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Your City

Four cities, one clear path

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GuideAachenAt the border with NL & BE GuideCologneKöln, the cathedral city GuideDuisburgPort city on the Rhine GuideDüsseldorfState capital of NRW
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    ← Home / Your City / Aachen

    Aachen

    The offices, booking links and local rules you need in your first weeks, taken from the City of Aachen, the StädteRegion Aachen and local public services.

    Checked against official sources on 2 November 2026 · next review by 2 February 2027
    0241 432-0City service centreAppointments: 0241 432-1234
    112Fire & ambulance
    110Police
    116117Doctor on call (out of hours)

    Register your address (Anmeldung)

    Everyone · within 2 weeks of moving in

    Register within two weeks of moving in, at one of the city's citizens' offices (Bürger*innenbüros) or district offices. You can only register once you actually live there. Registration is free.

    • Passport or ID card for every person moving in
    • Landlord's confirmation of residence (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung). A rental contract does not replace it.
    • Proof of marital status if available, and birth certificates for children
    WhereBürger*innenbüro Bahnhofplatz (Hackländerstraße 1) or Katschhof (Johannes-Paul-II.-Straße 1), or a district office
    Appointment hotline0241 432-1234

    Booking tip: extra appointments for the same day are released online at around 7:45. The phone hotline has no more appointments than the website. Moving from abroad or holding an electronic residence permit? You must register in person; online registration is not possible for you.

    Book an appointment ↗Registration details ↗

    Residence permit & immigration office

    Non-EU citizens

    In Aachen the immigration office (Ausländeramt) is run by the StädteRegion Aachen, not by the city. It serves the whole region.

    • Extending your permit: book online under Aufenthaltsangelegenheiten → Verlängerung Aufenthalt. New slots are released every day, so check back if none are shown.
    • Documents: the list is sent with your appointment confirmation. Bring originals and copies.
    • Fiktionsbescheinigung (temporary certificate while you wait): book an appointment at the Infostelle.
    • RWTH students have their own branch office at Templergraben 57.
    InfostelleTrierer Straße 1, 52078 Aachen · 0241 5198-5600
    Residence mattersHackländerstraße 1, 52064 Aachen
    Emailabh@staedteregion-aachen.de
    Book an appointment ↗Residence permit details ↗

    Open a bank account

    Everyone · in your first weeks

    You need a German bank account (Girokonto) for your salary, rent and contracts. The local branch banks are Sparkasse Aachen and Aachener Bank: good if you want a branch nearby and advice in person. Online and app banks work the same in every city.

    Your right to a basic account: every bank that offers accounts to consumers must open a basic account (Basiskonto) for anyone legally staying in the EU, regardless of credit history, including asylum seekers and people with a Duldung.

    Compare banks: our guide →Sparkasse Aachen ↗Aachener Bank ↗

    Kita (daycare) place

    Families with young children · apply early

    Register your child on the city's KiTa-Portal (available in English) and pre-register at up to five Kitas at once. After a Kita confirms, arrange an introductory meeting; a binding place is only possible after that.

    • Apply at least six months before the start date.
    • For a start on 1 August, apply by 31 January of that year.
    • Most places start on 1 August; places rarely free up during the year.
    Questions0241 432-45255 · KiTa-Portal@mail.aachen.de
    Open the KiTa-Portal ↗

    School enrolment for newly arrived children

    Families with children aged about 6–18 · school is compulsory

    The city's Kommunales Integrationszentrum (municipal integration centre) advises families of newly arrived children on school education and looks at which school type fits your child's previous schooling.

    • Bring your child's passport, your registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung) and recent school reports, translated if possible.
    • Young people aged 16–18 can ask about the International Support Classes (IFK) at vocational colleges.
    Kommunales IntegrationszentrumReichsweg 30, 52068 Aachen
    School education0241 432-56618 or 0241 432-56610
    Emailintegration@mail.aachen.de

    Two different processes: this is for children arriving from abroad during the school year (Seiteneinstieg). Regular enrolment for first grade follows its own annual calendar. Children without enough German usually get about two years of extra German support before joining a regular class.

    Kommunales Integrationszentrum ↗

    Jobcenter & basic income support

    If you need financial support while looking for work

    The Jobcenter StädteRegion Aachen handles basic income support. A personal visit needs an appointment in advance.

    Service deskGut-Dämme-Str. 14, 52070 Aachen
    Phone0241 88681-1004 or -1005
    Online services ↗Jobcenter Aachen ↗

    Getting around: bus & Deutschlandticket

    Everyone

    Local buses are run by the ASEAG. The Deutschlandticket costs €63 a month (€66.80 from 1 January 2027) and can be cancelled monthly. In the movA app you can subscribe at any time, even for the current month.

    • Job ticket: through your employer, who pays part of it
    • Deutschlandticket Sozial: for people receiving social benefits
    • Chip card by post: order by the 10th of the month before
    ASEAG Kunden-CenterSchumacherstraße 14, 52062 Aachen
    HoursMon–Fri 7:30–18:00, first & last Saturday of the month 8:30–14:00
    Deutschlandticket at ASEAG ↗movA app ↗

    Driving licence

    Converting a licence from outside the EU

    In Aachen, licences are handled by the StädteRegion Aachen's driving licence office (Bürgerservice Führerschein) in Würselen. Apply in person, by appointment.

