Bavaria · Newcomer guide
Settling in Munich
Munich is well-organised but in high demand; housing is the real bottleneck, so sort it first. Work through the steps below — each guide lists the exact documents to bring.
Typical monthly cost in Munich: ~€2.400 (rent + essentials). See the full city guide →
When you arrive
Register your address (Anmeldung) in Munich
Anmeldung
Read the guide→Get your tax ID & tax class in Munich
Steuer-ID / Finanzamt
Read the guide→Open a bank account in Munich
Girokonto
Read the guide→Sign up for health insurance in Munich
Krankenversicherung
Read the guide→Apply for a residence permit in Munich
Aufenthaltstitel
Read the guide→Find a place to live in Munich
Wohnungssuche
Read the guide→Get a SIM or phone contract in Munich
Handyvertrag
Read the guide→Extend your residence permit in Munich
Aufenthaltstitel verlängern
Read the guide→As you settle in
Exchange your driving licence in Munich
Führerschein umschreiben
Read the guide→Claim child benefit (Kindergeld) in Munich
Kindergeld
Read the guide→Get a public transport ticket in Munich
Deutschlandticket
Read the guide→Register as a freelancer in Munich
Freiberufler anmelden
Read the guide→File an income-tax return in Munich
Einkommensteuererklärung
Read the guide→Register a car (Kfz-Zulassung) in Munich
Kfz-Zulassung
Read the guide→Apply for parental allowance (Elterngeld) in Munich
Elterngeld
Read the guide→Apply for housing benefit (Wohngeld) in Munich
Wohngeld
Read the guide→Find a daycare place (Kita) in Munich
Kita-Platz
Read the guide→Enrol your child in school in Munich
Schulanmeldung
Read the guide→Apply for German citizenship in Munich
Einbürgerung
Read the guide→Apply for permanent residence (Niederlassungserlaubnis) in Munich
Niederlassungserlaubnis
Read the guide→Get a German driving licence (driving school) in Munich
Führerschein / Fahrschule
Read the guide→TiG Pilot — free browser extension
Doing your move to Munich online? Let TiG Pilot read the form with you
Open any German authority form and TiG Pilot tells you what each field means in plain English, warns you about the ones that cost money, and fills in the details you saved once — stored only in your browser. Free, and it never submits anything for you.
- 🏛️Detects German authority forms and explains every field
- ⚠️Flags the traps — church tax, Hauptwohnung, declarations
- ✍️Fills your saved details — stored in your browser only
- 🧩Works on job application forms too — one profile fills both