Baden-Württemberg · Newcomer guide
Settling in Karlsruhe
Karlsruhe is a research and tech hub (home to KIT); it's well-organised and, like the rest of Baden-Württemberg, uses several state portals for online services. Work through the steps below — each guide lists the exact documents to bring.
Typical monthly cost in Karlsruhe: ~€1.750 (rent + essentials). See the full city guide →
When you arrive
Register your address (Anmeldung) in Karlsruhe
Anmeldung
Read the guide→Get your tax ID & tax class in Karlsruhe
Steuer-ID / Finanzamt
Read the guide→Open a bank account in Karlsruhe
Girokonto
Read the guide→Sign up for health insurance in Karlsruhe
Krankenversicherung
Read the guide→Apply for a residence permit in Karlsruhe
Aufenthaltstitel
Read the guide→Find a place to live in Karlsruhe
Wohnungssuche
Read the guide→Get a SIM or phone contract in Karlsruhe
Handyvertrag
Read the guide→Extend your residence permit in Karlsruhe
Aufenthaltstitel verlängern
Read the guide→As you settle in
Exchange your driving licence in Karlsruhe
Führerschein umschreiben
Read the guide→Claim child benefit (Kindergeld) in Karlsruhe
Kindergeld
Read the guide→Get a public transport ticket in Karlsruhe
Deutschlandticket
Read the guide→Register as a freelancer in Karlsruhe
Freiberufler anmelden
Read the guide→File an income-tax return in Karlsruhe
Einkommensteuererklärung
Read the guide→Register a car (Kfz-Zulassung) in Karlsruhe
Kfz-Zulassung
Read the guide→Apply for parental allowance (Elterngeld) in Karlsruhe
Elterngeld
Read the guide→Apply for housing benefit (Wohngeld) in Karlsruhe
Wohngeld
Read the guide→Find a daycare place (Kita) in Karlsruhe
Kita-Platz
Read the guide→Enrol your child in school in Karlsruhe
Schulanmeldung
Read the guide→Apply for German citizenship in Karlsruhe
Einbürgerung
Read the guide→Apply for permanent residence (Niederlassungserlaubnis) in Karlsruhe
Niederlassungserlaubnis
Read the guide→Get a German driving licence (driving school) in Karlsruhe
Führerschein / Fahrschule
Read the guide→TiG Desk — free iPhone app
The letters that come with your move to Karlsruhe, 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