    • You may drive with a licence from outside the EU/EEA for 6 months after moving here. Then you need a German licence.
    • Whether you need tests depends on the country that issued your licence (Annex 11 of the Driving Licence Regulation, FeV). If your country is not listed, you must pass a theory and a practical test, and a driving school must be involved, but there are no compulsory lessons.
    • Usually needed: passport, biometric photo, your original licence, an official translation, an eye test and a first-aid course.
    AddressCarlo-Schmid-Straße 4, 52146 Würselen
    Phone0241 5198-6500
    Fee€37.50–45.90

    Choosing a driving school: ask whether they teach in English or your language, and whether they help with licence conversions. The theory test can be taken in German or in English, French, Greek, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Croatian, Spanish, Turkish or Standard Arabic; Kurmanji and Ukrainian follow from 1 April 2027.

    Book an appointment ↗Licence conversion details ↗

    Waste, recycling & bulky items

    Every household

    Waste is collected by the city's Stadtbetrieb. The online Abfall-Navi creates a collection calendar for your address, with a PDF or calendar (iCal) export. Bulky items (Sperrmüll) are booked on the city's service portal; an express pickup within a few days costs €60.

    Questions0241 432-18666 · abfallwirtschaft-stadtbetrieb@mail.aachen.de
    Abfall-Navi ↗Book bulky waste pickup ↗
    ← Home / Your City / Cologne

    Cologne

    Köln in German. The offices, booking links and local rules you need in your first weeks, taken from the City of Cologne and local public services.

    Checked against official sources on 2 November 2026 · next review by 2 February 2027
    115City service lineor 0221 221-0
    112Fire & ambulance
    110Police
    116117Doctor on call (out of hours)

    Register your address (Anmeldung)

    Everyone · within 2 weeks of moving in

    Register at any of the city's nine Kundenzentren (customer centres) within two weeks of moving. Registration is free. You can fill in the registration form online beforehand and print it.

    • Passport or ID card, and the passport from your home country if applicable
    • Residence permit or visa, if you need one
    • The signed registration form and the landlord's confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung)
    Walk-in daysMonday and Wednesday, without appointment (expect waiting times)
    Appointment daysTuesday, Thursday and Friday
    Phone115 or 0221 221-0

    Coming from abroad? You must come in person; a power of attorney is not accepted. Bring marriage and children's birth certificates. Foreign documents must be translated by a sworn translator, and only originals are accepted.

    Book a Kundenzentrum appointment ↗First registration in Cologne ↗

    Residence permit & immigration office

    Non-EU citizens

    Cologne's Ausländeramt handles residence permits. Extensions start online, not with an appointment search.

    • Extending your permit: apply online while your current permit is still valid, and upload your documents as PDF or JPEG. You then receive a written appointment invitation and sign the application there.
    • Visits are only possible with an appointment and the invitation letter.
    • Fiktionsbescheinigung: if you applied in time, your permit generally stays valid until the decision.
    • Fee for adults: €93–96; you may not have to pay if you receive social benefits.
    AusländeramtDillenburger Straße 56–66, 51105 Köln
    Apply online for an extension ↗Contact the Ausländeramt ↗Digital services ↗

    Open a bank account

    Everyone · in your first weeks

    You need a German bank account (Girokonto) for your salary, rent and contracts. The local branch banks are Sparkasse KölnBonn and Volksbank Köln Bonn: good if you want a branch nearby and advice in person. Online and app banks work the same in every city.

    Your right to a basic account: every bank that offers accounts to consumers must open a basic account (Basiskonto) for anyone legally staying in the EU, regardless of credit history, including asylum seekers and people with a Duldung.

    Compare banks: our guide →Sparkasse KölnBonn ↗Volksbank Köln Bonn ↗

    Kita (daycare) place

    Families with young children · apply early

    Register your child on the city's KiTa portal Little Bird. You can register at several Kitas; the city first looks for a place at the ones you chose.

    • Register at least six months before the start date. Most places start on 1 August.
    • Children have a legal right to childcare from their first birthday, and to a Kita place from their third birthday.
    • The city's Family Office and Little Bird cafés advise in several languages.
    AdviceKommunales Integrationszentrum Köln · 0221 221-29292 · ki@stadt-koeln.de
    Open Little Bird ↗Kita guide (KI Köln) ↗

    School enrolment for newly arrived children

    Families with children aged about 6–18 · school is compulsory

    Once you are registered in Cologne with a school-age child, the city sends you a letter with the contacts for a counselling session at the Kommunales Integrationszentrum. After the session and a school health check, the Schulamt looks for a school place; the assignment letter usually arrives about two weeks later.

    • Bring proof of your Cologne address, your and your child's ID, and school certificates from your home country.
    • Children without enough German start in a preparatory class and move to a regular class when ready.
    • Young people aged 16–18 usually attend a one-year International Support Class (IFK) at a vocational college.
    CounsellingKommunales Integrationszentrum · 0221 221-29292 · ki@stadt-koeln.de
    School assignmentSchulamt · 0221 221-29266 or -29277

    Two different processes: this is for children arriving from abroad during the school year (Seiteneinstieg). Regular enrolment for first grade follows its own annual calendar. Children without enough German usually get about two years of extra German support before joining a regular class.

    Schooling for newly arrived children ↗School counselling (KI Köln) ↗

    Jobcenter & basic income support

    If you need financial support while looking for work

    The Jobcenter Köln handles basic income support. Start the application online, then call the ServiceCenter to verify your identity; only then can the application be completed. Your local office depends on your postcode and age.

    ServiceCenter0221 96443401 · Mon–Thu 8–18, Fri 8–14 (afternoons are easier)
    New application ↗Book an appointment ↗

    Getting around: tram, bus & Deutschlandticket

    Everyone

    Local transport is run by the KVB (Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe). The Deutschlandticket costs €63 a month and €66.80 from 1 January 2027. Buy it any time in the KVB app on the phone where you will show it.

