What you actually need in your first month in Germany

1. A German phone number

Which SIM card can I get with just my passport?

You need a German number before almost anything else: the Anmeldung appointment, the bank, flat viewings. A prepaid SIM needs no Anmeldung and no German bank account. The real question is how much data you use.

• ALDI TALK — Basis Prepaid (pay per use)

  · no monthly fee — you pay per call, SMS and MB

  If your phone is on wifi most of the day and you mainly need a German number. There's no monthly package, so a quiet month costs very little; you top up with vouchers from any ALDI and add a package if you start using more.

  You need: Accepted identity document, Registration address · Stop recurring options; follow the provider’s process to close the SIM

  Reviewed 2026-10-10. Starter-set and pay-per-use structure reviewed; no package price is implied.

  • ALDI TALK starter set
  Visit ALDI TALK →

• Blau — Allnet L (24-month)

  €9,99 · advertised new-customer offer; 24-month term; comparison price €12.99

  If you actually use data: maps, video, tethering. 60 GB on the o2 network, but it's a 24-month contract that needs a residential address and a SEPA bank account, so it's one for once you're settled.

  You need: Accepted identity document, Residential address, Accepted SEPA payment account · 24-month minimum term, then one month's notice

  Reviewed 2026-10-10. 60 GB at €9.99/month was advertised for new customers on the review date; €12.99 is the comparison price. Confirm the checkout price and fees.

  • Blau Allnet tariff range
  Visit Blau →

• Telekom — MagentaMobil Young (under 28)

  · request the current price and minimum term for the selected Young tariff

  If you're under 28 (student, Azubi, or just young), a discounted way onto Telekom's network. Bring proof of age, and look at the price after any promotion and the minimum term.

  You need: Accepted identity document, Proof of age, Residential address, Accepted SEPA payment account · Check the selected tariff; many offers have a 24-month minimum term

  Reviewed 2026-10-10. The current promotional price was not readable in this check. No price or data allowance is quoted; verify age, payment and contract conditions in the offer.

  • Telekom Young tariff range
  Visit Telekom →

2. A bank account

Which German bank account can I open before the Anmeldung?

Your salary, your rent and your phone contract all need an IBAN. Branch banks usually want your registration certificate first; app-based banks often don't.

• N26 — Standard

  €0 · no account fee; optional physical card €10

  Opens in English on your phone, often the same day, and you don't need a registered address. Check that your passport is on their supported list before you start.

  You need: Supported valid ID, Residence in an eligible country, Compatible smartphone, Age 18 or over · Anytime, from the app

  Reviewed 2026-10-10. No monthly account fee, free virtual card and €10 physical card fee checked. Acceptance depends on supported residence country, ID and verification. We earn nothing from this link.

  • N26 Standard terms and fees
  • N26 plan eligibility
  Visit N26 →

• Commerzbank — StartKonto (qualifying students/Azubis under 28)

  €0 · €0 while eligible; existing account €9.90/month from age 28

  If you'd rather have a branch and a person to talk to, and you're a student or Azubi under 28: free while you qualify. You'll need your enrolment or training certificate.

  You need: Supported identity document, Residential address and evidence if requested, Current education/training certificate · Anytime, in text form

  Reviewed 2026-10-10. Free only for qualifying education/training groups aged 7–27. An existing StartKonto becomes €9.90/month at 28; age alone is not the full eligibility test.

  • Commerzbank StartKonto conditions
  Visit Commerzbank →

3. Liability insurance (Haftpflicht)

Do I really need Haftpflichtversicherung in Germany?

Not required by law, but almost every German household has it and many landlords expect it. It pays for damage you accidentally cause to other people or their things, which in Germany you're liable for with no upper limit. Before you buy, look at what's excluded, who's covered and the deductible.

• Feather — Personal liability

  €4,94 · single plan; partner/family plans cost more

  Everything in English, including the policy documents and claims. Single, partner and family plans are priced separately.

  You need: German residential address, Personal and household details requested in the quote · Cancel online; ends at the next billing date

  Reviewed 2026-10-10. Single plan €4.94/month, partner €6.58 and family €8.94 checked. Key-loss and rental-damage limits must be read in the selected policy. We earn nothing from this link.

  • Feather liability plans
  • Feather claims and key loss
  Visit Feather →

4. Electricity

Do I have to choose an electricity provider in Germany?

