Landing in Germany
The complete guide to settling in Germany
We too got stuck on paperwork, burned on rentals, and lost when we fell ill. Every step of life in Germany is written down here: fewer detours, fewer needless costs, more calm.
- Complete path
- Avoid pitfalls
- Real experience
- Action tools
56 chapters, each solving a real problem
In the order you will live it in Germany. Every chapter says what it helps you with.
Tap a section to see its chapters
Before you leave
9 chapters- 01Pre-departure checklist: Documents, cash, luggage and phone: is everything ready before you fly?Unlocks with the pack
- 02Housing from abroad: Still abroad: how do you secure a place you can move into and register at?Unlocks with the pack
- 03SIM cards: You need verification codes on day one: which German SIM suits you?Unlocks with the pack
- 04Health insurance: Health insurance is mandatory and not cheap: public or private, and how to use it?Unlocks with the pack
- 05Choosing a health insurer: Over a hundred public insurers: which one is worth it?Unlocks with the pack
- 06Blocked accounts: Blocked account: how much, where to open it, and how fast?Unlocks with the pack
- 07The cost of living: City by city: what will you spend each month, and what is left?Unlocks with the pack
- 08Essential apps: Which apps to install on arrival so everyday life just works?Unlocks with the pack
- 09Choosing a city: Still choosing a city? Rent, industries and daily life side by sideUnlocks with the pack
Arriving and settling in
3 chapters- 10Your first day in Germany: From the plane to your door: how to get through day one without a hitch?Unlocks with the pack
- 11Getting around: Passes, long trips, bikes and delay refunds: how to travel cheaply and never get fined?Unlocks with the pack
- 12First shopping: Moving into an empty flat: where to buy everything, all in one go?Unlocks with the pack
Administrative essentials
5 chapters- 13Registering your address: No appointment, missing papers? How to get your address registration done in one goUnlocks with the pack
- 14Opening a bank account: Traditional or online bank? How to open an account without being turned downUnlocks with the pack
- 15Tax ID: Tax ID not arrived? Will your pay be overtaxed, and how to get or replace itUnlocks with the pack
- 16The immigration office: Hard to book, strict on papers: how to get your residence permit on the first visit?Unlocks with the pack
- 17Social insurance number: Before your first job: where your social security number comes from, and what if it is lost?Unlocks with the pack
Long-term housing and contracts
13 chapters- 18Long-term lease: Rentals need an application letter too? How to win a long-term leaseFree sample
- 19Rental contracts: Cold rent, warm rent, deposit: how not to overpay by 20 to 30 percent before you sign?Unlocks with the pack
- 20Tenant rights: When a landlord breaks the rules: which money and rights can you get back?Unlocks with the pack
- 21Moving out and moving home: How to get your full deposit back, and move out cheaply and smoothly?Unlocks with the pack
- 22SCHUFA credit reports: No credit history yet: how to rent, open accounts and sign contracts?Unlocks with the pack
- 23Electricity and energy: How to avoid the most expensive default electricity tariff and pick the right supplier?Unlocks with the pack
- 24Understanding contracts: Minimum terms and auto-renewal: how to sign German contracts without getting locked in?Unlocks with the pack
- 25TV licence fee: Pay even without a TV? Who pays the licence fee, how to be exempt, how to stop itUnlocks with the pack
- 26Liability insurance: A few euros a month: why do eight in ten Germans have this insurance?Unlocks with the pack
- 27Insurance worth having: Beyond health insurance: which policies are worth it, and which can you skip?Unlocks with the pack
- 28Neighbours: Quiet hours, house rules, greetings: how to live with German neighbours without complaints?Unlocks with the pack
- 29Internet and broadband: Two to five weeks for internet? How to pick broadband and stay online meanwhileUnlocks with the pack
- 30Living with flatmates: What to ask and agree on before moving in, so a flatshare stays pleasant?Unlocks with the pack
Everyday life
18 chapters- 31A guide to everyday life: Closed Sundays, bottle deposits, who fixes what: how to handle everyday life?Unlocks with the pack
- 32Seeing a doctor: Ill: who to see first, how long you wait, and which number to call in an emergency?Unlocks with the pack
- 33Post and letters: German letters: which ones need action now, and which can wait?Unlocks with the pack
- 34Sorting your rubbish: Five bins, bottle deposits and bulky waste: how to sort it right the first time?Unlocks with the pack
- 35Eating in Germany: No gas hob, no Chinese spices: how to eat well and cheaply in Germany?Unlocks with the pack
- 36Tipping culture: Tip or not, how much, and how when paying by card?Unlocks with the pack
- 37Public holidays: Holidays, regional differences and bridge days: your first German holidays without surprisesUnlocks with the pack
- 38A practical language guide: German not there yet? Getting through ten everyday situationsUnlocks with the pack
- 39Unwritten rules: Eye contact when toasting, no early birthday wishes: the rules Germans assume you knowUnlocks with the pack
- 40Insurance benefits: Which benefits in your health insurance are you not using yet?Unlocks with the pack
- 41Mental health: Lonely, anxious, culture-shocked: where to find help in Germany?Unlocks with the pack
- 42German films: Which films and series get you talking with Germans?Unlocks with the pack
- 43Leisure activities: Sport, outdoors, clubs and low-budget fun: how to spend weekends in Germany?Unlocks with the pack
- 44Rules for part-time work: Side jobs on a student or work visa: the red lines on hours, tax and contractsUnlocks with the pack
- 45Online shopping: Which platform is cheapest for what, and how do returns work?Unlocks with the pack