    • Deutschlandticket Job: up to €44.10 a month (€46.76 from 2027) if your employer pays at least 25%
    • Deutschlandticket sozial: with a Köln-Pass or similar proof
    • Cancellation: by the 10th of the month, effective at the end of that month
    KVB Kundencenter NeumarktNeumarkt 25, 50667 Köln
    HoursMon–Fri 8–20, Sat 8:30–18
    Deutschlandticket at KVB ↗KVB app ↗

    Driving licence

    Converting a licence from outside the EU

    In Cologne you apply in person at any Kundenzentrum, by appointment. For licences from countries not in Annex 11, a theory and a practical test are always required, and you hand in a contract or confirmation from your driving school.

    • You may drive with a licence from outside the EU/EEA for 6 months after moving here. Then you need a German licence.
    • Whether you need tests depends on the country that issued your licence (Annex 11 of the Driving Licence Regulation, FeV). If your country is not listed, you must pass a theory and a practical test, and a driving school must be involved, but there are no compulsory lessons.
    • Usually needed: passport, biometric photo, your original licence, an official translation, an eye test and a first-aid course.
    • The first-aid course must be in person; online courses are not accepted.
    Fee€43.90 (€44.20 with probation)
    Processingabout 2–3 weeks for the card

    Choosing a driving school: ask whether they teach in English or your language, and whether they help with licence conversions. The theory test can be taken in German or in English, French, Greek, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Croatian, Spanish, Turkish or Standard Arabic; Kurmanji and Ukrainian follow from 1 April 2027.

    Book an appointment ↗Licence conversion details ↗

    Waste, recycling & bulky items

    Every household

    Waste is collected by the AWB (Abfallwirtschaftsbetriebe Köln). The free AWB app shows your collection dates with reminders and lets you book pickups. The basic bulky waste service collects up to 3 m³ free of charge; book about three weeks ahead.

    Waste calendar ↗Book bulky waste ↗AWB app ↗
    ← Home / Your City / Duisburg

    Duisburg

    The offices, booking links and local rules you need in your first weeks, taken from the City of Duisburg and local public services.

    Checked against official sources on 2 November 2026 · next review by 2 February 2027
    0203 94000City service lineMon–Fri 8–16 · Sat 9–13
    112Fire & ambulance
    110Police
    116117Doctor on call (out of hours)

    Register your address (Anmeldung)

    Everyone · within 2 weeks of moving in

    Register at one of the city's Bürger-Service-Stationen (citizens' service offices) within two weeks of moving into your flat. You can only register once you actually live there. Registration is free.

    • Passport or ID card
    • Landlord's confirmation of residence (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung), which your landlord must give you
    • Birth or marriage certificate if you have one, especially when registering family members
    WhereBürger-Service-Stationen in Walsum, Hamborn, Meiderich, Homberg, Mitte, Rheinhausen and Süd
    BookOnline appointment on duisburg.de
    Phone0203 94000

    Not an EU citizen? Since July 2024 most foreign nationals in Duisburg also register at the Bürger-Service. Only people with an Aufenthaltsgestattung or Duldung register with the Amt für Integration und Einwanderungsservice. EU/EEA citizens with an activated eID card can also register online.

    Book a Bürger-Service appointment ↗Online registration (eID) ↗

    Residence permit & immigration office

    Non-EU citizens

    Duisburg's immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) is part of the Amt für Integration und Einwanderungsservice. Since 1 September 2026 most in-person visits take place at its central Service-Center. Free appointments are hard to find, so it helps to know which requests need no booking at all.

    • Extending your residence permit: don't search for an appointment. The office writes to you in good time and asks you to apply online. Meet the deadline in the letter. After your online application you receive an appointment at the Service-Center; with complete documents, the extension is usually done in one visit.
    • Fiktionsbescheinigung (temporary permit) extension: no appointment. Go to the Service-Center any Tuesday, 8:00–12:00. The new certificate can usually be collected the following Monday.
    • Everything else: book exactly the matching appointment type at termine.duisburg.de. People who arrive without a matching appointment are not served.
    • Urgent questions: call the call centre; the office says phoning is faster than email. The email address abh-call@stadt-duisburg.de is for general questions only: applications and documents sent by email are not accepted.
    • Students at the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE): if the university's pages don't answer your question, or in an acute emergency, write to support-immigrationoffice@uni-due.de. The university can inform you but cannot speed up decisions.
    Service-CenterFriedrich-Wilhelm-Str. 12–14, 47051 Duisburg
    Call centre0203 283-984214 · Mon–Thu 8–14, Fri 8–13
    Booktermine.duisburg.de
    Online applications ↗Book an appointment ↗Required documents ↗UDE students ↗

    Open a bank account

    Everyone · in your first weeks

    You need a German bank account (Girokonto) for your salary, rent and contracts. The local branch banks are Sparkasse Duisburg and Volksbank Rhein-Ruhr: good if you want a branch nearby and advice in person. Online and app banks work the same in every city.

    Your right to a basic account: every bank that offers accounts to consumers must open a basic account (Basiskonto) for anyone legally staying in the EU, regardless of credit history, including asylum seekers and people with a Duldung.

    Compare banks: our guide →Sparkasse Duisburg ↗Volksbank Rhein-Ruhr ↗

    Kita (daycare) place

    Families with young children · apply early

    All of Duisburg's roughly 200 Kitas are on the city's Kita-Platz portal. You can pre-register your child for up to eight Kitas. The portal is available in 11 languages, including English, Turkish, Arabic and Ukrainian.

