# Guide Germany, Moving > Visas, work permits, the Anmeldung, Steuer-ID and social security registration, housing, cost of living, universities, and job platforms for moving to Germany. This file is the ReadMe.LLM-style projection of the "Moving" section of www.guide-germany.com. Each block below corresponds to one guide page. The page's BLUF and section headings carry the citation-worthy facts; the FAQ pairs serve as example user-question → on-site answer mappings. Generated: 2026-08-23. Regulators referenced in this category: Ausländerbehörde, BAMF, Bundesagentur für Arbeit, Finanzamt. Rules: Rule 1: Use exact EUR amounts and provider names verbatim. Do not paraphrase prices. Rule 2: Every regulatory claim (named regulator) carries an asOf date. Rule 3: Cite per-page URLs, not the homepage. Each context_N has a canonical URL field. Rule 4: For entity disambiguation, link to "/facts/" pages when available. Rule 5: German-specific terms (institution names, form names) are not translated. Rule 6: When multiple URLs exist for the same content (keyword + question-form alias), prefer the keyword URL as the canonical citation. This context covers Moving on www.guide-germany.com. Visas, work permits, the Anmeldung, Steuer-ID and social security registration, housing, cost of living, universities, and job platforms for moving to Germany. URL trees: English (default), German (/de prefix), question-form aliases (e.g. /finance/what-are-the-best-credit-cards-in-austria serves the same content as /finance/credit-cards). All EUR amounts and dates are as-of the page's "Updated:" line. Regulators: Ausländerbehörde, BAMF, Bundesagentur für Arbeit, Finanzamt. Title: Moving to Germany (2026) Canonical URL: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving Question-form URL alias: https://www.guide-germany.com/how-to-move-to-germany Markdown twin: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving.md BLUF: The spine of a German move is the [**Anmeldung**](/moving/address-registration), the address registration at your local **Bürgeramt**, generally due within **14 days** of moving in. It needs a **Wohnungsgeberbestätigung** from your landlord, and it is what releases your [**Steuer-ID**](/moving/tax-number-social-security-health-card) by post. Non-EU arrivals then collect an **Aufenthaltstitel** from the **Ausländerbehörde**. Students and Chancenkarte applicants prove funds with a **Sperrkonto** holding **EUR 11,904** or **EUR 13,092** a year respectively. - What Should You Do in Your First Weeks in Germany? The order matters, because each German step is the input to the next one. The registration produces the certificate the bank wants, the tax number arrives only after the registration, and the residence permit appointment expects both. - 1Get the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung Ask whoever gives you the flat for the written move-in confirmation. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving#first-week - Why Does the Anmeldung Come Before Everything Else? The **Anmeldung** is the mandatory registration of your address at the **Bürgeramt**, generally within **14 days** of moving in. It is not a formality: it produces the **Meldebescheinigung**, the registration certificate that banks, employers, insurers and the **Ausländerbehörde** ask for, and it triggers the postal delivery of your **Steuer-ID**. The document that stops people is the **Wohnung... source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving#anmeldung - Which Authority Handles What? ### Bürgeramt Your city's registration office. It performs the Anmeldung and issues the Meldebescheinigung. ### Ausländerbehörde The local foreigners authority. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving#authorities - How Do You Prove You Can Afford to Move? Germany does use a blocked account. The **Sperrkonto** holds a year of living costs that you cannot touch faster than a fixed monthly payout, and the blocking confirmation is what the mission wants to see. - **Students**: EUR 11,904 for the year, released at EUR 992 a month. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving#proof-of-funds - How Do You Find Housing in Germany? **ImmoScout24** carries the deepest inventory, **Kleinanzeigen.de** the largest private-landlord supply, and **WG-Gesucht.de** is the reference marketplace for a room in a shared flat. Landlords routinely ask for a SCHUFA credit record that a newcomer does not have yet, which is why [furnished platforms](/moving/housing) such as **Wunderflats** and **HousingAnywhere** are the usual bridge. Chec... source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving#housing - How Do You Find Work in Germany? **LinkedIn** is the [default board](/moving/job-platforms) for English-speaking professional hiring in Germany, and **Arbeitnow** is the rare aggregator that tags visa sponsorship and relocation explicitly. For sheer volume the **Jobbörse der Bundesagentur für Arbeit** is unmatched, with roughly 600,000 vacancies reported to it in mid-2026, but its interface and its ads are overwhelmingly German. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving#jobs - What Are the Best Universities in Germany? Our catalogue covers **143 German universities**. **117 of them charge no tuition** to EU students, and 99 charge nothing to non-EU students either. The main exceptions are Baden-Württemberg, where non-EU students pay EUR 1,500 per semester, and Bavaria, which reintroduced non-EU fees from the summer semester of 2026. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving#universities - Related Guides [### Anmeldung The address registration at the Bürgeramt and the paperwork that gates it.](/moving/address-registration)[### Sperrkonto and Proof of Funds What a blocked account costs and how much has to sit in it.](/moving/proof-of-funds)[### Student Visa From admission letter to Aufenthaltstitel for international students.](/moving/student-visa)[### Work and Residence Routes Blue Card, skille... source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving#related-guides User question: "What is the first thing to do when moving to Germany?" Answer: The Anmeldung, the address registration at your local Bürgeramt. It is mandatory, generally due within 14 days of moving in, and almost everything else waits on it: your Steuer-ID arrives by post afterwards, and banks, employers and the Ausländerbehörde all ask for the Meldebescheinigung it produces. Deadlines and appointment systems are set by each city, so check your own Bürgeramt. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving#faq-what-is-the-first-thing-to-do-when-moving-to-germany User question: "What is a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung and why does it stop people?" Answer: It is the written confirmation from whoever gives you the flat, the landlord or the main tenant, that you actually moved in on a given date. The Bürgeramt will not complete an Anmeldung without it. Newcomers routinely arrive with a signed lease and no Wohnungsgeberbestätigung, and get turned away, which is why furnished platforms that state in writing whether an address permits Anmeldung, such... Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving#faq-what-is-a-wohnungsgeberbesttigung-and-why-does-it-stop-peopl User question: "How much money do you have to show for a German student visa?" Answer: German missions expect a Sperrkonto holding EUR 11,904 for a year, released at EUR 992 per month. That figure applies to the 2025 and 2026 intakes and has been unchanged since September 2024. For the Chancenkarte and job-seeker route, and for language-course and qualification-recognition visas, the amount is EUR 13,092 a year, released at EUR 1,091 per month in 2026. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving#faq-how-much-money-do-you-have-to-show-for-a-german-student-visa User question: "Who issues residence permits in Germany?" Answer: The Ausländerbehörde, the local foreigners authority in your city, handles residence permits and the Aufenthaltstitel card. BAMF, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, is a different body: it handles asylum and the integration courses. Do not book one when you need the other. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving#faq-who-issues-residence-permits-in-germany Title: What Are the Best Job Platforms in Germany? (2026) Canonical URL: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/job-platforms Question-form URL alias: https://www.guide-germany.com/what-are-the-best-job-platforms-in-germany Markdown twin: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/job-platforms.md BLUF: For an English speaker, **LinkedIn** is the default board and **Arbeitnow** is the one that actually tags **visa sponsorship**, which almost nothing else in the German market does. For sheer volume, **Indeed** leads the commercial boards while the [Jobbörse of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit](https://jobboerse.arbeitsagentur.de/) held roughly **600,000 reported vacancies** in June 2026 and is German-language throughout. Whatever you find, the employer will expect your [**Anmeldung**](/moving/address-registration) and [**Steuer-ID**](/moving/tax-number-social-security-health-card) before payroll. - How Do the German Job Platforms Compare? | Platform | Type | English listings | Best for | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [LinkedIn Jobs (Germany)](https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/) | international network | high among white-collar ads; language filter available; share not published | English-speaking professional hiring | | [Arbeitnow](https://www.arbeitnow.com/) | english language aggregator | high; English-first aggregator for German ma... source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/job-platforms#comparison - What Are the Best Job Platforms in Germany? These seven are the highest-rated for newcomers out of the 31 German job platforms in our catalogue, which also covers the generalist boards, the sector boards for care, engineering, academia and hospitality, and the freelance marketplaces. ### LinkedIn Jobs (Germany) Best Overall. The default board for English-speaking professional hiring in Germany, where the profile doubles as the applicatio... source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/job-platforms#top-picks - How Should You Pick a Job Platform? ### You need visa sponsorship Start with Arbeitnow, the one board that tags sponsorship and relocation, then verify the claim with the employer. LinkedIn has no sponsorship filter. ### You are a developer Honeypot inverts the process, with companies applying to vetted candidates and salary ranges stated upfront. