Germany Relocation Checklist

Phase 1 · 12–18 months out

Decide with real numbers

Get real private health insurance (PKV) quotes for your age and health — before anything else. Over 55, public insurance is generally closed; a couple can face €1,500–2,400/month (the over-55 guide) Understand there is no German retirement visa — read the §7 discretionary-permit guide and the honest odds Pick your route: §7 retiree permit, freelance permit (§21) — over 45 you must prove pension provision — or a Blue Card job (2026 floor: €50,700) Take a scouting trip — 90 days visa-free per rolling 180 (the EES system has counted your days since October 2025); include a grey-season visit, not just June Shortlist cities with the Where to Live guide — new-lease rents run from €9.89/m² (Dresden) to €22.96/m² (Munich) Build a monthly budget from the Cost of Living data — insurance first, then rent, then everything else Book a cross-border tax adviser before you trigger anything — German treatment of IRAs, Roths and 401(k)s is genuinely unsettled (Tax guide) Start German lessons — B1 is required for citizenship at year 5, and the Ausländerbehörde writes to you in German from day one

Phase 2 · 6–12 months out

Build the paper foundation

Consult a German immigration lawyer if you're on the §7 retiree route — the permit is discretionary and approval odds vary by immigration office; test your case before committing Gather income evidence: pension and Social Security/CPP/OAS award letters, bank and investment statements — durable income reads better than balances Complete the PKV health questionnaire and secure a policy offer at statutory level — travel insurance only bridges the trip, and cheap incoming policies are increasingly rejected at permit stage Line up accommodation proof — a lease or purchase; you'll also need the landlord's confirmation form (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) for registration Order document copies: passports valid well beyond arrival, marriage certificate (apostilled + translated), and any German-ties evidence that strengthens a discretionary case Decide on US Medicare (most keep premium-free Part A; weigh Part B) or check your province's absence rules before coverage lapses

Phase 3 · 3–6 months out

Apply — and plan the physical move

Apply for the national (D) visa (€75) at the German mission covering your state or province — state the purpose honestly. (US/Canadian citizens may apply in-country under §41 AufenthV, but the consular route is the safer sequence) While you wait: pets — ISO microchip → rabies shot ≥21 days before travel → EU health certificate endorsed by USDA-APHIS or CFIA (Living guide) Check your driving-licence position: 27 US states + all Canadian provinces swap without tests; some states need a theory test; the rest, full German tests — consider converting your licence to a reciprocal state before moving Book movers and flights once the visa is issued; carry the original document file in hand luggage If a city portal allows it, pre-book the Anmeldung and Ausländerbehörde appointments — big-city slots are scarce

Phase 4 · Arrival & first 90 days

Become a resident, properly

Register your address (Anmeldung) at the Bürgeramt within 2 weeks of moving in — bring the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung; your tax ID then arrives automatically by post Open a German bank account and activate your health insurance policy from day one of residence Convert your D visa to a residence permit (€100) at the Ausländerbehörde before the visa expires — first §7 permits typically run 1 year (extensions €93) Answer the broadcast-fee letter (€18.36/month per household — mandatory) and set up electricity, internet and mobile (Living guide) Swap your driving licence within the 6-month window your foreign licence remains valid Register with ELSTER (the tax portal) or engage a Steuerberater before your first German tax year closes Mark year 5 in the calendar — citizenship eligibility (B1 German, the €25 test, €255 fee, dual citizenship allowed) — and diarise permit renewals; note permanent settlement has a pension-contribution catch for retirees (citizenship guide)

The rules here moved twice in two years — the citizenship reform (June 2024) and the abolition of the 3-year fast-track (October 2025). The newsletter below is how we tell you when this page changes.

The whole move,in order.

Decide with real numbers

Build the paper foundation

Apply — and plan the physical move

Become a resident, properly

This checklist updates. So should you.

The whole move,
in order.