Moving to Berlin: the complete checklist

This is general information, not legal advice. Some links (Expatrio, Fintiba, Feather, ottonova) are affiliate links marked as sponsored; Hodolist may earn a commission at no cost to you.

Moving to Berlin is mostly a paperwork puzzle where each piece unlocks the next: the flat unlocks the address registration, the registration unlocks your tax ID and bank account, and those unlock your salary and residence permit. This checklist puts the steps in the order that avoids dead ends.

Before you fly

• Visa or entry route. Know which permit you're coming on: job offer, EU Blue Card, student visa or Opportunity Card. Not sure if you qualify for the Opportunity Card? Use the Chancenkarte points calculator. National visa fees are typically €75 (as of 2 October 2026, verify on auswaertiges-amt.de).
• Proof of funds. Students and Opportunity Card applicants usually need a blocked account — see our blocked account guide. Providers include Expatrio and Fintiba.
• Health insurance from day one. Your visa needs it, and so does common sense. Compare options such as Feather or ottonova. Employees normally switch to statutory insurance once they start a job.
• Temporary flat that allows registration. Book a furnished flat or WG room for at least the first one to three months, and confirm in writing that the landlord will sign the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung. Hotels and most holiday rentals can't be used for registration.
• Documents. Passport, visa, degree certificates, birth and marriage certificates (with translations or apostilles if required), employment contract, insurance certificate. Keep digital copies in the cloud.
• Money for the first weeks. Blocked account payouts start only after you open a German current account, and a rental deposit can be up to three months' basic rent. Bring a card that works abroad plus some euros in cash.
• Driving licence. If you plan to drive, check whether your licence can be converted and within what time limit.

First week

• Book your Anmeldung appointment the day you arrive (or earlier, once you have your address). You must register within two weeks of moving in. Step-by-step: Anmeldung in Berlin guide.
• Get a SIM card. Prepaid SIMs from the major networks and their budget brands are sold in supermarkets and phone shops; you'll need your passport to activate one. A contract usually needs a German address and bank account.
• Public transport. Buy single tickets or a short-term pass first, then consider the Deutschlandticket, a monthly subscription for local and regional transport across Germany. Its price has risen over time, so check the current figure (as of 2 October 2026, verify on bvg.de).
• Put your name on the letterbox. Important letters (tax ID, bank cards, appointment letters) are sent by post and returned if your name isn't visible.
• Get oriented. Our Berlin city guide covers neighbourhoods, getting around, safety and food.

First month

• Anmeldung done → Meldebescheinigung in hand. Keep several copies; you'll be asked for it repeatedly.
• Tax ID (Steuer-ID). It arrives automatically by post a few weeks after your first registration. Give it to your employer as soon as it arrives.
• Bank account. Open a current account (online banks are often quickest). Then activate blocked account payouts if you have one.
• Health insurance. If you start a job, choose a statutory health insurer (Krankenkasse) and give your employer the membership confirmation. Students enrol in insurance before university registration.
• Broadcasting fee (Rundfunkbeitrag). Every household pays one fee, regardless of whether you own a TV. You'll get a letter after registering; if a flatmate already pays, register as part of their household. Amount (as of 2 October 2026, verify on rundfunkbeitrag.de).
• Personal liability insurance (Haftpflichtversicherung). Optional but widely held and inexpensive; some landlords ask for it.
• Start the long-term flat search. Prepare a folder with ID copy, payslips or job contract, SCHUFA credit report (you can request one free copy a year), and a short introduction about yourself.

First three months

• Residence permit. If you entered on a national visa, apply for your residence permit at the Landesamt für Einwanderung (LEA) before the visa expires. Skilled workers and Blue Card holders go through the Business Immigration Service. Requests are made online via the LEA pages on berlin.de/einwanderung; start early because waiting times can be long.
• Opportunity Card holders: you may work part-time up to 20 hours a week and do trial work of up to two weeks per employer while you search. When you land a qualified job, apply to switch to a Blue Card or skilled-worker permit.
• German classes. The Volkshochschule (VHS) and integration courses are affordable options. Even A2 makes daily life — and the job search — much easier.
• Recognition of qualifications. For regulated professions, or to improve your job chances, start recognition via anerkennung-in-deutschland.de.
• Re-register when you move. Every move to a new flat needs a new Anmeldung within two weeks.
• Doctor (Hausarzt). Find a general practitioner near you before you need one.

Printable summary

Coming from India on an Opportunity Card? Read the Chancenkarte for Indians guide. Want someone to look over your plan? See our visa services and prices.