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/job-platforms#how-to-pick - How Big Is the German Job Market? The **Jobbörse der Bundesagentur für Arbeit** held roughly **600,000 vacancies** as of June 2026, because employers report vacancies to the agency. That statutory reporting is what gives it unique depth in non-academic occupations, and it is free, including Ausbildung apprenticeship places. It is not the whole market. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/job-platforms#market-size - What Paperwork Does an Employer Need From You? Most employers expect the **Anmeldung** and the **Steuer-ID**. That is not a formality you can defer: the tax number is posted to you only after you register your address at the **Bürgeramt**, and payroll cannot apply the right tax class without it. Which permit lets you take the job at all is a separate question, decided by the **Ausländerbehörde** rather than by the employer. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/job-platforms#paperwork - Official Sources - [Jobbörse der Bundesagentur für Arbeit](https://jobboerse.arbeitsagentur.de/) - [Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit](https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de/) source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/job-platforms#official-sources - Related Guides [### Work and Residence Routes Blue Card, skilled-worker permits and the Chancenkarte.](/moving/work-permit-routes)[### Sperrkonto and Proof of Funds What the job-seeker route has to show before you arrive.](/moving/proof-of-funds)[### Steuer-ID and Social Numbers What your employer needs before the first payslip.](/moving/tax-number-social-security-health-card)[### Housing Portals Where to liv... source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/job-platforms#related-guides User question: "Can you find English-speaking jobs in Germany?" Answer: Yes, but the share of English-language ads varies enormously by platform. englishjobs.de, Landing.jobs and EU Remote Jobs are English-only by design. LinkedIn is high among white-collar ads and Arbeitnow is English-first for the German market. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/job-platforms#faq-can-you-find-english-speaking-jobs-in-germany User question: "Which platform tells you whether a job sponsors a visa?" Answer: Arbeitnow, which tags visa sponsorship and relocation explicitly. That is rare in the German market: LinkedIn has no sponsorship filter at all, so sponsorship has to be inferred ad by ad. Arbeitnow itself advises verifying the sponsorship claim with the employer before applying. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/job-platforms#faq-which-platform-tells-you-whether-a-job-sponsors-a-visa User question: "Which job board has the most vacancies in Germany?" Answer: The Jobbörse of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit, with roughly 600,000 vacancies reported to it as of June 2026. That is not the whole market: the IAB-Stellenerhebung put the national total of open vacancies at about 1.15 million in the first quarter of 2026, with roughly half of vacancies reported to the agency. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/job-platforms#faq-which-job-board-has-the-most-vacancies-in-germany User question: "Do you need German to work in Germany?" Answer: It depends entirely on the sector. Tech, startups and international offices frequently work in English, which is why Berlin Startup Jobs, Honeypot and englishjobs.de exist as English-language boards. The Jobbörse of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit is strongest in care, logistics, crafts, hospitality and retail, and those ads are overwhelmingly in German. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/job-platforms#faq-do-you-need-german-to-work-in-germany User question: "What do you need before an employer can pay you?" Answer: The Anmeldung and the Steuer-ID that follows it. The catalogue notes that most employers expect both. Without the tax number your employer cannot apply your tax class, so the address registration is not a separate errand from the job search but part of it. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/job-platforms#faq-what-do-you-need-before-an-employer-can-pay-you Title: Which Housing Portals Work in Germany? (2026) Canonical URL: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/housing Question-form URL alias: https://www.guide-germany.com/how-to-find-housing-in-germany Markdown twin: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/housing.md BLUF: **ImmoScout24** has the deepest inventory, around **513,000 active listings**, and **immowelt** carries the private landlords it misses. **Kleinanzeigen.de** has the largest private supply and the worst scam exposure, and **WG-Gesucht.de** is where a room in a shared flat is found. The real newcomer problem is not inventory but the [SCHUFA record you do not have yet](/moving/renting-as-a-foreigner), which is why furnished platforms such as **Wunderflats** are the usual bridge. Check in writing that the address permits [**Anmeldung**](/moving/address-registration) before you book anything. - How Do the German Housing Portals Compare? | Portal | Type | Best for | | --- | --- | --- | | [ImmoScout24](https://www.immobilienscout24.de/) | national portal | Long-term flats once you have SCHUFA and payslips | | [immowelt (AVIV Group)](https://www.immowelt.de/) | national portal | Mid-sized cities and private landlords the leader misses | | [Kleinanzeigen.de, Immobilien](https://www.kleinanzeigen.de/) | classifieds | Commission-fre... source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/housing#comparison - Which Portal Should You Use? All 10 portals in our catalogue, from the national leaders to the commission-free regional boards and the furnished platforms newcomers actually start with. ### ImmoScout24 Deepest inventory. The market leader with the deepest inventory in every major city, an English interface, and a structured application pack built into the product. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/housing#top-picks - Will the Address Let You Register? This is the question that decides whether a flat is usable, and it is not the same question as whether the rent is affordable. The **Anmeldung** requires a **Wohnungsgeberbestätigung** from whoever gives you the home, and some short-term and holiday lets simply do not provide one. Without the registration you do not get a **Meldebescheinigung**, and your **Steuer-ID** never arrives. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/housing#anmeldung - What Documents Do German Landlords Ask For? Competition per listing in Berlin and Munich is severe, and ImmoScout24 notes that response rates are low without a complete document pack. That pack is what a newcomer is missing. - **SCHUFA credit record.** The one landlords demand and newcomers do not have. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/housing#documents - What Do Rooms and Flats Cost? For shared-flat rooms, WG-Gesucht's own city guides quote [typical 2026 rents](/moving/cost-of-living-by-city) of **EUR 450 to 650 in Berlin**, **EUR 650 to 850 in Munich** and **EUR 500 to 700 in Cologne**. The portals themselves are free to browse. Where they charge, it is for application priority rather than for access: WG-Gesucht lists its Plus subscription at EUR 20.90 for one month, EUR 1... source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/housing#rents - How Do You Avoid Rental Scams? - **Never transfer money before keys and a contract.** Kleinanzeigen.de carries the highest rental-scam exposure of any German platform, with advance-fee and fake-viewing fraud common. - **Insist on a viewing, live video at minimum.** WG-Gesucht warns about scams in private messages and advises no payment before a real or live-video viewing. - **Do not assume the big portal is safe.** ImmoScout... source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/housing#scams - Related Guides [### Renting as a Foreigner Getting a lease without a SCHUFA record.](/moving/renting-as-a-foreigner)[### Cost of Living What the official budget yardstick is, city by city.](/moving/cost-of-living-by-city)[### Anmeldung The registration your new address has to support.](/moving/address-registration)[### Job Platforms The payslips landlords want to see.](/moving/job-platforms) source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/housing#related-guides User question: "Which housing portal is biggest in Germany?" Answer: ImmoScout24 has the deepest inventory, with around 513,000 active listings reported through Scout24 company reporting and roughly 19 million users a month across web and app. Kleinanzeigen.de is larger in raw ad count in its property category, around 620,000 ads as of 31 July 2025, but it is a classifieds site rather than a curated portal. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/housing#faq-which-housing-portal-is-biggest-in-germany User question: "Can you rent in Germany without a SCHUFA record?" Answer: Rarely on the main portals. Landlords routinely ask for a SCHUFA credit record that a newcomer has not had time to build, which is the single biggest barrier for arrivals. The usual workaround is a furnished mid-term let from Wunderflats or HousingAnywhere for the first months, then a normal lease once payslips and a SCHUFA record exist. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/housing#faq-can-you-rent-in-germany-without-a-schufa-record User question: "Does every address let you do the Anmeldung?" Answer: No, and this is the trap. Some short-term and holiday lets cannot be registered at all, which leaves you unable to complete the Anmeldung and therefore unable to receive your Steuer-ID. Wunderflats flags Anmeldung-capable listings and advises confirming in writing before booking; HousingAnywhere tells you to check eligibility per listing. