Schleswig-Holstein · Newcomer guide
Settling in Lübeck
Lübeck, the historic Hanseatic city on the Baltic, uses the Schleswig-Holstein state portals; it's smaller and calmer than Hamburg an hour to the south. Work through the steps below — each guide lists the exact documents to bring.
Typical monthly cost in Lübeck: ~€1.620 (rent + essentials). See the full city guide →
When you arrive
Register your address (Anmeldung) in Lübeck
Anmeldung
Read the guide→Get your tax ID & tax class in Lübeck
Steuer-ID / Finanzamt
Read the guide→Open a bank account in Lübeck
Girokonto
Read the guide→Sign up for health insurance in Lübeck
Krankenversicherung
Read the guide→Apply for a residence permit in Lübeck
Aufenthaltstitel
Read the guide→Find a place to live in Lübeck
Wohnungssuche
Read the guide→Get a SIM or phone contract in Lübeck
Handyvertrag
Read the guide→Extend your residence permit in Lübeck
Aufenthaltstitel verlängern
Read the guide→As you settle in
Exchange your driving licence in Lübeck
Führerschein umschreiben
Read the guide→Claim child benefit (Kindergeld) in Lübeck
Kindergeld
Read the guide→Get a public transport ticket in Lübeck
Deutschlandticket
Read the guide→Register as a freelancer in Lübeck
Freiberufler anmelden
Read the guide→File an income-tax return in Lübeck
Einkommensteuererklärung
Read the guide→Register a car (Kfz-Zulassung) in Lübeck
Kfz-Zulassung
Read the guide→Apply for parental allowance (Elterngeld) in Lübeck
Elterngeld
Read the guide→Apply for housing benefit (Wohngeld) in Lübeck
Wohngeld
Read the guide→Find a daycare place (Kita) in Lübeck
Kita-Platz
Read the guide→Enrol your child in school in Lübeck
Schulanmeldung
Read the guide→Apply for German citizenship in Lübeck
Einbürgerung
Read the guide→Apply for permanent residence (Niederlassungserlaubnis) in Lübeck
Niederlassungserlaubnis
Read the guide→Get a German driving licence (driving school) in Lübeck
Führerschein / Fahrschule
Read the guide→TiG Desk — free iPhone app
The letters that come with your move to Lübeck, 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