Moving to Germany Checklist for Students

Moving to Germany Checklist for Students — Step by StepA step-by-step checklist for the first weeks in Germany: Anmeldung, Bürgeramt backup plan, bank account, health insurance, work-hour limits and BAföG.

Know your work-hour limit — Non-EU students can work up to 140 full days or 280 half-days per calendar year. On-campus jobs and mandatory internships don't count. Going over can put your residence permit at risk.

Register your address (Anmeldung) — Do this within 14 days of moving in. You need a signed confirmation from your landlord (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) and an appointment at the Bürgeramt.

No appointment free? Use the backup plan — Slots are often fully booked. Check early in the morning for cancellations, try smaller Bürgeramt branches in your city, or ask your university's international office.

Open a bank account — Most students use a free digital account. You usually need your passport and your Anmeldung confirmation. A Sperrkonto (blocked account) is a different thing, mainly part of the visa process.

Get your health insurance in place — Health insurance is mandatory in Germany, so sort out your cover early. Your Krankenkasse will confirm it by letter.

Check whether you can get BAföG (optional) — A standard student residence permit generally rules it out, but real exceptions exist and applying costs nothing. Worth a quick check before you write it off.

Decode your first official letter — Most letters from your Krankenkasse are routine confirmations. The ones that need action ask for a document or a signature by a set date, so check before you set one aside.