    • Visit the Kitas you like first and check their concept and opening hours.
    • Pre-registering does not guarantee a place: each Kita allocates its own places.
    • Places for the year starting 1 August are allocated from the end of the previous year. Kitas with free places contact you.
    QuestionsYouth Welfare Office (Jugendamt) · kitaplatz@stadt-duisburg.de
    Phone0203 94000
    Open the Kita-Platz portal ↗

    School enrolment for newly arrived children

    Families with children aged about 6–18 · school is compulsory

    In Duisburg you cannot register directly at a school. Once your children are registered in Duisburg, the Kommunales Integrationszentrum (municipal integration centre) automatically invites you to a counselling session. After a school health check, the city's Schulamt (school office) assigns a school.

    • Register your address first: the invitation is linked to it.
    • Counselling is by appointment only.
    • Information leaflets are available in 15 languages, including Arabic, Bulgarian, English, Romanian, Turkish and Ukrainian.
    Kommunales Integrationszentrum0203 283-986830 or 0203 283-986894

    Two different processes: this is for children arriving from abroad during the school year (Seiteneinstieg). Regular enrolment for first grade follows its own annual calendar. Children without enough German usually get about two years of extra German support before joining a regular class.

    Schooling for newly arrived children ↗

    Jobcenter & basic income support

    If you need financial support while looking for work

    The Jobcenter Duisburg handles basic income support (Grundsicherungsgeld, previously Bürgergeld; the new rules apply from 1 July 2026). You can apply online through the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit).

    Service centre0203 3021910 · Mon–Thu 8–18, Fri 8–14
    Apply online ↗Jobcenter Duisburg ↗

    Getting around: bus, tram & Deutschlandticket

    Everyone

    Local transport is run by the DVG (Duisburger Verkehrsgesellschaft). The Deutschlandticket costs €63 a month (€66.80 from 1 January 2027), covers local transport across Germany and can be cancelled monthly. DVG recommends the digital ticket in its myDVG app.

    • Deutschlandticket Job: up to €44.10 a month if your employer contributes
    • Deutschlandticket Sozial: €53 a month for people in Duisburg receiving social benefits
    • Students: the Deutschlandsemesterticket is usually included in the semester fee
    DVG KundenCenterHarry-Eppstein-Platz 2, 47051 Duisburg (at the main station)
    HoursMon–Fri 7–18:30, Sat 9–13
    Deutschlandticket at DVG ↗myDVG app ↗

    Driving licence

    Converting a licence from outside the EU

    In Duisburg, the city's Fahrerlaubnisbehörde (driving licence office) handles conversions. Visits are by appointment only; bring an interpreter if your German is limited.

    • You may drive with a licence from outside the EU/EEA for 6 months after moving here. Then you need a German licence.
    • Whether you need tests depends on the country that issued your licence (Annex 11 of the Driving Licence Regulation, FeV). If your country is not listed, you must pass a theory and a practical test, and a driving school must be involved, but there are no compulsory lessons.
    • Usually needed: passport, biometric photo, your original licence, an official translation, an eye test and a first-aid course.
    • Ukrainian licences: since 19 August 2026 they can generally be converted without tests (original plastic card needed).
    Emailfahrerlaubnis@stadt-duisburg.de
    Fee€37.50–45.10 · card payment only
    Processingabout 6 weeks

    Choosing a driving school: ask whether they teach in English or your language, and whether they help with licence conversions. The theory test can be taken in German or in English, French, Greek, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Croatian, Spanish, Turkish or Standard Arabic; Kurmanji and Ukrainian follow from 1 April 2027.

    Book an appointment ↗Licence conversion details ↗

    Waste, recycling & bulky items

    Every household

    Bins are emptied by the Wirtschaftsbetriebe Duisburg (WBD). Look up the collection days for your street in the online waste calendar or the WBD app. Furniture and other bulky items (Sperrgut) are booked for collection online.

    Online waste calendar ↗WBD app ↗Book bulky waste collection ↗
    ← Home / Your City / Düsseldorf

    Düsseldorf

    The offices, booking links and local rules you need in your first weeks, taken from the City of Düsseldorf and local public services.

    Checked against official sources on 2 November 2026 · next review by 2 February 2027
    0211 89-90141Residents' registration office
    112Fire & ambulance
    110Police
    116117Doctor on call (out of hours)

    Register your address (Anmeldung)

    Everyone · within 2 weeks of moving in

    Register at one of the city's Bürgerbüros within two weeks of moving in, at the earliest on the day you move in. An appointment is required. Registration is free, and the first registration certificate is free too.

    • Official photo ID (ID card, passport or national passport)
    • Landlord's confirmation of residence (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung). A rental contract is not enough.
    Booktermine.duesseldorf.de
    Phone0211 89-90141

    EU/EEA citizens with an activated eID card can register online at wohnsitzanmeldung.de and receive a digital registration certificate.

    Book an appointment ↗Registration details ↗

    Residence permit & immigration office

    Non-EU citizens

    Düsseldorf's immigration office (Kommunale Ausländerbehörde) is part of the Amt für Migration und Integration. All services are by appointment only.

    • Fiktionsbescheinigung (temporary certificate while your application is pending): €13 for adults, free with a Düsselpass or a Jobcenter approval notice. Pay by card: cash payments of €10 or more cost €1 extra.
    • Bring your passport, your previous residence permit and your registration certificate (Meldebestätigung).
    • Questions: use the online contact form or email.
    AddressErkrather Straße 377–389, 40231 Düsseldorf
    Phone0211 89-21020
    Emailauslaenderamt@duesseldorf.de
    Book an appointment ↗Contact form ↗Fiktionsbescheinigung ↗

    Open a bank account

    Everyone · in your first weeks

    You need a German bank account (Girokonto) for your salary, rent and contracts. The local branch banks are Stadtsparkasse Düsseldorf and Volksbank Düsseldorf Krefeld Neuss: good if you want a branch nearby and advice in person. Online and app banks work the same in every city.

