Bremen · Newcomer guide
Settling in Bremen
Bremen is a compact city-state, so most offices and the Bürgeramt are centrally run and relatively easy to reach. Work through the steps below — each guide lists the exact documents to bring.
When you arrive
Register your address (Anmeldung) in Bremen
Anmeldung
Read the guide→Get your tax ID & tax class in Bremen
Steuer-ID / Finanzamt
Read the guide→Open a bank account in Bremen
Girokonto
Read the guide→Sign up for health insurance in Bremen
Krankenversicherung
Read the guide→Apply for a residence permit in Bremen
Aufenthaltstitel
Read the guide→Find a place to live in Bremen
Wohnungssuche
Read the guide→Get a SIM or phone contract in Bremen
Handyvertrag
Read the guide→As you settle in
Exchange your driving licence in Bremen
Führerschein umschreiben
Read the guide→Claim child benefit (Kindergeld) in Bremen
Kindergeld
Read the guide→Get a public transport ticket in Bremen
Deutschlandticket
Read the guide→Register as a freelancer in Bremen
Freiberufler anmelden
Read the guide→File an income-tax return in Bremen
Einkommensteuererklärung
Read the guide→Register a car (Kfz-Zulassung) in Bremen
Kfz-Zulassung
Read the guide→Apply for parental allowance (Elterngeld) in Bremen
Elterngeld
Read the guide→Apply for housing benefit (Wohngeld) in Bremen
Wohngeld
Read the guide→Meet Amtly
Track your move to Bremen in your pocket
The free companion app for German bureaucracy. Get a personal arrival plan, track every Termin with the exact documents to bring, and scan papers into a private on-device vault. Available in English, Deutsch and 中文.
- 🗺️A plan tailored to your persona, city and Bundesland
- 📅Appointment reminders with the right document checklist
- 🔒On-device document vault — your papers never leave the phone
- 💬Ask Amtly + a community of internationals who've done it