Moving to Germany in 2026: Step-by-Step Official Guide
Moving to Germany is a sequence of official steps, and most of them have a deadline or a fee attached. This guide puts them in order: the visa, the money you must show, the address registration that unlocks everything else, health insurance, the residence permit, customs for your belongings, and the road to permanent residence. Every figure comes from a German government body or the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), read on 13 October 2026.
Quick answer
Citizens of EU and EEA states and Switzerland can move to Germany without a visa. Most other people need a national visa, which costs €75, before they travel. Citizens of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States may enter first and apply for a residence permit within 90 days. After arrival you register your address within two weeks, take out health insurance, and apply for a residence permit, with fees of up to €100. The standard wait for permanent residence is five years.
Step 1: Work out whether you need a visa
| Your citizenship | What you need |
|---|---|
| EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland | No visa and no residence permit. You register your address like everyone else. |
| Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, United Kingdom, United States | You may enter without a visa and apply for a residence permit at the local immigration office within the first 90 days. You may only start work once the permit allows it. |
| Other countries | A national visa from the German mission in your country of residence before you travel. |
People in the second group can also choose to apply for a visa before travelling. The German missions in the United States point out the advantage: a visa permits employment from its first day of validity.
Step 2: Choose your route
| Route | Key 2026 condition |
|---|---|
| EU Blue Card | A job offer with a gross annual salary of at least €50,700, or €45,934.20 in shortage occupations |
| Opportunity card (job search) | Own funds of generally €1,091 net a month; issued for a maximum of 12 months |
| Studying | Own funds of €992 net a month, €11,904 a year |
| Family reunification | A family member with a valid residence title; as a rule adequate accommodation and a secure livelihood |
A national visa is issued for a particular purpose and may be issued for up to a year. After entering Germany, visa holders must as a general rule apply for a residence permit.
Step 3: Apply for the visa
- Apply online through the Federal Foreign Office's Consular Services Portal, which covers visas for employment, study, vocational training and family reunification.
- Attend an appointment in person at the German mission to give fingerprints and a photo, show your original documents and pay the fee.
- Pay €75 for a national visa, or €37.50 for a minor. The fee is paid in local currency.
- Wait. The Federal Foreign Office says national visa applications may take several months to process, depending on the purpose of the stay.
Skilled workers have a quicker option. Their employer can start the fast-track procedure at the foreigners authority in Germany for €411; the visa appointment then takes place within three weeks.
Step 4: Find a place to live
You need an address before you can register, so housing comes early. German rental adverts quote two rents:
- Kaltmiete: the basic rent.
- Warmmiete: the basic rent plus utility costs (Nebenkosten) such as water, waste collection and often heating.
Landlords almost always ask for a deposit, which usually amounts to three times the monthly basic rent. Many also want a SCHUFA credit report or other proof that you can afford the rent, such as proof of salary. As a guide to prices, the DAAD reports that students pay around 489 EUR a month for accommodation on average, and that a room in a shared flat in Munich costs around 790 EUR.
Step 5: Register your address within two weeks
Everyone who moves into accommodation in Germany must register at the residents' registration office (Einwohnermeldeamt or Bürgeramt) within two weeks. Bring:
- your ID card or passport, with the visa where required;
- your tenancy agreement or a confirmation from your landlord that you have moved in.
You receive a registration certificate. You will need it to open a bank account and to apply for your residence permit. Two things then happen without any action from you:
- Tax ID: your income tax identification number arrives by post after you register. Your employer needs it.
- Broadcasting licence fee: the registration office notifies the contribution service, which writes to you. The fee for private households is 18.36 euros per month, and the rule is one dwelling, one fee, however many people live there.
If you later move within Germany you must register the new address as well.
Step 6: Take out health insurance
Every person in Germany must have health insurance. There are two systems, statutory and private, and most people are covered by statutory insurance. Statutory providers must all offer the same basic plan, which includes most doctor's visits, a broad selection of medicines, emergency room visits and hospital stays. Students under 30 pay a reduced rate of about 120-130 euros per month. Proof of valid health insurance is also needed for the entry visa itself, and new health insurance must be taken out after you enter Germany.