From the day you move in, the local default supplier (Grundversorgung) supplies you automatically, and that tariff is usually one of the most expensive at your address. You pay it until you switch. Prices depend on your postcode and usage, so there's no single best provider to name.

• Check24 — Electricity tariff comparison

  Put in your postcode and yearly usage (your last bill shows it, or the site estimates it from your household size) and pick a tariff with a price guarantee. Compare the unit price, the standing charge and the price after any first-year bonus. The new supplier usually cancels the old contract for you, and the lights stay on throughout.

  You need: Supply postcode, Expected annual electricity consumption from your bills or an estimate · Check the selected tariff’s minimum term, notice period and price guarantee

  Reviewed 2026-10-10. Postcode and annual consumption inputs reviewed. Prices, term and savings depend on the selected tariff; no general usage or savings promise is quoted.

  • CHECK24 electricity comparison
  Compare electricity tariffs →

5. Home internet

How do I get internet in a German flat?

Check what's actually available at your address before you compare anything: the connection in your building decides your real options, not the adverts. Then compare installation date, speed, total cost and minimum term.

• Telekom — Glasfaser tariff options

  · depends on speed and current promotion — check the address first

  Where fibre is actually available, this is the line to get. Check your address on Telekom's availability page first; upload is slower than download, and most contracts run 24 months.

  You need: Identity and address details, Accepted payment account, Owner agreement if building works require it · Usually 24 months minimum term, then monthly

  Reviewed 2026-10-10. Fibre range and installation guidance reviewed. Telekom download and upload speeds are not symmetric; price and timing depend on the address and selected tariff.

  • Telekom fibre speeds and offers
  • Telekom fibre installation
  Visit Telekom →

• Mobile data — Prepaid SIM or mobile router as a bridge

  · the cost of a prepaid data tariff

  For the weeks between moving in and the line being connected, which in Germany can take a while. Check indoor coverage and whether the tariff allows tethering.

  You need: Accepted identity document, Registration details · Deactivate recurring prepaid packages when no longer needed

  Reviewed 2026-10-10. An interim-use category, not a guaranteed same-day connection. Check ID activation, device tethering and indoor coverage.

  • o2 prepaid data and tariff information
  Compare SIM plans →

Questions people ask

What is the best SIM card for students in Germany?

If you're under 28, Telekom's Young tariffs get you its network at a reduced price; you prove your age with your passport and, for some offers, an enrolment certificate. Check coverage at home and on campus. If you're not registered at an address yet, start with a prepaid SIM and switch once you have your Anmeldung.

How much mobile data do I actually need in Germany?

Look at last month's usage in your phone settings. If you're on wifi at home and at work, a pay-per-use prepaid SIM costs very little in a quiet month and still gives you the German number every office and landlord asks for. If you rely on maps, video or tethering, buy a bigger package: topping up a small tariff again and again usually costs more.

Can I get a German SIM card without an Anmeldung?

Yes. Prepaid SIMs don't need an Anmeldung: you verify your identity, usually with your passport by video call or in a shop, and give an address. Which passports the video check accepts differs by provider. Monthly contracts are the ones that ask for a registered address and a SEPA bank account.

Can I open a bank account before I register my address?

With app-based banks, often yes: they verify you by video call with your passport, though not every passport is supported. Most branch banks will ask for your registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung) first.

How much does liability insurance cost in Germany?

Usually a few euros a month for a single person (see the current price above), and a family policy covers everyone in the household. The cheapest policies are German-only; paying a little more for English support is worth it the first time you make a claim.

How do I change my electricity provider in Germany?

Compare on your postcode and yearly usage, pick a tariff, and the new supplier cancels the old contract for you once you authorise it. Cables and meter stay the same; only the billing changes, and switching can't cut your supply. Note the meter reading on the switch date. If you've just moved in and done nothing, you're on the default tariff (Grundversorgung), which you can leave with two weeks' notice.

What should I sort out first when I arrive in Germany?

A prepaid SIM on day one, because offices, landlords and banks all want a phone number. Then the Anmeldung, within 14 days of moving in, and, if you need one, your residence permit appointment before your entry visa runs out. A bank account can usually be opened in parallel; liability insurance and internet come once you have a flat.