Rhineland-Palatinate · Newcomer guide
Settling in Mainz
Mainz is the capital of Rhineland-Palatinate, just across the river from Frankfurt; it runs services on its own state portals, separate from Hesse. Work through the steps below — each guide lists the exact documents to bring.
Typical monthly cost in Mainz: ~€1.840 (rent + essentials). See the full city guide →
When you arrive
Register your address (Anmeldung) in Mainz
Anmeldung
Read the guide→Get your tax ID & tax class in Mainz
Steuer-ID / Finanzamt
Read the guide→Open a bank account in Mainz
Girokonto
Read the guide→Sign up for health insurance in Mainz
Krankenversicherung
Read the guide→Apply for a residence permit in Mainz
Aufenthaltstitel
Read the guide→Find a place to live in Mainz
Wohnungssuche
Read the guide→Get a SIM or phone contract in Mainz
Handyvertrag
Read the guide→Extend your residence permit in Mainz
Aufenthaltstitel verlängern
Read the guide→As you settle in
Exchange your driving licence in Mainz
Führerschein umschreiben
Read the guide→Claim child benefit (Kindergeld) in Mainz
Kindergeld
Read the guide→Get a public transport ticket in Mainz
Deutschlandticket
Read the guide→Register as a freelancer in Mainz
Freiberufler anmelden
Read the guide→File an income-tax return in Mainz
Einkommensteuererklärung
Read the guide→Register a car (Kfz-Zulassung) in Mainz
Kfz-Zulassung
Read the guide→Apply for parental allowance (Elterngeld) in Mainz
Elterngeld
Read the guide→Apply for housing benefit (Wohngeld) in Mainz
Wohngeld
Read the guide→Find a daycare place (Kita) in Mainz
Kita-Platz
Read the guide→Enrol your child in school in Mainz
Schulanmeldung
Read the guide→Apply for German citizenship in Mainz
Einbürgerung
Read the guide→Apply for permanent residence (Niederlassungserlaubnis) in Mainz
Niederlassungserlaubnis
Read the guide→Get a German driving licence (driving school) in Mainz
Führerschein / Fahrschule
Read the guide→TiG Desk — free iPhone app
The letters that come with your move to Mainz, 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