Moving to Germany - Checklist for before and after you arrive

By law you are required to register with the Einwohnermeldeamt shortly after moving to Germany. You will normally find it in the municipal administration building or in the town hall.

Early on draw up a list of addresses of the people to whom you wish to send your new address, telephone number and bank details, such as your employer, the Krankenkasse (health insurance fund), doctors, insurance companies, banks, relatives/friends/acquaintances, business partners, magazine publishers, and automobile clubs/associations.

You can apply for a fixed-line number for your telephone or Internet connection via Deutsche Telekom or other telephone providers. Think about energy supply too: normally electricity, gas and water must be registered separately with the relevant local undertakings. If you have children, find out about nurseries and/or schools in your neighbourhood so that you can register in good time.

In Germany fees are charged for receiving television and radio programmes. Registration is carried out either online or by means of forms from the Gebühreneinzugszentrale (GEZ) (Radio and Television Licences Agency), which are available at almost all banks and savings banks.

Text last edited on: 11/2006

Source: European Union
© European Communities, 1995-2007
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