport (RBS): municipal Kitas, the kita finder+ portal, schools and sports; it is the city's largest department.
- Gesundheitsreferat: public health protection and prevention.
- Referat für Arbeit und Wirtschaft: business and employment, including the Munich Onboarding Hub for international professionals.
- Kommunalreferat: among other things, the waste management company (AWM).
The city is divided into 25 districts (Stadtbezirke), from Altstadt-Lehel in the centre to Aubing-Lochhausen-Langwied in the west, each with its own district committee (Bezirksausschuss). Citizens' services are run citywide by the departments, so you can use any of the six Bürgerbüros, whichever district you live in.
Who else you deal with
- Tax office: the Finanzamt München is a Bavarian state authority with a service centre at Deroystraße 12.
- Federal bodies with Munich offices include the employment agency (Agentur für Arbeit München, Kapuzinerstraße 26) and the family benefits office; parental allowance in Bavaria is handled by the state's Zentrum Bayern Familie und Soziales (ZBFS).
- Public transport is organised by the MVV fare association; the city's MVG runs the U-Bahn, trams and buses.
stadt.muenchen.de, appointments and 115
- stadt.muenchen.de describes each city service with its documents, fees and responsible office, and links to online applications and appointment booking. Many pages have English versions; others are in German only.
- Appointments at the Bürgerbüros are booked online or on 089 233-96000. The SZE works differently: you submit an online application first and are then invited.
- 115, the public service number, is staffed Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 18:00 and can answer questions about city services.
Help in your language
The city's Welcome Center at Ruppertstraße 11 (ground floor) offers drop-in advice for all newcomers on language, authorities, work, education, leisure and housing, refers you to specialist services and helps with the city's online services. Partners such as migration counselling services, the Volkshochschule and the Goethe-Institut are represented there. The city also recommends the free, multilingual Integreat app as a digital guide.
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 Munich, 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
An appointment to register your address, a German phone number, a bank account and an MVV ticket.
Registration A short counter visit once you have an appointment, plus time to collect the landlord confirmation and fill in the form 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 read; buying a ticket takes a few minutes in an app or at a machine
Registering your address at a Bürgerbüro 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 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 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 Munich's immigration office (SZE) works, 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 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 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 Munich's very tight market, the documents landlords ask for, avoiding scams, understanding your lease, the Bavarian rent cap and tenant rights, and setting up energy and internet.
Housing Often several weeks to months; plan an hour or two a day while you search actively 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. Advice appointments usually need booking ahead. 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 Munich, out-of-hours care and mental health support, pharmacies, 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 of searching and calls for a first appointment; the 116117 service books specialist appointments within a week 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 (including Bavaria's 8% church tax), filing a tax return, social security and pensions, your credit record and the broadcasting fee.
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
Munich's U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams and buses, the MVV zones, the Deutschlandticket and its reduced Bavarian version, and exchanging a foreign driving licence.
Transport About 15 minutes to read; buying a ticket takes a few minutes in an app or at a machine 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
Finding a Kita place through kita finder+, Bavarian schools and the transfer after grade 4, child benefit and parental allowance, pregnancy and birth, and bringing your family to Germany.
Childcare An hour to register in kita finder+; finding a place can take months Schools About 20 minutes to read; school registration usually takes one appointment 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 integration course, and making friends in Munich through the Welcome Center, the Volkshochschule, the city library, neighbourhood meeting places and volunteering.
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 MunichPractical ways to meet people in Munich, from the city's Welcome Center and the Munich Onboarding Hub to free conversation groups at the Volkshochschule, neighbourhood meeting places, volunteering, clubs and the city library, plus where to turn if loneliness weighs heavily. A few hours a week, ideally the same activity every week for a few months
Shop opening hours and Sundays, Bavaria's public holidays and silent days, quiet hours and neighbours, waste sorting and the new yellow bin, 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 Local government About 10 minutes to read; sorting quickly becomes routine 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 Munich