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.
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→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→Meet Amtly
🚧 Coming soonTrack your move to Münster 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