Lower Saxony · Newcomer guide
Settling in Hannover
Hannover is the capital of Lower Saxony; services are well-organised and the city is used to a steady flow of new arrivals. Work through the steps below — each guide lists the exact documents to bring.
When you arrive
Register your address (Anmeldung) in Hannover
Anmeldung
Read the guide→Get your tax ID & tax class in Hannover
Steuer-ID / Finanzamt
Read the guide→Open a bank account in Hannover
Girokonto
Read the guide→Sign up for health insurance in Hannover
Krankenversicherung
Read the guide→Apply for a residence permit in Hannover
Aufenthaltstitel
Read the guide→Find a place to live in Hannover
Wohnungssuche
Read the guide→Get a SIM or phone contract in Hannover
Handyvertrag
Read the guide→As you settle in
Exchange your driving licence in Hannover
Führerschein umschreiben
Read the guide→Claim child benefit (Kindergeld) in Hannover
Kindergeld
Read the guide→Get a public transport ticket in Hannover
Deutschlandticket
Read the guide→Register as a freelancer in Hannover
Freiberufler anmelden
Read the guide→File an income-tax return in Hannover
Einkommensteuererklärung
Read the guide→Register a car (Kfz-Zulassung) in Hannover
Kfz-Zulassung
Read the guide→Apply for parental allowance (Elterngeld) in Hannover
Elterngeld
Read the guide→Apply for housing benefit (Wohngeld) in Hannover
Wohngeld
Read the guide→Meet Amtly
Track your move to Hannover 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