Your first 90 days in Germany.
A practical onboarding roadmap for newly arrived expats: what to do first, what can wait, and which documents, contracts and financial decisions should not be ignored.
Your 90-day setup map
The first 90 days are about building your German operating system.
Focus first on address registration, tax ID, health insurance, bank access, communication, salary setup and essential contracts. Then review protection, pension and long-term financial planning.
Your registered address is the basis for many official processes.
Make sure your health insurance status matches your job, study or residence situation.
Employer, payroll, tax class, payslip and social security deductions.
Pension, income protection, family coverage and financial decisions.
What to do, step by step.
This timeline is a practical orientation. Exact steps depend on your city, nationality, job type, family status and whether you already arranged housing or insurance before arrival.
Secure a reachable address
Make sure you can receive physical mail. Many important letters in Germany still arrive by post.
Confirm whether your accommodation allows registration
Ask for the landlord confirmation before assuming you can use the address for Anmeldung.
Book or prepare your Anmeldung appointment
Appointment availability differs by city. Prepare passport, housing confirmation and any city-specific forms.
Get a German or reliable EU phone number
Useful for banking, appointments, deliveries, rental communication and two-factor authentication.
Complete Anmeldung and wait for your tax ID
After registration, your tax identification number is usually sent by post. Your employer needs it for payroll.
Activate or confirm health insurance
Employees, students, freelancers and family members may need different proof. Confirm what your employer, university or authority requires.
Open or finalize your bank account
Salary, rent, insurance and utility payments are usually much easier with a German or SEPA-compatible account.
Understand your rental and utility setup
Check deposit, handover protocol, heating, electricity, internet, broadcasting contribution and cancellation periods.
Read your first payslip
Check gross salary, wage tax, social security, pension, health insurance, care insurance and net pay.
Check your tax class
Your tax class affects monthly payroll deductions. This is especially relevant for married couples or registered partners.
Review private liability insurance
Private liability insurance is one of the most common basic insurances in Germany and often useful for everyday risks.
Organize your document folder
Keep registration, tax ID, employment contract, payslips, insurance proof, rental contract and utility documents in one place.
Review public vs private health insurance if relevant
If you have a choice, do not decide only based on the monthly contribution. Family plans, long-term flexibility and retirement matter.
Understand pension and retirement basics
International careers can create pension gaps. Learn how German statutory pension and private planning fit together.
Check income protection needs
Consider what would happen if you could not work for a longer period. This is especially important for high earners, families and self-employed people.
Create a tax return folder
Collect work-related costs, moving documents, childcare costs, donations, insurance records and other potentially relevant receipts.
The most common first-90-days problems.
Small setup mistakes can create expensive or annoying consequences later. These are the issues worth checking early.
You are on track if…
What to review after the basics are done.
Need personal orientation?
Your first 90 days are the best time to prevent long-term mistakes.
If you want to understand how health insurance, salary, pension and protection fit your personal situation, German Sherpa offers a free 20-minute Financial Check.
Continue your Germany setup.
Plan the full move from preparation to long-term setup.
Health insurance in GermanyUnderstand public, private and typical expat insurance questions.
Anmeldung in GermanyHow address registration works and what documents are usually needed.
Taxes in GermanyTax ID, tax class, payslip basics, deductions and filing topics.
Housing in GermanyRental basics, documents, utilities and common apartment search problems.
Money & pensionSalary, pension, protection and long-term financial planning in Germany.
Important: GermanWiki provides general educational information. This page does not provide legal, tax, immigration, insurance or financial advice. Requirements can vary by nationality, city, employer, university and personal situation. For individual decisions, speak with a qualified professional who can review your case.