Hesse · Newcomer guide
Settling in Frankfurt
Frankfurt's international crowd means many offices and banks are used to English-speaking newcomers. Work through the steps below — each guide lists the exact documents to bring.
Typical monthly cost in Frankfurt: ~€2.100 (rent + essentials). See the full city guide →
When you arrive
Register your address (Anmeldung) in Frankfurt
Anmeldung
Read the guide→Get your tax ID & tax class in Frankfurt
Steuer-ID / Finanzamt
Read the guide→Open a bank account in Frankfurt
Girokonto
Read the guide→Sign up for health insurance in Frankfurt
Krankenversicherung
Read the guide→Apply for a residence permit in Frankfurt
Aufenthaltstitel
Read the guide→Find a place to live in Frankfurt
Wohnungssuche
Read the guide→Get a SIM or phone contract in Frankfurt
Handyvertrag
Read the guide→Extend your residence permit in Frankfurt
Aufenthaltstitel verlängern
Read the guide→As you settle in
Exchange your driving licence in Frankfurt
Führerschein umschreiben
Read the guide→Claim child benefit (Kindergeld) in Frankfurt
Kindergeld
Read the guide→Get a public transport ticket in Frankfurt
Deutschlandticket
Read the guide→Register as a freelancer in Frankfurt
Freiberufler anmelden
Read the guide→File an income-tax return in Frankfurt
Einkommensteuererklärung
Read the guide→Register a car (Kfz-Zulassung) in Frankfurt
Kfz-Zulassung
Read the guide→Apply for parental allowance (Elterngeld) in Frankfurt
Elterngeld
Read the guide→Apply for housing benefit (Wohngeld) in Frankfurt
Wohngeld
Read the guide→Find a daycare place (Kita) in Frankfurt
Kita-Platz
Read the guide→Enrol your child in school in Frankfurt
Schulanmeldung
Read the guide→Apply for German citizenship in Frankfurt
Einbürgerung
Read the guide→Apply for permanent residence (Niederlassungserlaubnis) in Frankfurt
Niederlassungserlaubnis
Read the guide→Get a German driving licence (driving school) in Frankfurt
Führerschein / Fahrschule
Read the guide→TiG Pilot — free browser extension
Doing your move to Frankfurt online? Let TiG Pilot read the form with you
Open any German authority form and TiG Pilot tells you what each field means in plain English, warns you about the ones that cost money, and fills in the details you saved once — stored only in your browser. Free, and it never submits anything for you.
- 🏛️Detects German authority forms and explains every field
- ⚠️Flags the traps — church tax, Hauptwohnung, declarations
- ✍️Fills your saved details — stored in your browser only
- 🧩Works on job application forms too — one profile fills both