Hamburg · Newcomer guide
Settling in Hamburg
Hamburg runs most services through its central hamburg.de portal, which often lets you start online. Work through the steps below — each guide lists the exact documents to bring.
Typical monthly cost in Hamburg: ~€1.980 (rent + essentials). See the full city guide →
When you arrive
Register your address (Anmeldung) in Hamburg
Anmeldung
Read the guide→Get your tax ID & tax class in Hamburg
Steuer-ID / Finanzamt
Read the guide→Open a bank account in Hamburg
Girokonto
Read the guide→Sign up for health insurance in Hamburg
Krankenversicherung
Read the guide→Apply for a residence permit in Hamburg
Aufenthaltstitel
Read the guide→Find a place to live in Hamburg
Wohnungssuche
Read the guide→Get a SIM or phone contract in Hamburg
Handyvertrag
Read the guide→Extend your residence permit in Hamburg
Aufenthaltstitel verlängern
Read the guide→As you settle in
Exchange your driving licence in Hamburg
Führerschein umschreiben
Read the guide→Claim child benefit (Kindergeld) in Hamburg
Kindergeld
Read the guide→Get a public transport ticket in Hamburg
Deutschlandticket
Read the guide→Register as a freelancer in Hamburg
Freiberufler anmelden
Read the guide→File an income-tax return in Hamburg
Einkommensteuererklärung
Read the guide→Register a car (Kfz-Zulassung) in Hamburg
Kfz-Zulassung
Read the guide→Apply for parental allowance (Elterngeld) in Hamburg
Elterngeld
Read the guide→Apply for housing benefit (Wohngeld) in Hamburg
Wohngeld
Read the guide→Find a daycare place (Kita) in Hamburg
Kita-Platz
Read the guide→Enrol your child in school in Hamburg
Schulanmeldung
Read the guide→Apply for German citizenship in Hamburg
Einbürgerung
Read the guide→Apply for permanent residence (Niederlassungserlaubnis) in Hamburg
Niederlassungserlaubnis
Read the guide→Get a German driving licence (driving school) in Hamburg
Führerschein / Fahrschule
Read the guide→TiG Pilot — free browser extension
Doing your move to Hamburg 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