North Rhine-Westphalia · Newcomer guide
Settling in Bielefeld
Bielefeld is an affordable university city in eastern North Rhine-Westphalia; it uses the NRW state portals and appointments are usually far quicker than in the Rhineland metros. Work through the steps below — each guide lists the exact documents to bring.
Typical monthly cost in Bielefeld: ~€1.520 (rent + essentials). See the full city guide →
When you arrive
Register your address (Anmeldung) in Bielefeld
Anmeldung
Read the guide→Get your tax ID & tax class in Bielefeld
Steuer-ID / Finanzamt
Read the guide→Open a bank account in Bielefeld
Girokonto
Read the guide→Sign up for health insurance in Bielefeld
Krankenversicherung
Read the guide→Apply for a residence permit in Bielefeld
Aufenthaltstitel
Read the guide→Find a place to live in Bielefeld
Wohnungssuche
Read the guide→Get a SIM or phone contract in Bielefeld
Handyvertrag
Read the guide→Extend your residence permit in Bielefeld
Aufenthaltstitel verlängern
Read the guide→As you settle in
Exchange your driving licence in Bielefeld
Führerschein umschreiben
Read the guide→Claim child benefit (Kindergeld) in Bielefeld
Kindergeld
Read the guide→Get a public transport ticket in Bielefeld
Deutschlandticket
Read the guide→Register as a freelancer in Bielefeld
Freiberufler anmelden
Read the guide→File an income-tax return in Bielefeld
Einkommensteuererklärung
Read the guide→Register a car (Kfz-Zulassung) in Bielefeld
Kfz-Zulassung
Read the guide→Apply for parental allowance (Elterngeld) in Bielefeld
Elterngeld
Read the guide→Apply for housing benefit (Wohngeld) in Bielefeld
Wohngeld
Read the guide→Find a daycare place (Kita) in Bielefeld
Kita-Platz
Read the guide→Enrol your child in school in Bielefeld
Schulanmeldung
Read the guide→Apply for German citizenship in Bielefeld
Einbürgerung
Read the guide→Apply for permanent residence (Niederlassungserlaubnis) in Bielefeld
Niederlassungserlaubnis
Read the guide→Get a German driving licence (driving school) in Bielefeld
Führerschein / Fahrschule
Read the guide→TiG Desk — free iPhone app
The letters that come with your move to Bielefeld, 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