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Germany

Complete guide for international students in Germany: bureaucracy, housing, budget, health, work, and finance.

Updated on: Jun 10, 2026

Germany offers low-fee public universities, but local bureaucracy (Anmeldung, health insurance, leases) is the real filter: plan your first documents early or delays stack up.

What really changes here

  • Anmeldung (residence registration) within days: without a registered address many steps stall.
  • Public health insurance (GKV) is almost mandatory for students under 30: fixed monthly premium.
  • Rent: Kaution up to three months, formal contracts, competitive WG market in university cities.
  • Transport: semester ticket often included in university fees — a car is rarely needed.
  • Payments: cash still common; Girocard/EC card essential for rent and groceries.
  • Bureaucracy varies by federal state (Land): same concepts, different timelines and forms.

Ideal if…

  • Low tuition at public universities and strong engineering/tech paths
  • Organised students with documents ready and patience for appointments
  • Those comfortable with written rules (leases, office hours, quiet hours)
  • Life in mid-size cities (Leipzig, Dresden) or campuses with guaranteed housing

Harder if…

  • Last-minute housing in Berlin/Munich without Schufa or references
  • You want to delay insurance and bank account before having an address
  • You expect fast email replies from public offices
  • Zero budget for deposit + first rent + insurance in the same month

First 7 days

  1. Temporary housing with a mailable address (even registerable sublet)
  2. Book Anmeldung at Bürgeramt / Einwohnermeldeamt
  3. Girokonto with German IBAN for Kaution and rent
  4. Enrol in student health insurance (TK, AOK, Barmer…)
  5. University registration + Studienbescheinigung
  6. German SIM or eSIM; save emergency numbers 112 / 110
  7. Activate semester ticket; map U-Bahn/S-Bahn to campus
Mistakes to avoid
  • Delaying Anmeldung past municipal deadlines — bank and permit slip
  • Signing a WG room without understanding Nebenkosten and house rules
  • Staying on travel insurance instead of GKV when GKV is required
  • Paying “agency fees” to unregistered intermediaries for housing

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