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