A practical checklist for international employees — from finding a home and registering your address to health insurance, your tax ID and the first German tax return many newcomers overlook.
You do not need to solve everything on day one. These are the practical items most international employees encounter after arrival.
For a rental application, landlords commonly ask for identification and evidence that you can pay the rent. New arrivals may be able to use an employment contract where German payslips or a SCHUFA record are not yet available.
Keep your rental agreement and the landlord’s Wohnungsgeberbestätigung for registration.After moving into a home, register with the local registration authority (Anmeldung). The official “Make it in Germany” guidance states that registration should generally take place within two weeks of moving in.
The resulting Meldebescheinigung is useful for many later steps.Health insurance is compulsory in Germany. Employees will usually need to choose or confirm their health-insurance arrangement as part of starting work.
Whether statutory or private insurance is available depends on your circumstances.A German current account is useful for salary payments, rent and everyday payments. Banks commonly request identification and may ask for your residence permit, registration certificate or salary information.
Compare account fees and international-transfer costs.Your German tax identification number is an important payroll identifier. Also check the tax class used by your employer and keep every Lohnsteuerbescheinigung you receive.
Payroll withholding is not necessarily your final annual income tax.The broadcasting contribution is charged per apartment, not per resident. If somebody in your household already pays for the apartment, a second full contribution is generally not required.
The official term is Rundfunkbeitrag; “GEZ” is still widely used colloquially.If you moved to Germany and started your German job during the calendar year, your first tax year can be particularly worth reviewing. Foreign income before the move can also affect the calculation.
Read the first-year tax refund guide →When you arrive during the year, German payroll only covers part of the calendar year. Your annual tax assessment, however, looks at the relevant tax-year facts as a whole.
If you earned salary abroad before moving to Germany, that foreign income can be relevant to the German tax-rate calculation. That is why a serious refund estimate should ask about both your German salary and your pre-arrival income.
This checklist is general orientation. Local administrative procedures and individual tax situations can differ.
Securing accommodation and registering your address are central early steps. Health insurance, banking and residence-permit matters also need prompt attention depending on your situation.
No. The broadcasting contribution is generally charged per apartment. If another adult already pays for the same apartment, you normally do not pay a second full contribution for that apartment.
Not automatically. Filing obligations depend on the facts. Even where filing is voluntary, a first-year return may be worth checking.
Certain foreign income can affect the German tax rate through the Progressionsvorbehalt even where that income is not taxed in Germany in the ordinary way. The exact treatment depends on the facts.
General information only; not individual legal, immigration, insurance or tax advice. Administrative requirements can vary by municipality and personal circumstances. Tax treatment depends on the individual facts and applicable law.
