Your first weeks working abroad – registration, tax, insurance

1. Register your address (Anmeldung) at the residents’ registration office (Einwohnermeldeamt or Bürgeramt) within 2 weeks of moving in. You get a registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung) as proof of your address. As an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen you need no visa or residence permit.
2. Tax ID (steuerliche Identifikationsnummer): it is assigned automatically when you register your address and sent to you by post. Your employer needs it to deduct income tax.
3. Social security number (Versicherungsnummer): you get it automatically – the pension insurance issues it when you start your first job in Germany.
4. Health insurance: you need valid health insurance from the first day of your stay. Employees must be insured; most join a statutory health insurance fund (Krankenkasse) and get an electronic health card.
5. Tax: income tax is deducted from your salary. In 2026 the basic tax-free allowance (Grundfreibetrag) is €12,348 a year.
6. Bank account: you can open one only once you have a permanent address in Germany.

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