So it's official, you're moving to Berlin! This guide is a starting point for people who are settling in Berlin. It links to all the useful guide we have written on this topic.
Find a job
It's better to find a job offer before coming to Berlin. It allows you to focus on other things once you arrive in Berlin. It's also easier to find an apartment when you have a work contract.
If you are not a resident of the European Union, you need a visa to live, work and study in Germany. A visa is also called a residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel). There are different ways to obtain a German visa, and the requirements depend on your nationality. You can use this tool to find which visa you need.
If you need some time to look for a job, you can apply for the job seeker visa. It gives you up to 6 months to look for work in Germany.
If you want to freelance or start a business in Berlin, you need to apply for a freelance visa. In this case, it's easier to apply for the visa once you are in Berlin. This is not possible for everyone; it depends on which country you come from.
Related guides:
- Where to look for jobs in Berlin
- How to start a business in Germany
- How to apply for the German freelance visa
- How to get an Ausländerbehörde appointment (this is where you apply for a visa)
Open a bank account
As soon as you arrive in Berlin, you need to open a bank account. You need a bank account to find an apartment, as landlords expect to be paid by bank transfer.
Many banks will require a Meldebescheinigung to open a bank account. You get this document by registering your address, but you can't get an apartment without a bank account. Fortunately, N26 and a few other banks do not require a Meldebescheinigung.
If you need to transfer a lot of money from another country, use TransferWise or XE.com. They have better exchange rates and lower fees than banks or wire transfers. I used TransferWise a lot. It works really well.
Related guides:
- Which German bank should you pick for your first account?
- Opening a bank account without an Anmeldung
- An honest review of N26
- How to get a Meldebescheinigung
Find a place to live
Finding an apartment is the hardest part of relocating to Berlin. The market is extremely competitive, and finding a place can take weeks, if not months. If you want to find a place to live, you must be well prepared.
Having an official address in Germany is important. When you register your address, you get a tax ID (SteuerID), and an Anmeldebestätigung. You need these to get a cellphone contract, apply for a residence permit, open a bank account etc.
Our guide on finding an apartment in Berlin explains everything you must know on this subject.
Related guides:
- How to find an apartment in Berlin
- How to register your address in Berlin (the Anmeldung)
- How to get a Bürgeramt appointment
- What is the Haftpflichtversicherung, and why do I need it?
- How do electric bills work in Germany?
Get health insurance
Health insurance is mandatory in Germany. Choosing the right type of health insurance can save you a lot of money.
Related guides:
Send your children to the Kita
The Kita or Kindertagesstätte is a type of preschool or daycare centre for children who are under 6 years old. Finding a Kita for your child can be extremely difficult, so you must get started as soon as possible.
Related guides:
Find help
If things become a little too hard to manage alone, you can call for help. We have compiled a list of useful communities and English-speaking professionals that can help you relocate to Berlin.
Related guides:
- Where to find help about life in Berlin
- List of relocation consultants in Berlin
- How to find an English-speaking doctor in Berlin
- List of English-speaking doctors and GPs in Berlin
- List of English-speaking psychiatrists and psychotherapists in Berlin
- List of English-speaking tax advisors in Berlin
- List of English-speaking lawyers in Berlin
- List of English-speaking dentists in Berlin
- List of English-speaking barbers and hair salons in Berlin
- List of English-speaking gynaecologists in Berlin
Get used to life in Berlin
There are lots of little things you must get used to after settling in Berlin. No one will explain the simple things like sorting your trash and safely watching pirated movies, so we wrote guides to help you.
Daily life:
- Sunday shopping in Germany
- How to return bottles in Germany
- How to sort your trash in Germany
- How to address a letter in Germany
- How to pay a BVG fine
- What to do with your coins
- When are the quiet hours in Berlin?
- Where to buy and sell used things in Berlin
- How to pirate and stream movies safely in Germany
- How to file a noise complaint in Berlin
Paperwork and bureaucracy:
- What is the TV tax, and why should I pay it?
- What is a tax ID? How do I get one?
- What is a social insurance number? How do I get one?
- How to get a Bürgeramt appointment
- How to get an Ausländerbehörder appointment
- How to register your address in Berlin (the Anmeldung)
- How to deregister your address in Berlin (the Abmeldung)
- How to get married in Germany
- How to declare a business in Germany
- How to buy a used car in Germany
Where to find...
- Where to find foreign cooking ingredients in Berlin
- Where to get passport photos in Berlin
- Where to find weed in Berlin
- How to find an English-speaking doctor in Berlin
- List of English-speaking barbers and hair salons in Berlin
- List of 24 hour gyms in Berlin
Get your German driver's licence
6 months after settling in Germany, your foreign driver's licence won't be valid anymore. Fortunately, you might be able to trade your licence for a German one. Depending on the country in which you got your licence, you might even get it without taking any driving tests!
If you don't have a driving licence, you can enroll at a driving school.
Related guides:
- Converting a foreign driving licence to a German one
- List of English-speaking driving schools in Berlin
- How to buy a used car in Germany
- How to get a motorcycle licence in Germany
- How to get an International Driving Permit in Berlin
- Can you park a scooter/motorcycle on the sidewalk in Berlin?
- An honest review of Coup electric scooters
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