North Rhine-Westphalia · Newcomer guide
Settling in Münster
Münster is a large student city where appointments are usually quicker than in the Rhineland metros, and most services share the North Rhine-Westphalia state portals. Work through the steps below — each guide lists the exact documents to bring.
Typical monthly cost in Münster: ~€1.740 (rent + essentials). See the full city guide →
When you arrive
Register your address (Anmeldung) in Münster
Anmeldung
Read the guide→Get your tax ID & tax class in Münster
Steuer-ID / Finanzamt
Read the guide→Open a bank account in Münster
Girokonto
Read the guide→Sign up for health insurance in Münster
Krankenversicherung
Read the guide→Apply for a residence permit in Münster
Aufenthaltstitel
Read the guide→Find a place to live in Münster
Wohnungssuche
Read the guide→Get a SIM or phone contract in Münster
Handyvertrag
Read the guide→Extend your residence permit in Münster
Aufenthaltstitel verlängern
Read the guide→As you settle in
Exchange your driving licence in Münster
Führerschein umschreiben
Read the guide→Claim child benefit (Kindergeld) in Münster
Kindergeld
Read the guide→Get a public transport ticket in Münster
Deutschlandticket
Read the guide→Register as a freelancer in Münster
Freiberufler anmelden
Read the guide→File an income-tax return in Münster
Einkommensteuererklärung
Read the guide→Register a car (Kfz-Zulassung) in Münster
Kfz-Zulassung
Read the guide→Apply for parental allowance (Elterngeld) in Münster
Elterngeld
Read the guide→Apply for housing benefit (Wohngeld) in Münster
Wohngeld
Read the guide→Find a daycare place (Kita) in Münster
Kita-Platz
Read the guide→Enrol your child in school in Münster
Schulanmeldung
Read the guide→Apply for German citizenship in Münster
Einbürgerung
Read the guide→Apply for permanent residence (Niederlassungserlaubnis) in Münster
Niederlassungserlaubnis
Read the guide→Get a German driving licence (driving school) in Münster
Führerschein / Fahrschule
Read the guide→TiG Desk — free iPhone app
The letters that come with your move to Münster, 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