    Your right to a basic account: every bank that offers accounts to consumers must open a basic account (Basiskonto) for anyone legally staying in the EU, regardless of credit history, including asylum seekers and people with a Duldung.

    Compare banks: our guide →Stadtsparkasse Düsseldorf ↗Volksbank Düsseldorf Krefeld Neuss ↗

    Kita (daycare) place

    Families with young children · apply early

    Pre-register on the city's Kita-Navigator at up to 15 Kitas (they cannot be ranked). The site can be translated with Google Translate.

    • Register at least six months before the start date. Most places start on 1 August; placements for August begin in February.
    • Registrations are deleted every year on 31 July. You are notified from May and must re-register to stay on the list.
    i-Punkt FamilieHeinz-Schmöle-Straße 11–13, 40227 Düsseldorf · 0211 8998870 · no appointment needed
    Open the Kita-Navigator ↗Kita-Navigator FAQ ↗

    School enrolment for newly arrived children

    Families with children aged about 6–18 · school is compulsory

    Contact the Kommunales Integrationszentrum (municipal integration centre) for a counselling appointment. There is no test: you talk about your child's previous schooling. Afterwards the Schulamt (primary and lower secondary) or the district government (upper secondary and vocational college) assigns a school place, and the school contacts you, usually within two weeks.

    • When booking, give your child's name and date of birth and your contact details.
    • Prepare copies of the registration certificates and passports of child and parents, and the last school report translated into German or English.
    • Counselling is possible on site or by video.
    Kommunales Integrationszentrum0211 89-24077 · ki-beratung@duesseldorf.de

    Two different processes: this is for children arriving from abroad during the school year (Seiteneinstieg). Regular enrolment for first grade follows its own annual calendar. Children without enough German usually get about two years of extra German support before joining a regular class.

    School place for newly arrived children ↗

    Jobcenter & basic income support

    If you need financial support while looking for work

    The Jobcenter Düsseldorf handles basic income support. You can start a new application online or use jobcenter.digital.

    Servicecenter0211 917470 · Mon–Thu 8–18, Fri 8–14
    New application ↗jobcenter.digital ↗

    Getting around: tram, bus & Deutschlandticket

    Everyone

    Local transport is run by the Rheinbahn. The Deutschlandticket costs €63 a month (€66.80 from 1 January 2027) and can be cancelled monthly. Buy the digital ticket in the Rheinbahn app, or order a chip card online via AboOnline.

    Deutschlandticket at Rheinbahn ↗Rheinbahn app ↗KundenCenter ↗

    Driving licence

    Converting a licence from outside the EU

    In Düsseldorf, the Straßenverkehrsamt (road traffic office) handles conversions. You must come in person with an appointment; applications by phone are not possible.

    • You may drive with a licence from outside the EU/EEA for 6 months after moving here. Then you need a German licence.
    • Whether you need tests depends on the country that issued your licence (Annex 11 of the Driving Licence Regulation, FeV). If your country is not listed, you must pass a theory and a practical test, and a driving school must be involved, but there are no compulsory lessons.
    • Usually needed: passport, biometric photo, your original licence, an official translation, an eye test and a first-aid course.
    AddressHöherweg 101, 40233 Düsseldorf
    Phone0211 89-91 · fuehrerscheinstelle@duesseldorf.de
    Fee€37.50–45.10 · card payment only
    Processingabout 12 weeks on average

    Choosing a driving school: ask whether they teach in English or your language, and whether they help with licence conversions. The theory test can be taken in German or in English, French, Greek, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Croatian, Spanish, Turkish or Standard Arabic; Kurmanji and Ukrainian follow from 1 April 2027.

    Book an appointment ↗Licence conversion details ↗

    Waste, recycling & bulky items

    Every household

    Waste is collected by AWISTA. The AWISTA Kommunal app and the online calendar show your collection dates. Bulky waste is collected free of charge up to 2 m³ for private households; list every item when you book.

    Bulky waste hotline0211 73757070
    Waste calendar ↗Book bulky waste ↗AWISTA app ↗
    ← Home / Start Here / Bank account

    Bank account

    Salary, rent, phone contract and the Deutschlandticket all run through a German bank account. Here is how to get one, and how to compare banks neutrally.

    Checked against official sources on 2 November 2026 · next review by 2 February 2027

    Your right to a basic account (Basiskonto)

    Everyone legally staying in the EU

    Every bank that offers payment accounts to consumers must open a basic account for you, regardless of your credit history. The law explicitly includes asylum seekers and people with a Duldung. If the bank offers online banking for its normal accounts, the basic account must have it too.

    • Ask for the statutory application form: banks must provide it, also online.
    • A bank may refuse only in a few exceptions defined by law.
    • Refused? You don't have to accept it. Ask the financial supervisor BaFin to review the refusal: the procedure is free, by post or online form.

    Fees for basic accounts vary a lot between banks. Compare them before you sign (see below).

    Basic account for newcomers (Verbraucherzentrale) ↗

    What you need

    Before you open the account

    Usually a valid passport or ID card. Online you confirm your identity by video call (Video-Ident); in a branch you bring the document with you.

    • Some banks also ask for your registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung). Ask before you go if you have not registered yet.
    • Your tax ID may be requested later; it arrives by post after registration.

