Moving to Germany or Austria for a tech job means a few weeks of paperwork. Most of it has to happen in a fixed order: many steps need your registered address first. This checklist puts the steps in that order and links to the official pages.
Germany comes first. The Austria section follows, because the steps are similar but the names and deadlines differ.
Before you move
- Signed contract and, if you need one, your visa. Non-EU citizens usually need a visa before they travel. See our EU Blue Card guide.
- Passport valid for your whole stay, plus certified copies and translations of your degree certificates.
- Birth and marriage certificates if your family moves with you. Some offices ask for translations or an apostille. Check with the office that asks for them.
- Somewhere to live for the first weeks. You need an address you can register at (see below). Ask your landlord up front whether they will give you the landlord confirmation.
- Health insurance from day one. If you are not yet covered through your job, arrange cover for the gap.
- Money for the first two months. Deposit, first rent and daily costs usually come before your first salary. Our Berlin cost of living guide helps you estimate.
Germany: the first two weeks
1. Register your address (Anmeldung)
Everyone who moves into a flat in Germany must register at the local registration office (Meldebehörde, called Bürgeramt in Berlin) within two weeks of moving in (§ 17 Federal Registration Act).
You need:
- your passport or ID card
- the landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung). Your landlord must give you this within the same two weeks. It states the landlord’s name and address, the date you moved in, the address of the flat and the names of the people moving in (§ 19 Federal Registration Act).
- the registration form, which you fill in at or before the appointment
In Berlin, registration is free and you need an appointment at a Bürgeramt (service.berlin.de). Appointments can be hard to get, so book as soon as you have a move-in date.
The form asks about your religion. Your answer decides whether you pay church tax (§ 3 Federal Registration Act). Our tax basics guide explains what this means.
Keep the registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung) you receive. Banks, employers and the immigration office often ask for it.
2. Wait for your tax ID
You don’t need to apply for a tax ID (Steuerliche Identifikationsnummer). The Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt) assigns it once the registration office has sent it your data, and it arrives by post. If you have registered but still have no tax ID after three months, you can ask the BZSt directly (BZSt).
Make sure your name is on your letterbox so the letter reaches you. Give the number to your employer as soon as it arrives. If it is missing through no fault of yours, your employer can use your expected tax class for up to three months. After that, or if you don’t pass the number on, wage tax is deducted in class VI, the highest rate (§ 39c Income Tax Act).
3. Open a bank account
Most employers pay salaries by bank transfer to a euro account. Under German law, every consumer legally resident in the EU has the right to open a basic payment account (Basiskonto), as long as they don’t already have a payment account in Germany (§ 31 Payment Accounts Act, BaFin). Many banks ask for your registration certificate, so open the account after you have registered.
4. Choose your health insurance
Everyone who lives in Germany must have health insurance (Federal Ministry of Health). Most employees are in the statutory system. You choose a public health insurer (Krankenkasse) and tell your employer, who then pays the contributions from your salary.
- The general rate is 14.6% of your salary, plus an additional rate that each insurer sets itself. The average additional rate in 2026 is 2.9% (Federal Ministry of Health). You and your employer each pay half.
- If you earn more than €77,400 a year (2026), you can choose private health insurance instead (Federal Government).
5. Get your residence permit card
If you entered with a visa, book an appointment at the immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) for your address to get your residence title, for example your EU Blue Card. Do this well before your visa expires. Some nationalities can enter without a visa and apply after arrival; they must apply within three months and may only start work once the card is issued (BAMF).
6. Start work
On your first day, your employer usually needs:
- your tax ID
- your bank details (IBAN)
- your health insurer’s name, or a membership confirmation
- your social insurance number, if you already have one. If not, ask HR how it is issued.
Germany: the first month
- Register for the broadcasting fee (Rundfunkbeitrag). Each household pays €18.36 a month, whether or not you own a TV (rundfunkbeitrag.de). If you share a flat, only one person pays.
- Get a public transport pass. The Deutschlandticket costs €63 a month in 2026 and covers local and regional public transport across Germany (Federal Government). Many employers subsidise it.
- Get liability insurance. Private liability insurance (Haftpflichtversicherung) is optional but common, and some landlords ask for it.
