Register, Open an Account, Choose Health Insurance: The First 90 Days in Munich Step by Step
When you move to Munich, you immediately face a flood of administrative tasks and organizational challenges. This guide shows what is really important in the first three months – and in what order.
Register, Open an Account, Choose Health Insurance: The First 90 Days in Munich Step by Step
It's a Tuesday morning, and you're standing with a stack of documents in front of the Citizen's Office on Ruppertstraße. The line extends all the way to the door. Next to you, a woman waits with a small child in her arms; behind you, a young man nervously stares at his phone. Welcome to Munich – the city is beautiful, but its bureaucracy waits for no one.
The first three months after moving are crucial. Those who know the right order save time, nerves, and sometimes money. Those who don't know it run in circles for weeks.
Step 1: Registration – everything starts here
Within two weeks of moving in, you must officially register with the resident registration office. In Munich, this is done at the District Administration Office (KVR) or one of the citizen's offices. Appointments can be booked online – and are strongly recommended, because without an appointment, waiting times can be several hours.
What to bring: Identity card or passport, completed registration form (available as a PDF on the city website), and a landlord's confirmation from your landlord. Without this document, nothing works. At the end, you receive a registration certificate – an unassuming piece of paper that will be needed constantly in the coming weeks.
Step 2: Bank Account – the earlier, the better
Without a German bank account, many things become complicated: no SEPA direct debit for rent, no salary transfers, no setting up standing orders. Most banks require the registration certificate to open an account – which is why Step 1 really must come first.
In Munich, all major banks have branches, including Deutsche Bank, HypoVereinsbank, and Sparkasse. In addition, pure online banks such as N26 or DKB work well for everyday use, often with less paperwork. Those who prefer a salary account with a personal contact are better off with a traditional bank. Those who value flexibility and quick setup should choose a digital solution.
Step 3: Health Insurance – a decision with long-term effects
In Germany, health insurance is mandatory. If you are employed, you are automatically included in the statutory system – but the choice of health insurance provider is up to you. And this choice is worthwhile.
All statutory health insurance providers (GKV) cover the services required by law. The differences lie in the additional contribution (which varies between providers and changes annually), in supplementary services such as dental prophylaxis, vision aids, or osteopathy, as well as in service – app, accessibility, digital sick leave certification.
Well-known GKVs in Munich are TK (Techniker Krankenkasse), AOK Bayern, Barmer, and DAK. A direct comparison via independent portals is worthwhile before making a decision. Once you've registered, simply inform your employer of your chosen provider – the rest happens automatically.
If you have a high income, you can also take out private insurance (PKV). However, this only makes sense under certain conditions and should be carefully considered, as switching back to the GKV later is difficult.
What else is on the to-do list
Besides these three core steps, there are a few other things that should be completed in the first 90 days:
- Broadcast fee registration (€17.50 per month, mandatory for every household)
- Tax ID verification – it is sent automatically but can be requested anew
- SCHUFA information – particularly relevant if a new tenancy or cell phone contract is coming up
- MVV subscription check – the Deutschland-Ticket is a real alternative to the expensive monthly pass for many Munich residents
Getting to know Munich
Munich is not an easy city. Rents are high, bureaucracy is structured in an old-fashioned way, and some days every interaction with an administrative office feels like an exam. At the same time, much works if you understand the rules once: the S-Bahn arrives (mostly) on time, the infrastructure is solid, and once you've figured out the system, you can focus on actual living – on the job, the new apartment, perhaps a first autumn walk in the English Garden.
If you approach the first 90 days in a structured way – registration first, account after, health insurance chosen carefully – you lay a foundation that makes the rest of your start in Munich significantly easier. The bureaucratic stress is finite, and real life in the city begins afterward.