    Three kinds of banks

    Choose what fits your life

    • Local branch banks (Sparkasse, Volksbank): branches in your city, cash machines nearby, advice in person, usually in German.
    • Large national banks: branches across Germany and online banking.
    • Direct and app banks: online only, accounts often opened within minutes on your phone, apps often available in English.

    Each city guide lists the local Sparkasse and Volksbank for that city.

    Compare fees with BaFin's official tool

    Neutral and free

    Germany's financial supervisor BaFin runs an official account comparison in English. It shows monthly fees, card fees, cash machine networks, online and app banking and deposit protection for accounts from many banks, including basic accounts.

    • What is the monthly fee, and what does it depend on (for example a minimum monthly income)?
    • Which cards do you get: a girocard (widely used in German shops) and/or a Visa or Mastercard debit card?
    • Is the app or customer service available in English?
    • Do you need a registration certificate or a credit check (SCHUFA) to open it?
    • Where can you withdraw cash for free?
    BaFin account comparison ↗

    Local banks in our cities

    Branch banks by city

    • Aachen: Sparkasse Aachen · Aachener Bank
    • Cologne: Sparkasse KölnBonn · Volksbank Köln Bonn
    • Duisburg: Sparkasse Duisburg · Volksbank Rhein-Ruhr
    • Düsseldorf: Stadtsparkasse Düsseldorf · Volksbank Düsseldorf Krefeld Neuss

    How we stay neutral: no bank pays to appear in this guide. If we ever show partner offers, they will be marked Anzeige (advertisement) and kept separate from this information.

    ← Home / Guides / Family

    Family

    Benefits, health checks, daycare and school for children of every age, with the rules that apply in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW).

    Checked against official sources on 2 November 2026 · next review by 2 February 2027
    €259Child benefit per childper month
    6 monthsChild benefit paid backat most
    3 monthsParental allowance paid backat most
    1 AugKita & school year starts

    Money for families

    Apply early: payments only go back a few months

    • Child benefit (Kindergeld): €259 a month per child, paid by the Familienkasse (Family Benefits Office). You need your own and your child's tax ID. It is paid back for at most 6 months, so apply as soon as you have the tax IDs.
    • Parental allowance (Elterngeld) after a birth: paid back for only 3 months, so apply within the first three months. In NRW you can apply online.
    • Child supplement (Kinderzuschlag) for families with low income: granted for 6 months at a time, then you apply again.

    Whether you can receive these benefits can depend on your residence status. Ask the Familienkasse or the parental allowance office before you rely on them.

    Family benefits in NRW (PDF) ↗

    Health checks & measles proof

    All children

    • Check-ups U1 to U9 (from birth to just before school) and J1 (age 12–14) are free: all health insurers pay for them. Results go into the yellow booklet (Gelbes Heft).
    • Measles protection is compulsory for children from their first birthday when they start Kita, a childminder or school. Proof: vaccination record, the yellow booklet or a doctor's certificate.
    Measles protection (Federal Ministry of Health) ↗

    Age 0–3: babies & toddlers

    Parental allowance · check-ups · first childcare

    • From the first birthday your child has a legal right to childcare: in a Kita or with a childminder (Kindertagespflege).
    • Register for a place at least 6 months before you need it, on your city's Kita portal.
    • Keep up with the U-check-ups and vaccinations; you need the measles proof for childcare.

    Age 3–6: Kita

    Right to a Kita place

    • From the third birthday your child has a legal right to a Kita place.
    • The Kita year starts on 1 August; most places are given for that date.
    • The check-ups U8 and U9 take place before school starts.

    Age 6–10: primary school

    School is compulsory

    • In NRW, children who turn 6 by 30 September start school on 1 August of that year.
    • Primary school (Grundschule) covers years 1 to 4.
    • Arriving during the school year? Your city's integration centre arranges counselling and a school place (see your city guide).

    Age 10–16: secondary school

    School is compulsory

    • After primary school, children move to a secondary school such as a comprehensive school (Gesamtschule), Hauptschule, Realschule or Gymnasium.
    • Full-time compulsory schooling in NRW lasts ten school years.
    • Children without enough German usually get about two years of extra German support.

    Age 16+: further school & training

    School until 18

    • In NRW, compulsory schooling continues until the end of the school year in which a young person turns 18.
    • Young people aged 16–18 who do not yet speak German well usually attend a one-year International Support Class (IFK) at a vocational college (Berufskolleg).
    • Anyone who starts an apprenticeship before 21 attends vocational school until the training ends.
    ← Home / Guides / Life in Germany

    Life in Germany

    The rules of everyday life that newcomers ask about most, explained simply and linked to the official sources.

    Checked against official sources on 2 November 2026 · next review by 2 February 2027
    3×Maximum rent depositnet cold rent
    €18.36Broadcasting feeper household / month
    6 monthsForeign licence (non-EU)after moving here
    116117Doctor appointments & on-call

    Renting a flat

    Before and after you move in

    • The deposit (Kaution) may be at most three months' net cold rent (rent without utilities), and you may pay it in three instalments.
    • The landlord must keep the deposit at a bank, at the usual savings rate.
    • Ask your landlord for the confirmation of residence (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung): you need it to register your address within two weeks.
    Rent deposit explained (Stiftung Warentest) ↗

    Health insurance

    Compulsory for everyone

    • Health insurance is mandatory in Germany. Employees usually join a public health insurer (Krankenkasse).
    • Family insurance: in public health insurance, children are usually covered free of charge up to 18, and longer while in school, training or university. Spouses with little or no income can be covered under certain conditions.
    Family insurance (Verbraucherzentrale NRW) ↗

    Doctors & appointments

    With public health insurance

    • Find a family doctor (Hausarzt) early. The 116117 service arranges a GP or paediatrician appointment within 5 working days.
    • For a specialist, an urgent referral code from your GP gets you an appointment within four weeks. Eye doctors and gynaecologists need no code.
    • Outside office hours, 116117 is the on-call doctor service, 24/7 by phone, online or app. In a life-threatening emergency call 112.
    116117 explained (Verbraucherzentrale NRW) ↗

    Work & foreign qualifications

    Professional recognition

    Many professions need your foreign qualification to be recognised before you can work in them. The federal portal Anerkennung in Deutschland, run by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), explains the process in 11 languages and helps you find the responsible office.

