North Rhine-Westphalia · Newcomer guide
Settling in Aachen
Aachen (home to RWTH) has a big international student community and sits on the Belgian–Dutch border, so offices are used to newcomers; it uses the NRW state portals. Work through the steps below — each guide lists the exact documents to bring.
Typical monthly cost in Aachen: ~€1.620 (rent + essentials). See the full city guide →
When you arrive
Register your address (Anmeldung) in Aachen
Anmeldung
Read the guide→Get your tax ID & tax class in Aachen
Steuer-ID / Finanzamt
Read the guide→Open a bank account in Aachen
Girokonto
Read the guide→Sign up for health insurance in Aachen
Krankenversicherung
Read the guide→Apply for a residence permit in Aachen
Aufenthaltstitel
Read the guide→Find a place to live in Aachen
Wohnungssuche
Read the guide→Get a SIM or phone contract in Aachen
Handyvertrag
Read the guide→Extend your residence permit in Aachen
Aufenthaltstitel verlängern
Read the guide→As you settle in
Exchange your driving licence in Aachen
Führerschein umschreiben
Read the guide→Claim child benefit (Kindergeld) in Aachen
Kindergeld
Read the guide→Get a public transport ticket in Aachen
Deutschlandticket
Read the guide→Register as a freelancer in Aachen
Freiberufler anmelden
Read the guide→File an income-tax return in Aachen
Einkommensteuererklärung
Read the guide→Register a car (Kfz-Zulassung) in Aachen
Kfz-Zulassung
Read the guide→Apply for parental allowance (Elterngeld) in Aachen
Elterngeld
Read the guide→Apply for housing benefit (Wohngeld) in Aachen
Wohngeld
Read the guide→Find a daycare place (Kita) in Aachen
Kita-Platz
Read the guide→Enrol your child in school in Aachen
Schulanmeldung
Read the guide→Apply for German citizenship in Aachen
Einbürgerung
Read the guide→Apply for permanent residence (Niederlassungserlaubnis) in Aachen
Niederlassungserlaubnis
Read the guide→Get a German driving licence (driving school) in Aachen
Führerschein / Fahrschule
Read the guide→TiG Desk — free iPhone app
The letters that come with your move to Aachen, read for you
Photograph an official letter and TiG Desk tells you who sent it, what you have to do and by when — then keeps the document on your phone and reminds you before the deadline. Free, and it works without an account.
Filling the form on a computer? TiG Pilot explains every German field while you fill it, in your browser.
- 📷Photograph a letter — sender, deadline and what to do
- 🗂️Every document in one place, kept on your phone
- ⏰Reminders before a Frist, not after it
- 🇩🇪German terms shown alongside, because that is what the clerk says