- Get a local mobile number. Many German services, including banks, send confirmation codes by SMS.
- Exchange your driving licence if you plan to drive. Rules depend on the country that issued it. Ask your local driving licence office.
Germany: if you move again or leave
In Germany, you must also register a new address within two weeks after each move (§ 17 Federal Registration Act). If you leave the country, you must deregister within two weeks of moving out, unless you move straight into another address in Germany. Deregistration can be done up to one week before you move out (§ 17 Federal Registration Act).
Austria: the first week
The steps in Austria are similar, but the first deadline is much shorter.
1. Register your address (Meldezettel) within three days
If you move to Austria, you must register at your new address within three days of moving in. Your landlord or property manager will not do it for you (City of Vienna).
In Vienna you can register at any residence registration service centre (Meldeservicestelle). They are in the municipal district offices (Magistratische Bezirksämter). Registration is free (City of Vienna). You need:
- the completed registration form (Meldezettel), signed by you and by the owner, landlord or main tenant of the flat
- a photo ID with your name, date of birth, place of birth, sex and citizenship
- your passport or other travel document if you are not an Austrian citizen
You receive a registration certificate (Bestätigung der Meldung). Keep it safe: you will need it for your bank, your employer and the residence authority.
2. Health insurance and your e-card
Almost everyone in paid employment in Austria is insured automatically (migration.gv.at). Your employer must register you with the health insurance fund before you start work (USP), and the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK) sends your e-card, the social insurance card, to your registered address (ÖGK). There is an annual service fee for the e-card of €25.00 for 2026, with some exceptions (migration.gv.at).
3. Collect your residence permit
If you came with a Red-White-Red Card or EU Blue Card approval, collect your card from the residence authority. The EU Blue Card guide has the details and official links (migration.gv.at).
4. Open a bank account and give your details to your employer
Your employer needs your bank details to pay your salary. Ask HR which other documents they need before your first payday.
5. Pay the ORF fee
Every address in Austria where at least one adult has their main residence pays the ORF fee (ORF-Beitrag). It is €15.30 a month in Vienna, where there is no extra state levy, and is paid per address, not per person (ORF-Beitrags Service). Some other states add a state levy.
6. If you move again or leave
You must also de-register within three days before or after you move out (City of Vienna).
Frequently asked questions
How soon do I have to register my address in Germany?
Within two weeks of moving in. You register at the local registration office (the Bürgeramt in Berlin) with your passport, the registration form and the landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung), which your landlord must give you within the same two weeks. In Berlin, registration is free but needs an appointment, so book as soon as you have a move-in date.
What happens if I start work before I have a tax ID?
If the tax ID is missing through no fault of yours, your employer can use your expected tax class for up to three months. After that, or if you don’t pass the number on, wage tax is deducted in class VI, the highest rate. If you still have no tax ID three months after registering, ask the BZSt directly.
Can I open a German bank account before I register my address?
Often not, because many banks ask for your registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung), so open your account after you register. Under German law, every consumer legally resident in the EU has the right to open a basic payment account (Basiskonto), as long as they don’t already have a payment account in Germany. Most employers pay salaries to a euro account.
Do I need public or private health insurance in Germany?
Everyone who lives in Germany must have health insurance, and most employees are in the statutory system: you choose a public insurer (Krankenkasse) and your employer pays the contributions from your salary. If you earn more than €77,400 a year in 2026, you can choose private health insurance instead. Arrange cover from your first day.
What is the Meldezettel in Austria?
It is the registration form for your address in Austria. You must register within three days of moving in, and your landlord will not do it for you. The form must be signed by you and by the owner, landlord or main tenant. In Vienna, registration at a Meldeservicestelle is free, and you get a registration certificate.
Do I have to deregister when I leave Germany?
Yes. If you leave the country, you must deregister within two weeks of moving out, unless you move straight into another address in Germany. You can deregister up to one week before you move out. Austria is stricter on timing: there, you must de-register within three days before or after you move out.
Next steps
- Find a job first: browse English-speaking jobs in Berlin, Munich, Hamburg and Vienna.
- Understand your payslip with our tax basics guide.
- Plan your budget with the Berlin cost of living guide.