    Anerkennung in Deutschland ↗Make it in Germany ↗

    Learning German

    Integration courses

    • The integration course combines German lessons and an orientation course about life in Germany. It is organised in modules of 100 lessons; about six modules lead to the B1 exam.
    • With an entitlement from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), Jobcenter or immigration office, a module costs €229 unless you are exempt. Without an entitlement you can join if places are free, for €458 per module.
    • Funding was cut in 2026 and places are limited: ask a course provider early.
    BAMF – Integration courses ↗

    Broadcasting fee (Rundfunkbeitrag)

    Every household

    • Every flat pays one fee of €18.36 a month, no matter how many people live there or whether you own a TV or radio.
    • One adult per flat must register; it does not happen automatically. Other residents are jointly liable.
    • Late registration can lead to back payments, so register when you move in.
    Broadcasting fee explained (Verbraucherzentrale) ↗

    Driving with a foreign licence

    Licences from outside the EU/EEA

    • You may drive with your non-EU licence for 6 months after moving to Germany.
    • If your licence is not in German, carry an International Driving Permit or an official translation.
    • To keep driving, exchange it for a German licence at your city's driving licence office (Führerscheinstelle). Licences from some countries can be exchanged without a driving test.
    • If you need the theory test, you can take it in German or in 12 other languages: English, French, Greek, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Croatian, Spanish, Turkish and Standard Arabic. Kurmanji and Ukrainian follow from 1 April 2027.
    Foreign licences (City of Cologne) ↗
    ← Home / Guides / Find Help

    Find Help

    Official services and free helplines. We point you to public search tools and counselling services, not to paid providers.

    Checked against official sources on 2 November 2026 · next review by 2 February 2027
    112Fire & ambulance
    110Police
    116117Doctor on call (out of hours)
    0800 111 0 111Crisis line (TelefonSeelsorge)free, 24/7

    Find a doctor

    Appointments and on-call care

    • 116117 finds GP and specialist appointments for people with public health insurance, and connects you with the on-call doctor outside office hours, 24/7.
    • Search for practices yourself with the doctor search of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV).
    KBV doctor search ↗116117 explained ↗

    Migration counselling

    Free advice on settling in

    • Adults over 27: the Migration Counselling for Adult Immigrants (MBE) helps with first steps, authorities and integration. Find a local centre via the federal service search.
    • Young people aged 12–27: the Youth Migration Services (Jugendmigrationsdienste) help with school, training, work and everyday problems, at about 500 locations and online via jmd4you.
    • Your city's Kommunales Integrationszentrum (municipal integration centre) also advises newcomers: see your city guide.
    Migration counselling (BMI) ↗Federal service search ↗Youth Migration Services ↗jmd4you online advice ↗

    Free crisis & support lines

    Confidential and free of charge

    • TelefonSeelsorge (someone to talk to): 0800 111 0 111 or 0800 111 0 222, 24/7
    • Violence against women helpline: 08000 116 016, 24/7, for women of all nationalities
    • Pregnant and in need: 0800 40 40 020, 24/7, in several languages
    • Children and teenagers (Nummer gegen Kummer): 116 111, Mon–Sat 14–20
    • Parents' helpline: 0800 111 0 550, Mon, Wed, Fri 9–17, Tue, Thu 9–19
    • Victims of crime (Weisser Ring): 116 006, daily 7–22

    In an emergency always call 112 (fire and ambulance) or 110 (police).

    All crisis lines (Familienportal) ↗

    Local services

    How we list them

    We link to official search tools rather than listing private providers. If we show local services in the future, they will be labelled Local services or Anzeige (advertisement), never as a recommendation.

    ← Home / About / For Partners

    For Partners

    Newcomers come to us when they need to open an account, convert a licence, learn German or find a home. Partners appear at exactly that step, clearly labelled and separate from our neutral information.

    Who we work with

    Services newcomers need in their first months

    • Banks and account providers: shown next to the Open a bank account step and our banking guide
    • Driving schools: shown next to licence conversion in each city guide, especially schools teaching in English or other languages
    • Language schools and private tutors: next to German courses, including tutors for the theory driving test
    • Moving companies: for the move into and within Germany
    • Relocation and housing services: next to renting and address registration
    • Employers and HR teams who hire internationally and want their new staff to settle in quickly
    • Cities, integration services and non-profits: free of charge

    How partnership works

    Placement at the moment of need

    • Your offer appears at the step where newcomers need it: in the first-steps planner, in a city guide or in a topic guide.
    • Local partners are shown per city: Aachen, Cologne, Duisburg, Düsseldorf.
    • Simple terms: a fixed monthly listing per city, or another model we agree on together.

    Our principles

    Why users trust what they read here

    • Every partner offer is marked Anzeige (advertisement) and kept separate from our neutral information.
    • Partners cannot pay to change our guides, rankings or the official information we link to.
    • We do not sell user data and use no tracking cookies.
    • We list official and free options too, even where no partner pays.