Step 7: Apply for your residence permit
- Book an appointment at the foreigners authority (Ausländerbehörde) responsible for your address.
- Ask the authority for its list of required documents.
- Apply before your entry visa expires, or within the first 90 days if you entered without a visa.
- Pay the fee. The Residence Ordinance sets 100 euros for issuing a residence permit or EU Blue Card.
The permit is issued as a chip card. The DAAD warns that it can take several months until the card is ready, so apply early.
Step 8: Bring your belongings through customs
If you move from outside the EU, German customs can clear your household effects free of import duty as property moved in connection with a transfer of residence. The conditions:
- You have had your normal place of residence outside the EU for at least twelve months.
- Non-consumable goods have been in your possession and used by you for at least six months before the move. Invoices or sales contracts serve as proof.
- The goods are cleared within twelve months of your move to Germany. They may arrive in separate consignments.
- You apply in writing on form 0350.
- For twelve months after clearance you may not lend, pledge, hire out or transfer the goods.
Household effects cover personal effects, household linen, furnishings and equipment for personal use. Private vehicles, pets and household provisions in normal family quantities are included. Alcoholic products and tobacco are not. Goods cleared this way are exempt from import turnover tax, but a vehicle registered in a non-EU country becomes subject to German vehicle tax.
What it costs
| Item | Official figure |
|---|---|
| National visa | €75 |
| Residence permit or EU Blue Card | 100 euros |
| Blocked account set-up fee, if you use one | Between 70 and 150 EUR |
| Broadcasting licence fee | 18.36 euros per month per dwelling |
| Average household consumption spending, 2024 | €3,257 a month |
| DAAD living-cost range for students | Between 900 and 1,200 euros a month |
Staying for good
- Settlement permit: after five years with a residence permit on the standard route; after 27 months for EU Blue Card holders, or 21 months with German at level B1; after three years for skilled workers.
- Citizenship: after five years of lawful, habitual residence, with German at level B1 and a passed naturalisation test. The fee is 255 euros.
Frequently asked questions
Can I move to Germany without a job?
Yes, on certain routes. The opportunity card lets you look for work for a maximum of 12 months if you can show own funds of generally €1,091 net a month, and students can come with proof of €992 a month.
How much money do I need to move to Germany?
The official minimums in 2026 are €992 net a month for students and generally €1,091 net a month for jobseekers. The national visa costs €75 and the residence permit 100 euros.
What is the first thing to do after arriving in Germany?
Register your address at the residents' registration office within two weeks. The registration certificate is needed to open a bank account and to apply for a residence permit.
Do I need to speak German to move to Germany?
It depends on the route. On the points route of the opportunity card, applicants need German at a minimum level of A1 or English at level B2. German at level B1 is needed later for a standard settlement permit and for citizenship.
Can I bring my furniture to Germany without paying duty?
Yes, if you have lived outside the EU for at least twelve months, have used the goods for at least six months, and clear them within twelve months of your move using form 0350.
How long does a German visa take?
The Federal Foreign Office says national visas may take several months, depending on the purpose of the stay. The fast-track procedure for skilled workers brings the visa appointment forward to within three weeks.
How long until I can get permanent residence in Germany?
Five years on the standard route. EU Blue Card holders qualify after 27 months, or 21 months with level B1 German, and skilled workers after three years.
Official sources
- Federal Foreign Office — Visas for Germany
- German Missions in the United States — Residence visa
- Make it in Germany (Federal Government) — Financial security for living expenses, as of January 2026
- Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy — Possibilities of skilled worker immigration, 2026
- DAAD — Residence permit and address registration
- DAAD — Renting a room
- DAAD — Healthcare and health insurance
- German Customs (Zoll) — Transferring residence
- ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio contribution service — The licence fee
- Residence Ordinance, Section 45 — Fees for the residence permit
- Federal Office for Migration and Refugees — Settling in Germany
- GOV.UK — Living in Germany (tax identification number)
All figures verified against the official pages above on 13 October 2026. Rules differ by purpose of stay and nationality, so confirm your own case with the German mission or foreigners authority. Information, not legal advice.