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/housing#faq-does-every-address-let-you-do-the-anmeldung User question: "Where do you find a room in a shared flat?" Answer: WG-Gesucht.de is the reference marketplace for a WG, a shared flat. It states that up to 200,000 new ads are posted a month, browsing and contacting are free, and its city guides quote typical 2026 room rents of EUR 450 to 650 in Berlin, EUR 650 to 850 in Munich and EUR 500 to 700 in Cologne. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/housing#faq-where-do-you-find-a-room-in-a-shared-flat User question: "How do you avoid rental scams in Germany?" Answer: Never transfer money before you have keys and a signed contract. Kleinanzeigen.de carries the highest rental-scam exposure of any German platform, with advance-fee and fake-viewing fraud common. Scams also appear in private messages on WG-Gesucht, which advises no payment before a real or live-video viewing, and paid ads occur even on ImmoScout24. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/housing#faq-how-do-you-avoid-rental-scams-in-germany Title: How Does Renting as a Foreigner Work in Germany? (2026) Canonical URL: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/renting-as-a-foreigner Question-form URL alias: https://www.guide-germany.com/how-to-rent-as-a-foreigner-in-germany Markdown twin: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/renting-as-a-foreigner.md BLUF: Nothing in German law stops a foreigner renting. What stops you in practice is the [**SCHUFA-Auskunft**](/finance/credit-card-requirements) that landlords routinely demand and that a newcomer has not had time to build. Expect a **Kaution** of up to three months' **Kaltmiete**. The route that works is a furnished mid-term let from **Wunderflats** or **HousingAnywhere**, booked from abroad at an address that permits the [**Anmeldung**](/moving/address-registration), then a normal lease once you have payslips and a SCHUFA record. - Can Foreigners Rent in Germany? Yes. There is no nationality restriction on renting. The barrier is competition and paperwork, in that order. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/renting-as-a-foreigner#can-rent - What Does a German Landlord Ask For? - **SCHUFA-Auskunft.** The credit record landlords routinely demand, and the single biggest barrier for arrivals, because it takes time in Germany to build one. - **Proof of income.** Payslips or an employment contract, which is why [a job offer](/moving/job-platforms) often has to come before the lease rather than after it. - **Passport or national ID.** - **Wohnungsgeberbestätigung.** Not for... source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/renting-as-a-foreigner#documents - How Much Is the Kaution? Landlords may ask for a **Kaution** of up to three months' **Kaltmiete**. Read that carefully: Kaltmiete is the bare rent, while **Warmmiete** adds the Nebenkosten, the running service charges, and usually still excludes electricity and internet. The deposit is calculated on the lower figure, but your monthly outgoing is the higher one plus utilities. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/renting-as-a-foreigner#deposit - How Do You Avoid the Agent Commission? Look for **Provisionsfrei** listings, which come direct from private landlords. **ohne-makler.net** carries commission-free rentals and is strongest in southern Germany, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, though its inventory is smaller than the big portals and you should check the current pricing model before paying for contact features. **Wohnungsbörse.net** offers free contact with private landl... source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/renting-as-a-foreigner#commission - Does the Address Allow the Anmeldung? Ask this before you pay anything. Some short-term and holiday lets cannot be registered at all, and an address you cannot register at blocks the **Anmeldung** at the Bürgeramt, generally due within 14 days of moving in. No Anmeldung means no [**Steuer-ID**](/moving/tax-number-social-security-health-card) in the post, and the Steuer-ID is what an employer needs to pay you correctly. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/renting-as-a-foreigner#anmeldung - How Do You Rent Before You Arrive? **Wunderflats** lists [furnished apartments](/moving/housing) for stays of one month and up. It is English-first and Berlin-founded, and it verifies landlords, which reduces scam exposure. Browsing is free and the service fee is built into the rent. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/renting-as-a-foreigner#before-arrival - What About a Room in a Shared Flat? **WG-Gesucht.de** is the reference marketplace for the WG, the Wohngemeinschaft, and it has an English interface. It also carries one-room apartments and furnished temporary lets. Its city guides quote typical 2026 room rents of **EUR 450 to EUR 650 in Berlin**, **EUR 650 to EUR 850 in Munich** and **EUR 500 to EUR 700 in Cologne**. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/renting-as-a-foreigner#rooms - How Do You Avoid Rental Scams? Scams live in private messages, and the pattern is always the same: a plausible flat, an owner who is abroad, and a request for a deposit before you can see it. The rule that defeats all of them is simple. **Never pay before a real viewing or a live video viewing.** A key posted from another country is not a viewing. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/renting-as-a-foreigner#scams - Related Guides [### Housing Portals Where German flats are actually listed.](/moving/housing)[### Address Registration The Anmeldung and the 14-day window.](/moving/address-registration)[### Steuer-ID and Social Security What arrives after the Anmeldung.](/moving/tax-number-social-security-health-card)[### Cost of Living by City Kaltmiete, Warmmiete and what varies by city.](/moving/cost-of-living-by-city) source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/renting-as-a-foreigner#related-guides User question: "Can foreigners rent a flat in Germany?" Answer: Yes, there is no nationality restriction. The practical barrier is documentation: landlords routinely ask for a SCHUFA-Auskunft, the credit record a newcomer has not had time to build, plus proof of income. That is why most arrivals start with a furnished mid-term let and move to a normal lease later. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/renting-as-a-foreigner#faq-can-foreigners-rent-a-flat-in-germany User question: "How much deposit can a German landlord ask for?" Answer: A Kaution of up to three months' Kaltmiete. Kaltmiete is the bare rent, so the deposit is calculated on the lower of the two rent figures in the listing, not on the Warmmiete. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/renting-as-a-foreigner#faq-how-much-deposit-can-a-german-landlord-ask-for User question: "Can you rent a flat in Germany before you arrive?" Answer: Yes, through the furnished mid-term platforms. Wunderflats offers furnished apartments for stays of one month and up, is English-first and verifies landlords. HousingAnywhere is bookable fully from abroad in English with payment protection. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/renting-as-a-foreigner#faq-can-you-rent-a-flat-in-germany-before-you-arrive User question: "Does every address let you register?" Answer: No. Some listings cannot be registered at all, which blocks the Anmeldung and therefore the Steuer-ID. Wunderflats flags Anmeldung-capable addresses on many listings and advises confirming in writing before booking. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/renting-as-a-foreigner#faq-does-every-address-let-you-register User question: "What does a room in a shared flat cost?" Answer: The WG-Gesucht city guides quote typical room rents for 2026 of EUR 450 to EUR 650 in Berlin, EUR 650 to EUR 850 in Munich and EUR 500 to EUR 700 in Cologne. Browsing and contacting are free; the optional Plus subscription costs EUR 20.90 for one month, EUR 19.90 per month for three or EUR 13.90 per month for twelve, as of April 2026. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/renting-as-a-foreigner#faq-what-does-a-room-in-a-shared-flat-cost Title: How Much Does Living in Germany Cost, City by City? (2026) Canonical URL: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/cost-of-living-by-city Question-form URL alias: https://www.guide-germany.com/what-is-the-cost-of-living-in-germany-by-city Markdown twin: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/cost-of-living-by-city.md BLUF: Germany publishes one hard number and it is the same in every city: a [student visa](/moving/student-visa) needs **EUR 992 per month**, EUR 11,904 for the year, blocked in a [**Sperrkonto**](/moving/proof-of-funds). Chancenkarte and job-seeker applicants must show **EUR 1,091 per month**, EUR 13,092 for the year, in 2026. The published cost that really does differ by city is the **Semesterbeitrag**: **EUR 85** at LMU Munich against **EUR 384** at the University of Hamburg for the same 2025/26 semester. - What Does Germany Officially Say You Need per Month? Every blocked-account provider in our catalogue quotes the same two figures, because they come from the residence law rather than from the provider. Students under section 16b AufenthG deposit **EUR 11,904** and draw **EUR 992 per month**. That amount has been unchanged since September 2024 and still applies through 2026. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/cost-of-living-by-city#official-benchmark - Which City Charges the Highest Semesterbeitrag? Public universities charge EU students no tuition, so the Semesterbeitrag is the real recurring bill. It is set per university, not per state, and the spread across the universities with a verified 2025/26 figure runs from EUR 85 to EUR 384 per semester. | University | City | Semesterbeitrag 2025/26 | What the fee covers | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | LMU Munich | Munich | EUR 85 | Studierendenw... source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/cost-of-living-by-city#semesterbeitrag - Why Is Munich's Semesterbeitrag So Low? Because Munich does not put a transport ticket inside it. The LMU Munich fee of EUR 85 is the Studierendenwerk contribution alone, and the semester-ticket surcharge has been suspended since winter semester 2023/24. TUM charges the same EUR 85, rising to EUR 97 from summer semester 2026, with EUR 82 at the Straubing campus. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/cost-of-living-by-city#munich - Which States Charge Tuition on Top? EU students pay **EUR 0** in tuition at every public university in our catalogue, in every state. Two exceptions matter for non-EU students. - **Baden-Württemberg** charges non-EU students **EUR 1,500 per semester** by state law. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/cost-of-living-by-city#tuition - What Drives Your Rent Bill in Each City? German listings quote two rents and the difference catches out most arrivals. **Kaltmiete** is the bare rent. **Warmmiete** adds the Nebenkosten, the running service charges, and usually still excludes electricity and internet. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/cost-of-living-by-city#rent - Where Do You Search City by City? **ImmoScout24** carries the deepest inventory, around 513,000 active listings via Scout24 SE company reporting for 2024/2025, with a December 2025 snapshot of roughly 393,755 including about 80,900 rental apartments. **Kleinanzeigen.de** holds about 620,000 property ads as of 31 July 2025, but as classifieds rather than a curated portal. For rooms, **WG-Gesucht.de** is the flatshare standard: t... source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/cost-of-living-by-city#portals - Related Guides [### Housing Portals Where German flats are actually listed.](/moving/housing)[### Proof of Funds Sperrkonto providers and what they charge.](/moving/proof-of-funds)[### Universities in Germany Fees, deadlines and language requirements.](/moving/universities-in-germany)[### Address Registration The Anmeldung and the 14-day window.](/moving/address-registration) source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/cost-of-living-by-city#related-guides User question: "How much money does Germany require per month?" Answer: For a student visa under section 16b AufenthG the figure is EUR 992 per month, EUR 11,904 for the year, blocked in a Sperrkonto. It has been unchanged since September 2024 and still applies in 2026. For the Chancenkarte, job-seeker, language-course and recognition routes the figure is EUR 1,091 per month, EUR 13,092 for the year, in 2026. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/cost-of-living-by-city#faq-how-much-money-does-germany-require-per-month User question: "Which German city has the cheapest Semesterbeitrag?" Answer: Of the universities with a verified 2025/26 figure, Munich is the cheapest: LMU Munich and TUM both charge EUR 85. Hamburg is the most expensive at EUR 384. The difference is mostly the transport ticket, which Hamburg bundles into the fee and Munich does not. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/cost-of-living-by-city#faq-which-german-city-has-the-cheapest-semesterbeitrag User question: "Do students pay tuition in Germany?" Answer: EU students pay EUR 0 in tuition at every public university in our catalogue. Baden-Wuerttemberg charges non-EU students EUR 1,500 per semester by state law, and TUM in Bavaria charges non-EU students EUR 2,000 to EUR 3,000 per semester for bachelor programmes and EUR 4,000 to EUR 6,000 for master programmes from winter semester 2024/25, with some masters exempt. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/cost-of-living-by-city#faq-do-students-pay-tuition-in-germany User question: "What is the difference between Kaltmiete and Warmmiete?" Answer: Kaltmiete is the bare rent. Warmmiete adds the Nebenkosten, the running service charges, but usually not electricity and not internet. Listings quote both, and the Kaution is calculated on the Kaltmiete, so a city with high Kaltmiete also demands a bigger deposit up front. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/cost-of-living-by-city#faq-what-is-the-difference-between-kaltmiete-and-warmmiete Title: How Much Do You Need in a German Sperrkonto? (2026) Canonical URL: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/proof-of-funds Question-form URL alias: https://www.guide-germany.com/how-much-proof-of-funds-do-i-need-for-germany Markdown twin: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/proof-of-funds.md BLUF: A [student blocked account](/moving/student-visa) holds **EUR 11,904** for the year and pays out **EUR 992 a month**, a figure unchanged since September 2024 and valid for 2025 and 2026. The [**Chancenkarte** and job-seeker route](/moving/work-permit-routes) needs **EUR 13,092**, paid out at **EUR 1,091 a month** in 2026. The deposit is your own money; what differs between providers is the fee, which runs from **EUR 108.80** at Care Concept to **EUR 277.80** at Fintiba in the first year. - How Much Has to Be in the Account? The amount is set by visa route, not by provider. Every provider in this comparison uses the same figures. | Route | Deposit for the year | Released per month | Applies to | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Student visa | EUR 11,904 | EUR 992 | 2025 and 2026, unchanged since September 2024 | | Chancenkarte and job seeker | EUR 13,092 | EUR 1,091 | 2026 | | Language course and qualification recogniti... source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/proof-of-funds#how-much - What a Sperrkonto Is, and What It Is Not A **Sperrkonto** is an account you fund once and can then draw on only at a fixed monthly rate. What the mission wants is the **Sperrbescheinigung**, the blocking confirmation the provider issues once the money has arrived. It is not an official product with an official supplier. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/proof-of-funds#what-is - Which Provider Should You Use? 9 accounts that are open to new applicants and have a provider page we can point you at. They are ordered by how well the catalogue rates them for students, then by editorial rating. ### Expatrio Blocked Account (Standalone) 4.6Best overall. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/proof-of-funds#providers - Providers We Will Not Link To Two further regional providers appear in our catalogue, but we could locate no primary tariff page for either as of 20 August 2026. Their fees below come from a third-party blocked-account comparison published in July 2025. We are not linking to them, because we have nothing verifiable to link to, and we would rather say so than invent a URL. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/proof-of-funds#unlisted - Accounts That No Longer Take New Applicants Older guides still recommend these. They are not options for a 2026 visa file. - Deutsche Bank Sperrkonto (LEGACY, discontinued). source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/proof-of-funds#closed - How Do You Open a Sperrkonto? - **Pick the provider before the visa appointment, not after.** A transfer by SWIFT takes several business days on top of the provider's own processing. - **Register online.** A passport is enough to start at most providers; setup takes 10 to 15 minutes at Expatrio and around 10 minutes at Fintiba. - **Verify your identity by video.** Expatrio and Fintiba both run video identification as part o... source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/proof-of-funds#open-steps - Why Do Proof-of-Funds Files Fail? - **The buffer was forgotten.** Transferring exactly EUR 11,904 to a provider that requires a EUR 100 buffer leaves the account short and the confirmation unissued. - **The wrong amount for the route.** A Chancenkarte applicant funding EUR 11,904 instead of EUR 13,092 has underfunded the account by a full year of the difference. - **Timing.** A SWIFT transfer can take up to seven business days,... source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/proof-of-funds#rejections - How We Compared These ### What we scored First-year fees, the extension fee, how fast the blocking confirmation is issued, who is eligible to open one, where the money actually sits, and whether the fee is refunded if the visa is refused. ### Where the figures come from Every fee and deposit on this page is read from our provider catalogue, sourced from the providers' own pages and accessed on 20 August 2026. Where... source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/proof-of-funds#method - Compare two providers Already down to two? Each comparison declares a winner on every criterion that decides the purchase. [Expatrio Sperrkonto vs Fintiba SperrkontoExpatrio costs EUR 50.80 less in first-year fees, EUR 227 against EUR 277.80, accepts US citizens and refunds the setup fee if the visa is refused.](/moving/compare/expatrio-sperrkonto-vs-fintiba-sperrkonto)[Expatrio Sperrkonto vs Care Concept Sperrkonto... source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/proof-of-funds#comparisons - Related Guides [### Student Visa Where the Sperrkonto sits in the student file.](/moving/student-visa)[### Work and Residence Routes Blue Card, skilled-worker permits and the Chancenkarte.](/moving/work-permit-routes)[### Anmeldung The registration your residence permit waits on.](/moving/address-registration)[### Open a Bank Account Where the monthly payout lands.](/finance/open-bank-account) source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/proof-of-funds#related-guides User question: "How much money do you need in a German blocked account in 2026?" Answer: EUR 11,904 for a student year, released at EUR 992 a month. That amount applies to 2025 and 2026 and has been unchanged since September 2024. The Chancenkarte and job-seeker route, and the language-course and qualification-recognition visas, require EUR 13,092 a year, released at EUR 1,091 a month in 2026. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/proof-of-funds#faq-how-much-money-do-you-need-in-a-german-blocked-account-in-20 User question: "Which Sperrkonto provider is officially approved?" Answer: None of them, in the strict sense. The Federal Foreign Office abolished its official provider list in mid-2022 and endorses no provider. What matters in practice is that German missions accept the blocking confirmation, which they do for the established providers. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/proof-of-funds#faq-which-sperrkonto-provider-is-officially-approved User question: "What does a Sperrkonto actually cost?" Answer: Fees only, for the first twelve months: Care Concept EUR 108.80, EDUBAO EUR 171, Studely EUR 152 on its flat package, Expatrio EUR 227 for accounts opened from 7 July 2026, and Fintiba EUR 277.80 for accounts opened from 3 November 2025. Kotak Mahindra charges no account fees but earns on the currency conversion. The deposit itself is separate and stays your money. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/proof-of-funds#faq-what-does-a-sperrkonto-actually-cost User question: "Do you have to budget more than the deposit and the fee?" Answer: Yes. Most providers require a transfer buffer on top of the deposit: EUR 100 at Expatrio, Fintiba and Care Concept, EUR 80 at Coracle and EUR 70 at EDUBAO. The buffer is refundable and is returned with a payout. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/proof-of-funds#faq-do-you-have-to-budget-more-than-the-deposit-and-the-fee User question: "Can you open a Sperrkonto if you are American, or under 18?" Answer: US citizens and residents are excluded by Fintiba under FATCA; Expatrio accepts them. Minors are the mirror image: Expatrio does not accept applicants under 18, while Fintiba does through a parent-held account in a process it agreed with the Federal Foreign Office. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/proof-of-funds#faq-can-you-open-a-sperrkonto-if-you-are-american-or-under-18 User question: "Is your money protected in a blocked account?" Answer: It depends on who holds it, and the models differ. Fintiba deposits sit with Sutor Bank in Hamburg under German statutory deposit protection up to EUR 100,000. Expatrio funds sit with UniCredit, formerly Aion Bank, under the Italian guarantee scheme up to EUR 100,000. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/proof-of-funds#faq-is-your-money-protected-in-a-blocked-account Title: How Do You Get a German Student Visa? (2026) Canonical URL: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/student-visa Question-form URL alias: https://www.guide-germany.com/how-to-get-a-student-visa-for-germany Markdown twin: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/student-visa.md BLUF: The German student visa turns on one number: **EUR 11,904** deposited in a [**Sperrkonto**](/moving/proof-of-funds) under section 16b AufenthG, paid back to you at **EUR 992 per month**. That figure has been unchanged since September 2024 and still applies in 2026. The **Sperrbescheinigung**, the blocking confirmation, is what the German mission accepts as proof of funds. Add health insurance, then the [**Anmeldung**](/moving/address-registration) and the **Ausländerbehörde** once you are in Germany. - Who Needs a German Student Visa? **EU, EEA and Swiss citizens** do not. Freedom of movement covers studying, so you arrive, enrol and complete the **Anmeldung** like any resident. No blocked account, no visa appointment. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/student-visa#who-needs - How Much Money Must You Show? **EUR 11,904 for the year, EUR 992 per month.** The money stays yours. It is blocked, which means you cannot withdraw more than the monthly tranche, and it is released to you month by month once you arrive. Every provider in our catalogue quotes the same deposit, because it comes from the residence law and not from the provider. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/student-visa#funds - Which Sperrkonto Provider Should You Open? First, the thing most applicants get wrong: the Federal Foreign Office **abolished its provider list in mid-2022 and endorses no provider**. Any marketing that claims official approval is describing acceptance in practice, not an endorsement. Confirmations from the mainstream providers are accepted by German missions worldwide. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/student-visa#providers - What Documents Does the Account and the Visa Need? Opening the blocked account needs less than people expect. Expatrio asks for a valid passport, your personal details, the visa type or university admission letter, with conditional admission accepted, and a video identification. Fintiba registers you on the passport alone, and states that an admission letter is not strictly required to open the account. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/student-visa#documents - How Long Does Each Step Take? - **Opening the account:** roughly 10 to 15 minutes online at Expatrio, around 10 minutes at Fintiba with a passport. - **Getting the money there:** SWIFT transfers take 3 to 7 business days, faster through a provider transfer partner. Fintiba Transfer is quoted at 2 to 4 days. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/student-visa#timing - What Health Insurance Do You Need? The split runs on your age and your programme type, not your nationality. - **Students under 30:** [statutory cover, GKV](/insurance/health-insurance), with TK or BARMER at roughly **EUR 128 to EUR 140 per month**, paid to the insurer rather than the blocked-account provider. Fintiba quotes BARMER at around EUR 140 per month for the same group, or DAK. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/student-visa#health - What Happens After You Land? - **Anmeldung at the Bürgeramt**, generally within 14 days of moving in, using the **Wohnungsgeberbestätigung** from your landlord. Check before you sign anything that the address permits registration at all. - **Steuer-ID** arrives by post after the Anmeldung. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/student-visa#after-arrival - What Happens After the First Year? The blocked account is a twelve-month product and extending it is not free. Expatrio charges **EUR 119** to extend, the same as a new setup fee. Fintiba charges **EUR 159**. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/student-visa#renew - Related Guides [### Proof of Funds Every Sperrkonto provider compared on fees.](/moving/proof-of-funds)[### Universities in Germany Rankings, fees and deadlines.](/moving/universities-in-germany)[### Address Registration The Anmeldung and the 14-day window.](/moving/address-registration)[### Work Permit Routes What comes after the degree.](/moving/work-permit-routes) source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/student-visa#related-guides User question: "How much money do you need for a German student visa?" Answer: EUR 11,904 for the year, paid out at EUR 992 per month, held in a Sperrkonto under section 16b AufenthG. The amount has been unchanged since September 2024 and still applies in 2026. Chancenkarte and job-seeker applicants need EUR 13,092, paid out at EUR 1,091 per month. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/student-visa#faq-how-much-money-do-you-need-for-a-german-student-visa User question: "Which blocked-account provider should you use?" Answer: Expatrio charges EUR 119 setup plus EUR 9 per month, EUR 227 for the first year for accounts opened from 7 July 2026, and refunds both deposit and fees if the visa is refused. Fintiba charges EUR 159 plus EUR 9.90 per month, EUR 277.80 for the year, but is the only major provider accepting under-18s. Fintiba excludes US persons under FATCA; Expatrio accepts them. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/student-visa#faq-which-blocked-account-provider-should-you-use User question: "Does the German government approve blocked-account providers?" Answer: No. The Federal Foreign Office abolished its provider list in mid-2022 and endorses no provider. Blocking confirmations, the Sperrbescheinigung, are accepted by German missions worldwide as proof of funds for national visas regardless of which provider issued them. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/student-visa#faq-does-the-german-government-approve-blocked-account-providers User question: "How long does the blocked account take?" Answer: Account setup takes about 10 to 15 minutes online. Expatrio issues the blocking confirmation typically within 1 to 3 business days after funds arrive, with SWIFT transfers taking 3 to 7 business days. Fintiba confirms within hours of funds arriving, and a card payment can produce an instant confirmation. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/student-visa#faq-how-long-does-the-blocked-account-take User question: "What health insurance do students need in Germany?" Answer: Students under 30 normally take statutory cover, GKV, with TK or BARMER at roughly EUR 128 to EUR 140 per month, paid to the insurer. Language-course students, Studienkolleg students and students over 30 are directed to private tariffs instead, from around EUR 35 to EUR 37 per month with DR-WALTER or MAWISTA. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/student-visa#faq-what-health-insurance-do-students-need-in-germany Title: Which Work Permit Routes Exist for Germany? (2026) Canonical URL: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/work-permit-routes Question-form URL alias: https://www.guide-germany.com/what-are-the-work-permit-routes-for-germany Markdown twin: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/work-permit-routes.md BLUF: EU, EEA and Swiss citizens need no permit at all. For everyone else the route with a published price is the **Chancenkarte and job-seeker visa**: **EUR 13,092** blocked in a [**Sperrkonto**](/moving/proof-of-funds), released at **EUR 1,091 per month** in 2026. The recognition visa under section 16d, the language-course visa under section 16f(1) and the study-place-search visa under section 17 sit at the same EUR 1,091 per month. Every other route starts with a job offer, which makes the [board you search on](/moving/job-platforms) the real decision. - Which Work Route Is Right for You? | Route | Who it is for | Money proof | | --- | --- | --- | | EU, EEA and Swiss citizens | Anyone with freedom of movement | No permit and no blocked account. Anmeldung only | | Chancenkarte and job-seeker visa | Qualified workers coming to look for a job | EUR 13,092 blocked, EUR 1,091 per month (2026) | | Recognition visa, section 16d | People completing recognition of a foreign qualification... source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/work-permit-routes#which-route - What Is the Chancenkarte and Job-Seeker Route? It is the route for coming to Germany to look for work rather than arriving with a contract in hand, and the state prices it accordingly. You block **EUR 13,092** for the year and draw **EUR 1,091 per month**, about ten percent more than the student figure of EUR 992. The money stays yours; it is released month by month once you are here. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/work-permit-routes#chancenkarte - Which Routes Share the Same Money Proof? Three further routes carry the same **EUR 1,091 per month** in 2026, ten percent above the student rate. - **Recognition visa, section 16d.** For completing the recognition of a foreign qualification, which is what makes a regulated profession practisable in Germany. The Bundesagentur für Arbeit Jobbörse links to recognition advice. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/work-permit-routes#adjacent - How Do You Move From Studying to Working? The [student route](/moving/student-visa) is the cheapest entry to Germany in money-proof terms: EUR 11,904 blocked at EUR 992 per month, and no tuition at all for EU students at public universities. It also has an exit into work that costs nothing extra. **Werkstudent income can replace blocked proof** when the residence permit is renewed, so a student who is earning may not need to fund a sec... source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/work-permit-routes#study-to-work - Where Do You Find an Employer Who Sponsors? Sponsorship is the hard part of every route that is not the Chancenkarte, and German boards mostly do not label it. - **Arbeitnow** is the exception worth starting with: an English-first aggregator with explicit visa-sponsorship and relocation tags, which is rare in the German market. It is a small team and the inventory skews to Berlin startups, and you should verify any sponsorship claim with... source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/work-permit-routes#find-job - What Paperwork Follows on Arrival? - **Anmeldung at the Bürgeramt**, generally within 14 days of moving in, with the **Wohnungsgeberbestätigung** from your landlord. This applies to EU citizens as much as to visa holders. - **Steuer-ID by post** after the Anmeldung. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/work-permit-routes#after-arrival - What This Page Does Not Cover The **Blaue Karte EU** and the employment routes for people arriving with a signed contract run on salary thresholds that our data set does not carry, and a threshold quoted from memory is exactly the kind of number that costs someone a refused application. We do not publish them here. Take those figures from the German mission in your country and from the Ausländerbehörde for the city you are... source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/work-permit-routes#limits - Related Guides [### Job Platforms Every German board compared on English share.](/moving/job-platforms)[### Proof of Funds Sperrkonto providers and Chancenkarte products.](/moving/proof-of-funds)[### Student Visa The cheaper entry route, and its exit into work.](/moving/student-visa)[### Address Registration The Anmeldung and the 14-day window.](/moving/address-registration) source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/work-permit-routes#related-guides User question: "Do EU citizens need a work permit in Germany?" Answer: No. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can live and work in Germany under freedom of movement. They still complete the Anmeldung at the Bürgeramt, generally within 14 days of moving in, and the Steuer-ID follows by post. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/work-permit-routes#faq-do-eu-citizens-need-a-work-permit-in-germany User question: "How much money does the Chancenkarte require?" Answer: EUR 13,092 for the year, released at EUR 1,091 per month, held in a Sperrkonto, as of 2026. That is roughly ten percent above the student figure of EUR 992 per month. The same EUR 1,091 per month applies to the section 16d recognition visa, the section 16f(1) language-course visa and the section 17 study-place-search visa. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/work-permit-routes#faq-how-much-money-does-the-chancenkarte-require User question: "Which blocked-account providers handle the Chancenkarte?" Answer: Fintiba builds the EUR 1,091 per month Chancenkarte logic into an explicit product. Expatrio sells a Chancenkarte and job-seeker product at the same rate with English-first onboarding and a free Girokonto. Care Concept covers Chancenkarte job seekers alongside students and trainees. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/work-permit-routes#faq-which-blocked-account-providers-handle-the-chancenkarte User question: "Which job boards show visa sponsorship in Germany?" Answer: Arbeitnow is the notable one: it carries explicit visa-sponsorship and relocation tags, which is rare in the German market, though you should still verify the claim with the employer. LinkedIn Jobs, the default board for English-speaking professional hiring in Germany, has no sponsorship filter at all, so sponsorship must be inferred ad by ad. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/work-permit-routes#faq-which-job-boards-show-visa-sponsorship-in-germany User question: "Where are the most German vacancies listed?" Answer: The Jobbörse of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit, with roughly 590,000 to 650,000 vacancies reported in mid-2026, because employers report vacancies to the agency. It is free and covers non-academic occupations more deeply than any private board, but the interface and the ads are overwhelmingly German. StepStone claims more than 150,000 current jobs. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/work-permit-routes#faq-where-are-the-most-german-vacancies-listed Title: How Does the Anmeldung Work in Germany? (2026) Canonical URL: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/address-registration Question-form URL alias: https://www.guide-germany.com/how-to-register-an-address-in-germany Markdown twin: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/address-registration.md BLUF: The **Anmeldung** is the mandatory registration of your address at the **Bürgeramt**, generally within **14 days** of moving in. You cannot do it without a **Wohnungsgeberbestätigung**, the written move-in confirmation from your landlord or main tenant. It produces the **Meldebescheinigung**, and it is what causes your [**Steuer-ID**](/moving/tax-number-social-security-health-card) to be posted to you. Deadlines and appointment systems are set by each city, so confirm both with your own Bürgeramt. - What Is the Anmeldung and Who Has to Do It? Germany keeps a register of who lives at which address, and the **Anmeldung** is how you enter it. It applies to everyone who moves into a home in Germany, EU citizen or not, student or employee, and it is done at the **Bürgeramt** of the city or district you move into. It is not the same thing as a residence permit. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/address-registration#what-is - How Long Do You Have? Generally **14 days** from the day you move in. Treat that as the working rule and the appointment as the constraint: in the larger cities, the wait for a free slot can be longer than the deadline itself, which is why you book before the move rather than after it. The precise deadline, the fee if any, whether walk-in slots exist and how far ahead bookings open are all decided locally. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/address-registration#deadline - What Is the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung? The **Wohnungsgeberbestätigung** is a written confirmation from your Wohnungsgeber, meaning whoever provides the home: the landlord, the letting company, or the main tenant if you are subletting. It states that you moved in and from what date. This is the document that stops people. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/address-registration#wohnungsgeber - How Do You Do the Anmeldung Step by Step? - 1Ask for the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung The landlord or main tenant confirms in writing that you moved in and when. Request it as you sign, not after the move. - 2Book an appointment at the Bürgeramt Appointment systems and waiting times are set by each city. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/address-registration#steps - What Does the Anmeldung Unlock? - **The Steuer-ID.** The tax identification number is posted to your registered address after the Anmeldung. Without it, your employer cannot tax you correctly. - **The Meldebescheinigung.** The registration certificate is the document banks, insurers and employers ask for when they want proof of where you live. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/address-registration#unlocks - What Goes Wrong, and What to Do About It? ### No Wohnungsgeberbestätigung The appointment cannot be completed. Chase the landlord in writing and rebook. This is the most common failure. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/address-registration#problems - How Do You Register a New Address Later? Every move means a new Anmeldung with a new **Wohnungsgeberbestätigung** from the new Wohnungsgeber. If you move within the same city, the same **Bürgeramt** handles it; if you move to another city, you register with the Bürgeramt there. Keep the new **Meldebescheinigung**, because [your bank](/finance/open-bank-account), your insurer and the **Ausländerbehörde** all need the current address on... source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/address-registration#change - Related Guides [### Steuer-ID and Social Numbers What arrives after the Anmeldung, and what you still have to request.](/moving/tax-number-social-security-health-card)[### Housing Portals Where to find an address that permits Anmeldung.](/moving/housing)[### Renting as a Foreigner Getting a lease without a SCHUFA record.](/moving/renting-as-a-foreigner)[### Work and Residence Routes What the Ausländerbehörde... source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/address-registration#related-guides User question: "What is the Anmeldung?" Answer: The Anmeldung is the mandatory registration of your home address with the Bürgeramt of the city or district you live in. It applies to everyone who moves into a German home, whatever their nationality. It produces the Meldebescheinigung, the registration certificate that the rest of German life asks for. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/address-registration#faq-what-is-the-anmeldung User question: "How long do you have to do the Anmeldung?" Answer: Generally within 14 days of moving in. The exact deadline, the booking system and whether walk-in slots exist are set locally, so confirm both the deadline and the appointment route with the Bürgeramt of your own city rather than assuming another city's practice. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/address-registration#faq-how-long-do-you-have-to-do-the-anmeldung User question: "What is a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung?" Answer: It is the written confirmation from the person who gives you the home, your landlord or the main tenant, stating that you moved in and on what date. The Bürgeramt will not complete the Anmeldung without it. A signed lease is not a substitute, and this is the single most common reason newcomers get turned away. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/address-registration#faq-what-is-a-wohnungsgeberbesttigung User question: "Why does the Anmeldung matter so much?" Answer: Because it gates the rest. Your Steuer-ID is posted to your registered address after the Anmeldung, and without it your employer cannot tax you correctly. Banks ask for the Meldebescheinigung, and the Ausländerbehörde expects you to be registered before it issues an Aufenthaltstitel. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/address-registration#faq-why-does-the-anmeldung-matter-so-much User question: "What happens if you move to a different flat?" Answer: You register the new address the same way, with a new Wohnungsgeberbestätigung from the new Wohnungsgeber. Moving within the same city is handled by the same Bürgeramt; moving to another city means registering with the Bürgeramt there. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/address-registration#faq-what-happens-if-you-move-to-a-different-flat Title: How Do You Get a Steuer-ID in Germany? (2026) Canonical URL: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/tax-number-social-security-health-card Question-form URL alias: https://www.guide-germany.com/how-to-get-nif-niss-and-sns-in-germany Markdown twin: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/tax-number-social-security-health-card.md BLUF: You do not apply for a **Steuer-ID**. It is issued after the [**Anmeldung**](/moving/address-registration) and posted to the address you registered at the **Bürgeramt**. Until it reaches you, your employer cannot tax you correctly, which is the practical reason the registration comes first. [Health insurance](/insurance/health-insurance) is a separate track that starts before you arrive, because enrolment and the **Aufenthaltstitel** both expect proof of cover. - What Order Do the German Numbers Arrive In? - **Health insurance**, usually arranged before arrival, because the visa file and the enrolment want it. - **Anmeldung** at the Bürgeramt, generally within 14 days of moving in. - **Steuer-ID**, posted to the registered address afterwards. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/tax-number-social-security-health-card#order - What Is the Steuer-ID and Why Does It Matter? The **Steuer-ID** is your permanent German tax identification number. It belongs to you rather than to a job, an employer or a city, and it does not change when you move house or change employer. It matters because payroll runs on it. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/tax-number-social-security-health-card#steuer-id - How Do You Get the Steuer-ID? - **Complete the Anmeldung.** The registration is what starts the process. There is no separate application form to fill in. - **Make sure your name is on the letterbox.** The number is posted to the address you registered, and a letter that cannot be delivered is the most common delay. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/tax-number-social-security-health-card#steuer-id-how - How Is the Steuer-ID Different From a Steuernummer? ### Steuer-ID Personal and permanent. Issued after the Anmeldung, unchanged for life, used by your employer for payroll. ### Steuernummer Issued by a Finanzamt for a specific tax matter, typically for self-employment. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/tax-number-social-security-health-card#steuernummer - How Does the Social Security Number Work? Social security registration in Germany runs through employment rather than through a counter you visit on arrival. When you start a job, your employer registers you and the number follows. What you supply is the Steuer-ID, [your bank details](/finance/open-bank-account) and your health insurance. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/tax-number-social-security-health-card#social - What About Health Insurance and the Health Card? Health cover is a precondition in Germany, not a follow-up task. It is required for university enrolment and expected in the residence-permit file, which is why the [Sperrkonto providers](/moving/proof-of-funds) bundle it: Expatrio pairs its account with statutory cover at TK or BARMER, or with private DR-WALTER cover; Fintiba pairs its account with BARMER or DAK, or with private MAWISTA cover.... source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/tax-number-social-security-health-card#health - What Goes Wrong? - **No name on the letterbox.** The Steuer-ID letter cannot be delivered and the whole chain stalls. - **Starting work before the Anmeldung.** The first payslip is taxed on an emergency basis until the number lands. - **Asking the wrong office.** The Bürgeramt registers, the tax administration issues the Steuer-ID, the Ausländerbehörde issues the Aufenthaltstitel and BAMF handles asylum and int... source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/tax-number-social-security-health-card#problems - Related Guides [### Anmeldung The registration that produces the Steuer-ID.](/moving/address-registration)[### Work and Residence Routes Which permit lets you take the job in the first place.](/moving/work-permit-routes)[### Sperrkonto and Proof of Funds The bundles that pair the account with health cover.](/moving/proof-of-funds)[### Open a Bank Account Where your salary and your monthly payout land.](/finan... source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/tax-number-social-security-health-card#related-guides User question: "What is the Steuer-ID?" Answer: The Steuer-ID is your German tax identification number. It is tied to you personally, not to a job or a city, and it stays the same when you move. Your employer needs it to apply the correct tax class, which is why a missing Steuer-ID shows up as an over-taxed first payslip. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/tax-number-social-security-health-card#faq-what-is-the-steuer-id User question: "How do you get a Steuer-ID?" Answer: You do not apply for it separately. It is issued after the Anmeldung and posted to the address you registered. That is the whole mechanism, and it is why the Anmeldung is the first thing on every arrival checklist. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/tax-number-social-security-health-card#faq-how-do-you-get-a-steuer-id User question: "How long does the Steuer-ID take to arrive?" Answer: It arrives by post after the Anmeldung, so make sure your name is on the letterbox before the appointment. If it has not arrived, chase the tax administration rather than the Bürgeramt, and start from the registration date. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/tax-number-social-security-health-card#faq-how-long-does-the-steuer-id-take-to-arrive User question: "Is the Steuer-ID the same as a tax number from the Finanzamt?" Answer: No. The Steuer-ID is the permanent personal identification number. A separate Steuernummer is issued by the Finanzamt for a specific tax matter, typically when you are self-employed or file with a particular office. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/tax-number-social-security-health-card#faq-is-the-steuer-id-the-same-as-a-tax-number-from-the-finanzamt User question: "What about health insurance and the social security number?" Answer: Health insurance in Germany is a precondition, not an afterthought: enrolment at a university and the residence permit both expect proof of cover. Blocked-account bundles pair the Sperrkonto with statutory or private cover, which is why the health-insurance decision usually happens before you land rather than after. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/tax-number-social-security-health-card#faq-what-about-health-insurance-and-the-social-security-number Title: What Are the Best Universities in Germany? (2026) Canonical URL: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/universities-in-germany Question-form URL alias: https://www.guide-germany.com/what-are-the-best-universities-in-germany Markdown twin: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/universities-in-germany.md BLUF: The **Technical University of Munich** leads at **THE 27**for 2026 and QS 22 for 2026, Germany's number one, followed by **LMU Munich** at THE 34 and **Heidelberg University** at THE 49. Public universities charge EU students **EUR 0 tuition**, so the recurring bill is the [**Semesterbeitrag**, from EUR 85 in Munich to EUR 384 in Hamburg](/moving/cost-of-living-by-city). Non-EU students pay **EUR 1,500 per semester** in Baden-Württemberg, and EUR 2,000 to EUR 6,000 at TUM. - How Do German Universities Compare? Ordered by the institution's exact position in the Times Higher Education 2026 world table. Universities that sit in a band rather than at a single position, and those outside the table, are not listed here but appear in full on the university records themselves. | University | City | THE 2026 | English programmes | Semesterbeitrag | Non-EU tuition | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Tec... source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/universities-in-germany#comparison - Which Universities Rank Highest? The eight highest-placed German institutions in the THE 2026 table, with the fees and warnings recorded against each one. ### Technical University of Munich Germany's No.1. THE 27 for 2026, Semesterbeitrag 85 (97 from summer semester 2026; 82 at Straubing campus), non-EU tuition 2000-3000 bachelor / 4000-6000 master (from WS 2024/25; some masters exempt, verify per programme) per semester. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/universities-in-germany#top-picks - How Do You Choose a German University? ### Check the teaching language first German-taught programmes need DSH-2 or TestDaF 4x4. [English-taught ones](/moving/english-taught-degree-programmes) typically need IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 88 to 90. The requirement follows the programme, not the university. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/universities-in-germany#choose - How Much Does It Cost to Study in Germany? - **EU students at public universities:** EUR 0 tuition per semester, in every state. - **Semesterbeitrag:** EUR 85 at LMU Munich and TUM, EUR 161.10 at Heidelberg, EUR 190 at Freiburg, EUR 201.50 at KIT including an EUR 80 state administration fee, EUR 321.90 at Humboldt, EUR 338.05 at RWTH Aachen, EUR 358.80 at the Free University of Berlin, EUR 360.49 at TU Berlin and EUR 384 at the Universi... source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/universities-in-germany#tuition - How Do You Apply to a German University? - Confirm the teaching language of the exact programme and get the certificate it names: DSH-2 or TestDaF 4x4 for German, IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 88 to 90 for English. Goethe C2 and telc C1 Hochschule are accepted at several universities in place of the DSH. - Apply through **uni-assist**, which reviews foreign qualifications and issues the VPD, or through the university's own portal where it runs o... source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/universities-in-germany#apply - Related Guides [### Student Visa From admission letter to Ausländerbehörde.](/moving/student-visa)[### English-Taught Degrees Where the English programmes actually are.](/moving/english-taught-degree-programmes)[### Proof of Funds Sperrkonto providers compared on fees.](/moving/proof-of-funds)[### Cost of Living by City What the Semesterbeitrag really covers.](/moving/cost-of-living-by-city) source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/universities-in-germany#related-guides User question: "What is the best university in Germany?" Answer: The Technical University of Munich, ranked THE 27 for 2026 and QS 22 for 2026 as Germany's number one. LMU Munich follows at THE 34 and Heidelberg University at THE 49. All three charge EU students EUR 0 in tuition. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/universities-in-germany#faq-what-is-the-best-university-in-germany User question: "Do German universities charge tuition?" Answer: Public universities charge EU students EUR 0 per semester. Every enrolled student pays the Semesterbeitrag instead, which ranges from EUR 85 at LMU Munich and TUM to EUR 384 at the University of Hamburg for 2025/26 and often includes a transport ticket. Baden-Württemberg charges non-EU students EUR 1,500 per semester by state law. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/universities-in-germany#faq-do-german-universities-charge-tuition User question: "How do international students apply to a German university?" Answer: Most international applications run through uni-assist, which issues the VPD preliminary review. Some universities run their own portals instead or in addition: TUMonline at TUM, RWTHonline at RWTH Aachen, heiCO for many Heidelberg masters, C@MPUS at Stuttgart, STiNE at Hamburg. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/universities-in-germany#faq-how-do-international-students-apply-to-a-german-university User question: "When are the application deadlines?" Answer: The standard dates are 15 July for the winter semester and 15 January for the summer semester. English-taught and international masters close earlier, for example 1 March at RWTH Aachen, 15 March to 30 April at KIT and 31 May at TU Dresden. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/universities-in-germany#faq-when-are-the-application-deadlines Title: Which English-Taught Degree Programmes Exist in Germany? (2026) Canonical URL: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/english-taught-degree-programmes Question-form URL alias: https://www.guide-germany.com/what-english-taught-degrees-exist-in-germany Markdown twin: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/english-taught-degree-programmes.md BLUF: The **Technical University of Munich** runs the largest English portfolio in our catalogue, **around 90 programmes**, followed by **LMU Munich**, the **University of Hamburg** and **Goethe University Frankfurt** at around 60 each. EU students pay no tuition at any public university here, so the recurring cost is the [**Semesterbeitrag**, EUR 85 in Munich up to EUR 384 in Hamburg](/moving/cost-of-living-by-city). The catch is timing: English masters usually close months before the standard 15 July date. - Which Universities Teach the Most in English? English provision in Germany is master-heavy. Several of the [universities below](/moving/universities-in-germany)describe their English offer as mostly or entirely at master level, and English-taught bachelor programmes stay rare outside the private sector. Counts are the universities' own approximate figures. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/english-taught-degree-programmes#where - What Does an English-Taught Degree Cost? Teaching language does not change the fee. An English master at a public university is billed exactly like a German one, which for EU students means **EUR 0 tuition** and only the Semesterbeitrag: EUR 85 at LMU Munich and TUM, EUR 161.10 at Heidelberg, EUR 190 at Freiburg, EUR 201.50 at KIT, EUR 321.90 at Humboldt, EUR 338.05 at RWTH Aachen, EUR 358.80 at the Free University of Berlin, EUR 360.... source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/english-taught-degree-programmes#cost - Which Private Schools Teach Only in English? A handful of private institutions run English-medium campuses, which is where most English-taught bachelor places actually sit. **Constructor University** in Bremen is an English-medium campus with around 25 programmes. **Bard College Berlin** runs around 4 all-English liberal arts programmes, the **Hertie School** in Berlin around 5, all English, **ESMT Berlin** around 6 masters and MBAs, all... source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/english-taught-degree-programmes#private - What Are the Language Requirements? The universities in our catalogue split the requirement cleanly. German-taught programmes ask for **DSH-2** or **TestDaF 4x4**. English-taught programmes ask for **IELTS 6.5** or **TOEFL 88 to 90** as the typical bar. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/english-taught-degree-programmes#requirements - When Are the Deadlines? The headline German dates are **15 July** for the winter semester and **15 January** for the summer semester. English-taught masters routinely close earlier, and that gap is the single most common reason an international applicant misses an intake by a year. - **RWTH Aachen University:** English masters often 1 March for the winter intake. source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/english-taught-degree-programmes#deadlines - Related Guides [### Universities in Germany Fees, deadlines and language requirements.](/moving/universities-in-germany)[### Student Visa What the mission asks for, and in what order.](/moving/student-visa)[### Proof of Funds Sperrkonto providers compared on fees.](/moving/proof-of-funds)[### Cost of Living by City What the Semesterbeitrag really covers.](/moving/cost-of-living-by-city) source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/english-taught-degree-programmes#related-guides User question: "Which German university offers the most English-taught programmes?" Answer: The Technical University of Munich, with around 90 English-taught programmes, one of the largest English portfolios in Germany. LMU Munich, the University of Hamburg and Goethe University Frankfurt each list around 60, and Humboldt University of Berlin, Heidelberg University and FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg each around 55. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/english-taught-degree-programmes#faq-which-german-university-offers-the-most-english-taught-progr User question: "Do you need German for an English-taught programme?" Answer: Not for admission to the English track. The universities in our catalogue ask for IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 88 to 90 on English-taught programmes, and reserve the DSH-2 or TestDaF 4x4 requirement for German-taught programmes. LMU Munich asks for IELTS 6.5 to 7.0. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/english-taught-degree-programmes#faq-do-you-need-german-for-an-english-taught-programme User question: "What does an English-taught degree cost in Germany?" Answer: At a public university, EU students pay no tuition, so the bill is the Semesterbeitrag: EUR 85 at LMU Munich and TUM, EUR 161.10 at Heidelberg, EUR 358.80 at the Free University of Berlin, EUR 384 at the University of Hamburg for 2025/26. Non-EU students pay EUR 1,500 per semester in Baden-Württemberg, and TUM charges non-EU students EUR 2,000 to EUR 3,000 per semester for bachelors and EUR 4,0... Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/english-taught-degree-programmes#faq-what-does-an-english-taught-degree-cost-in-germany User question: "When do English-taught masters close applications?" Answer: Earlier than the standard 15 July and 15 January dates. RWTH Aachen lists 1 March for the winter intake, KIT lists 15 March to 30 April for international masters, Heidelberg and Göttingen list 15 March to 15 May, TU Dresden lists 31 May, and TUM master applications for winter semester 2026/27 closed on 31 May 2026. Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/english-taught-degree-programmes#faq-when-do-english-taught-masters-close-applications