amtsklar

Your first 30 days in Germany

Pick your city and situation. You get the steps in the right order, with the legal deadlines counted from your move-in date.

Situation

Family in Hamburg, moving in on 15 Nov 2026

  1. Register your address (Anmeldung)

    Verified

    Anmeldung einer Wohnung

    Due: 29 Nov 2026 (14 days after moving in) · Within two weeks of moving in (§ 17 BMG)

    § 17 Abs. 1 BMG · Source: gesetze-im-internet.de · as of 13 Nov 2026

    Book an appointment (or call 115) (driveport.de) Source: hamburg.de · as of 13 Nov 2026

  2. Apply for your residence permit or EU Blue Card at the foreigners' authority

    Verified

    Aufenthaltstitel (Aufenthaltserlaubnis, Blaue Karte EU)

    Only if you are not an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen

    Due: no fixed date · Before your entry visa expires; within 90 days of entry if you entered visa-free under § 41 AufenthV (§ 41 Abs. 3 AufenthV)

    § 41 Abs. 3 AufenthV, § 81 Abs. 2 AufenthG · Source: gesetze-im-internet.de · as of 13 Nov 2026

    Apply online (online service "Aufenthaltserlaubnis Hamburg"); the office then sends you an appointment (serviceportal.hamburg.de) Source: welcome.hamburg.de · as of 13 Nov 2026

  3. Register your flat for the broadcasting fee (Rundfunkbeitrag), unless someone in your flat already pays

    Nationwide

    Rundfunkbeitrag

    Due: no fixed date · Without delay after moving in ("unverzüglich", § 8 RBStV)

    § 8 Abs. 1 RBStV · Source: recht.nrw.de · as of 13 Nov 2026

    Register for the broadcasting fee (online form) (rundfunkbeitrag.de) Source: rundfunkbeitrag.de · as of 13 Nov 2026

  4. Apply for child benefit (Kindergeld) at the Familienkasse

    Nationwide

    Kindergeld

    Due: 15 May 2027 (181 days after moving in) · Paid retroactively for at most six months before the month your application arrives (§ 70 Abs. 1 EStG)

    § 70 Abs. 1 Satz 2 EStG · Source: gesetze-im-internet.de · as of 13 Nov 2026

    Apply for Kindergeld online (Familienkasse) (arbeitsagentur.de) Source: arbeitsagentur.de · as of 13 Nov 2026

  5. Apply for parental allowance (Elterngeld) at your Elterngeldstelle

    Verified

    Elterngeld

    Only if you look after your baby yourself and work no more than 32 hours a week; non-EU citizens need a qualifying residence title

    Due: enter the birth date to compute · Paid retroactively for at most three months of the child's life before the month your application arrives (§ 7 Abs. 1 BEEG)

    § 7 Abs. 1 Satz 2 BEEG · Source: gesetze-im-internet.de · as of 13 Nov 2026

    Apply online (ElterngeldDigital) (elterngeld-digital.de) Source: hamburg.de · as of 13 Nov 2026

  6. Convert your foreign driving licence (Umschreibung)

    Verified

    Umschreibung einer ausländischen Fahrerlaubnis

    Only if you hold a driving licence from a non-EU/EEA country

    Due: 15 May 2027 (181 days after moving in) · Your non-EU/EEA licence is valid for six months after you take up residence in Germany (§ 29 Abs. 1 FeV)

    § 29 Abs. 1 Satz 4 und 5 FeV · Source: gesetze-im-internet.de · as of 13 Nov 2026

    Book an appointment (category "Führerschein", then "Umschreibung ausländischer Führerschein ...") (lbv-termine.de) Source: hamburg.de · as of 13 Nov 2026

Not legal advice. Deadlines are counted from the dates you entered using the rules cited on each step. Open each guide for documents and fees.

Official sources