    This is what makes a listing here valuable: newcomers trust the page your offer appears on.

    Get in touch

    We reply personally

    Write to partners@germanylandinghub.de and tell us your company name, the cities you serve, the service you offer, and the languages your team speaks.

    Email us →
    ← Home / Impressum

    Impressum

    Angaben gemäß § 5 Digitale-Dienste-Gesetz (DDG) · Legal notice

    Anbieter

    Germany Landing Hub – Levent Tas
    c/o Online-Impressum 12440
    Europaring 90
    53757 Sankt Augustin
    Deutschland

    Kontakt

    E-Mail: germanylandinghub@mail.online-impressum.de
    Zweiter Kontaktweg: Kontaktformular

    Verantwortlich für den Inhalt nach § 18 Abs. 2 MStV

    Levent Tas, Anschrift wie oben

    Zuständige Aufsichtsbehörde

    Landesanstalt für Medien Nordrhein-Westfalen

    Hinweis zu den Inhalten

    Germany Landing Hub ist ein unabhängiges Informationsangebot und keine Behörde. Die Inhalte dienen der allgemeinen Information und ersetzen keine Rechts-, Steuer-, Medizin- oder Aufenthaltsberatung. Wir prüfen die Angaben regelmäßig anhand offizieller Quellen; maßgeblich sind stets die Informationen der zuständigen Stellen. Für Inhalte verlinkter externer Seiten sind deren Betreiber verantwortlich.

    Legal notice (English)

    This translation is provided for convenience. The German version is legally binding.

    Provider: Germany Landing Hub – Levent Tas, c/o Online-Impressum 12440, Europaring 90, 53757 Sankt Augustin, Germany
    Email: germanylandinghub@mail.online-impressum.de
    Responsible for content: Levent Tas (address as above)
    Supervisory authority: Landesanstalt für Medien Nordrhein-Westfalen

    Germany Landing Hub is an independent information service, not a public authority. Content is general information and not legal, tax, medical or immigration advice. Always confirm with the responsible office.

    ← Home / Datenschutz

    Datenschutz

    Datenschutzerklärung · Privacy policy · Stand: November 2026

    1. Verantwortlicher

    Germany Landing Hub – Levent Tas
    c/o Online-Impressum 12440
    Europaring 90
    53757 Sankt Augustin
    Deutschland
    E-Mail: germanylandinghub@mail.online-impressum.de

    2. Das Wichtigste in Kürze

    • Wir setzen keine Cookies, keine Analyse- oder Tracking-Werkzeuge und keine Social-Media-Plugins ein.
    • Schriftarten werden von unserem eigenen Server geladen, nicht von Drittanbietern.
    • Der Planer „Build my first steps“ läuft vollständig in Ihrem Browser. Ihre Angaben werden weder übertragen noch gespeichert.

    3. Hosting und Server-Logdaten

    Diese Website wird bei Cloudflare (Cloudflare Workers) gehostet (Cloudflare, Inc., 101 Townsend St., San Francisco, CA 94107, USA). Beim Aufruf der Seiten verarbeitet Cloudflare technisch notwendige Daten wie IP-Adresse, Datum und Uhrzeit des Zugriffs, aufgerufene Seite und Browser-Informationen, um die Website auszuliefern und vor Angriffen zu schützen. Rechtsgrundlage ist Art. 6 Abs. 1 lit. f DSGVO; unser berechtigtes Interesse liegt in einer sicheren und stabilen Bereitstellung der Website. Eine Übermittlung in die USA ist möglich; Cloudflare ist nach dem EU-US Data Privacy Framework zertifiziert. Mit Cloudflare besteht ein Auftragsverarbeitungsvertrag.

    4. Kontakt per E-Mail

    Wenn Sie uns per E-Mail schreiben, verarbeiten wir Ihre Angaben, um Ihre Anfrage zu beantworten (Art. 6 Abs. 1 lit. b bzw. f DSGVO). Wir löschen die Daten, sobald die Anfrage erledigt ist und keine gesetzlichen Aufbewahrungspflichten bestehen.

    5. Links zu anderen Websites

    Unsere Seiten verlinken auf Angebote von Behörden und anderen Stellen. Beim Klick auf einen Link verlassen Sie unsere Website; dort gelten die Datenschutzbestimmungen des jeweiligen Anbieters.

    6. Ihre Rechte

    Sie haben das Recht auf Auskunft, Berichtigung, Löschung, Einschränkung der Verarbeitung, Datenübertragbarkeit und Widerspruch (Art. 15–21 DSGVO). Wenden Sie sich dazu an die oben genannte E-Mail-Adresse. Außerdem können Sie sich bei einer Datenschutz-Aufsichtsbehörde beschweren, zum Beispiel bei der Landesbeauftragten für Datenschutz und Informationsfreiheit Nordrhein-Westfalen (LDI NRW).

    Privacy policy (English summary)

    This summary is provided for convenience. The German version is legally binding.

    • No cookies, no analytics or tracking tools, no social media plugins. Fonts are served from our own server.
    • The first-steps planner runs entirely in your browser; your answers are neither sent nor stored.
    • The site is hosted on Cloudflare (Cloudflare Workers). Cloudflare processes technically necessary data (such as IP address and time of access) to deliver and protect the site (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR). Cloudflare is certified under the EU-US Data Privacy Framework.
    • If you email us, we use your details only to answer you and delete them afterwards unless the law requires us to keep them.
    • You have the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict, port and object to the processing of your data, and to complain to a data protection authority such as the LDI NRW.