- 46Festivals and traditions: Christmas, New Year, Carnival: the customs of German holidays and first-year pitfallsUnlocks with the pack
- 47Understanding racism: What racism in Germany really looks like, and who protects you when it happensUnlocks with the pack
- 48Visiting a German home: Your first dinner at a German friend’s home, from what to bring to how to say goodbyeUnlocks with the pack
Settling in and moving forward
8 chapters- 49Filing your tax return: Tuition and moving costs can come back? What a tax return can refund, and howUnlocks with the pack
- 50The EU Blue Card: How high is the Blue Card bar, and what does it get you?Unlocks with the pack
- 51Permanent residence: What permanent residence requires, and how to avoid detoursUnlocks with the pack
- 52Making social connections: Germans warm up slowly: how to make real German friends?Unlocks with the pack
- 53Self-employment: Working for yourself in Germany: registration, tax and visas explainedUnlocks with the pack
- 54Pension refund: Leaving Germany: how much of your pension contributions can come back?Unlocks with the pack
- 55Unemployment benefits: Out of work: how much, for how long, and does it affect your visa?Unlocks with the pack
- 56Driving licence: Your Chinese licence works for six months: how to swap it for a German one?Unlocks with the pack
Why the landing guide works
Saves money
Avoid the common pitfalls that cost newcomers hundreds, sometimes over a thousand euros, and spend that money where it matters.
Clear order
Organised by the real stages of landing, so the moment you open it you know what to do now and what comes next.
Saves time
Key information, how-tos and official links are gathered in one place — no more searching and piecing it together.
Trustworthy
Drawn from 8+ years of living in Germany, combined with local sources, official references and multiple reviewers.
What the Landing Pack gives you
Every part answers a real question: what comes next, where things go wrong, and how to actually get them done in Germany.
Complete path
From getting ready to settling in — every step laid out
- Before you leave: finding a flat, choosing insurance, the blocked account, cost of living and SIM cards
- Arrival & settling in: your first day, getting around and where to shop
- Admin: address registration, opening a bank account, tax ID, social security number and the immigration office
- Long-term housing & contracts: finding a long-term flat, the lease, tenant rights, electricity, internet and insurance
- Daily life: seeing a doctor, waste sorting, language help, unwritten rules and things to do
- Settling & growing: tax returns, the Blue Card, permanent residence, building a social life and converting a licence
You do not need to remember everything at once — just find the stage you are in, and finish the one next step in front of you.
Avoid the traps
Know where things go wrong before you pay, sign or miss a deadline
- Renting & money: spotting fake listings, risky transfers, deposit problems and hidden fees
- Everyday contracts: the rules that matter in rent, electricity, internet and insurance contracts
- Admin: avoiding the wrong insurance, a mis-filed registration or a missed deadline
By the time you search for many problems, it is already too late. Knowing the risks in advance is what spares you needless loss and hassle.
Fitting in
Not just living in Germany, but coming to understand life here
- Make sense of the rules German society assumes but rarely spells out
- Understand personal boundaries, ways of communicating and how friendships form
- Learn to get on naturally with neighbours, flatmates and German friends
You do not need to change who you are. Understanding the cultural differences in advance helps you avoid misunderstanding and settle in more naturally.
German for real life
The German you will actually use in daily life in Germany
- Understand the jargon in renting, seeing a doctor and admin
- Learn the essential German for each everyday situation
- Master ready-to-use phrases for asking, booking and getting help
The goal is not to memorise more words, but to be able to understand, ask clearly and keep going when something comes up.
Real experience
The real Germany, beyond the published rules
- Not just how the rules are written, but how things are usually handled in practice
- Learn in advance, through real experience, about problems you may hit and how to solve them
- Tell apart what the law says, what people actually do, and the exaggerations online
This comes from the judgement that only forms after years of living, job-hunting, working and starting a business in Germany.
Just do it
Not just telling you how — helping you actually get it done
- Turn a complex landing process into concrete tasks arranged by stage
- Manage tasks, documents and preparation all in one place
- After reading the matching guide, record your progress and finish the next step
No more switching between platforms, tabs, folders and notes. What to do and where each document stands are all in one view.
Before you buy, you might still wonder
How long can I use it after buying?
One purchase, long-term access. The key information inside is maintained and updated over time.
I'm not in Germany yet — is it too early to buy?
It's built for exactly that stage. The earlier you read it, the more pitfalls you can avoid before they happen.
Isn't this the same as free info online?
Public rules may overlap, but the value is the complete order, real-world judgement, early warnings, lived experience and tools you can act on directly.
My German isn't good — can I still use it?
Yes. The text is explained in Chinese, with the German words, phrases and context you actually need per scenario.
Do I need to buy again when content updates?
No. Existing buyers keep access to updated content.
Come to Germany without learning life the hard way
With the right order, real experience and tools you can act on directly, walk every step of landing in Germany more clearly.
One purchase · lifetime access · free updates as the rules change