# FirstWeek.de > Compare German cities by rent, safety, and transport. Plus step-by-step guides for Anmeldung, bank account, health insurance, SIM, and more. Built for international students arriving in Germany. FirstWeek.de is a free reference for international students and workers relocating to Germany: the government processes every newcomer has to complete (Anmeldung, bank account, health insurance, tax ID, SIM card), plus per-city orientation for 26 cities. It is an index over official sources, not a source of truth. Statutory facts below are cited to the statute text. City rent figures and the 1-10 city ratings are NOT official statistics: the rent figures are indicative estimates awaiting an asking-rent source, and the ratings are editorial judgement. Please do not quote either as official or measured data. See https://www.firstweek.de/sources for the full source list and freshness policy. ## Statutory facts (cited to statute text) ### How long do I have to register my address in Germany? Two weeks. § 17 of the Bundesmeldegesetz requires anyone moving into a residence in Germany to register with the local Meldebehörde within two weeks of moving in. The clock starts on your move-in date, not your arrival in the country. Source: § 17 Bundesmeldegesetz — Anmeldung, Abmeldung — https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bmg/__17.html ### What is the fine for registering your address late in Germany? Up to €1,000. Late or missing registration is an Ordnungswidrigkeit under § 54 Abs. 3 of the Bundesmeldegesetz, carrying a fine of up to €1,000. In practice many offices issue a warning or a much smaller amount for a first, briefly late registration — but the legal ceiling is €1,000. Source: § 54 Bundesmeldegesetz — Bußgeldvorschriften — https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bmg/__54.html ### What level of German do you need for German citizenship? B1. § 10 of the Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz requires applicants for naturalisation to pass a language examination at level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference, on a baseline of five years' lawful residence in Germany. Reduced standards apply to children under 16, to pre-1974/1990 guest and contract workers, and in hardship cases where reaching B1 is genuinely not possible despite serious effort. Source: § 10 Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz — Einbürgerung — https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stag/__10.html ### How many hours is the German Integrationskurs? The language course is 600 teaching hours. § 11 of the Integrationskursverordnung sets the Sprachkurs at 600 Unterrichtsstunden, divided into a basic phase and an advanced phase of three sections each. The separate Orientierungskurs on German law, culture and history is additional to those 600 hours and is set elsewhere in the ordinance. Source: § 11 Integrationskursverordnung — Sprachkurs — https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/intv/__11.html ### How much does the Integrationskurs cost? The law does not set a fixed euro amount. § 9 of the Integrationskursverordnung sets a participant contribution of 50% of the Kostenerstattungssatz in force on the day you register — a rate that changes over time, which is why any fixed €/hour figure you find online goes out of date. You are exempt from the contribution if you receive SGB II, SGB XII or Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz benefits, receive unemployment benefit under SGB III, earn no more than 33% of the statutory pension contribution ceiling, or would face undue hardship. Complete the course successfully within two years and you can reclaim half of what you paid. Source: § 9 Integrationskursverordnung — Kostenbeitrag — https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/intv/__9.html ### What is the minimum wage in Germany? €13.90 per hour gross, effective 1 January 2026. The Mindestlohngesetz itself doesn't fix a number in its text — it sets up a Mindestlohnkommission that recommends a rate every two years, which the federal government then sets by ordinance. €13.90 is the rate the commission recommended on 27 June 2025 and the government adopted for 2026; a further rise to €14.60 is already scheduled for 1 January 2027. Source: Mindestlohn steigt zum 1. Januar 2026 auf 13,90 Euro — https://www.bmas.de/DE/Service/Presse/Pressemitteilungen/2025/mindestlohn-steigt-zum-ersten-januar-2026.html ### How much can I earn in a Minijob before it stops being a Minijob? €603 per month, for 2026. § 8 SGB IV does not set a euro figure directly — it defines the Minijob ceiling as a formula: the statutory minimum wage x 130, divided by 3, rounded up to the next full euro. At the 2026 minimum wage of €13.90/hour that computes to €602.33, rounded up to €603. Because the formula is tied to the minimum wage, this number moves whenever that does — most recently it changed alongside the 1 January 2026 wage rise. Source: § 8 SGB IV — Geringfügige Beschäftigung — https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_4/__8.html ### How many hours can I work as a Werkstudent without losing student status? 20 hours per week during lecture periods (Vorlesungszeit). Go over that regularly and the Werkstudentenprivileg lapses — your studies are no longer considered the main focus of your time, and you become liable for the full employee share of health, nursing-care and unemployment insurance contributions, not just pension insurance. You can work more than 20 hours/week during semester breaks (Semesterferien) without losing the privilege. If you hold more than one job, your employer must check the combined hours across all of them, not just the one you're being paid for at that employer. Source: Werkstudentenprivileg (Lexikon) — https://www.deutsche-rentenversicherung.de/DRV/DE/Experten/Arbeitgeber-und-Steuerberater/summa-summarum/Lexikon/W/werkstudentenprivileg ### How many days a year can an international student work in Germany? 140 full days, or 280 half days, per calendar year — tracked on what the immigration office calls an Arbeitstagekonto (work-day account). A day with up to 4 hours worked counts as a half day; more than 4 hours counts as a full day. This limit applies to non-EU/EEA/Swiss students on a study residence permit; it does not apply to EU, EEA or Swiss citizens, who have unrestricted access to the German labour market. Work beyond the 140/280-day limit needs prior approval from both the Ausländerbehörde and the Bundesagentur für Arbeit — exceeding it without approval can carry a fine of up to €5,000. Source: § 16b Aufenthaltsgesetz — Studium — https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__16b.html ### What is the maximum rental deposit (Kaution) a landlord can ask for in Germany? Three times the cold monthly rent (Kaltmiete) — the base rent excluding utility cost pass-throughs. § 551 BGB sets this as a hard ceiling for residential leases; a clause demanding more is unenforceable for the excess. Landlords are also required to keep the deposit in an account separate from their own assets, earning interest for the tenant (unless you've agreed otherwise in writing), and you're legally allowed to pay it in three equal monthly instalments starting from the beginning of the tenancy. Source: § 551 BGB — Begrenzung der Mietsicherheit — https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__551.html ### Do I have to pay the estate agent's commission (Maklerprovision) when renting in Germany? No — not if the landlord hired the agent, which is the normal case. Since 1 June 2015, the Bestellerprinzip (§ 2 Abs. 1a WoVermRG) makes whoever commissioned the broker responsible for their fee: usually the landlord, since they're the one who asked the agent to find a tenant. An agent may only charge you, the renter, if you specifically and separately hired them to find you a place. A landlord or agent asking you to pay a 'finder's fee' as a condition of the lease itself is very likely acting outside the law. Source: § 2 WoVermRG — Bestellerprinzip — https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/wovermrg/__2.html ## Guides - [How to Register Your Address (Anmeldung)](https://www.firstweek.de/guides/anmeldung): The Anmeldung is your first and most critical bureaucratic step in Germany. Without it, you cannot open a bank account, receive your tax ID, or access most public services. - [Opening a German Bank Account](https://www.firstweek.de/guides/bank-account): A German bank account is essential for receiving your salary, paying rent, and accessing most German services. The process has become much easier with digital banks. - [Getting a German SIM Card](https://www.firstweek.de/guides/sim-card): A German phone number is one of the first things you need, banks, doctors, and landlords all require one. Getting a prepaid SIM is fast and cheap. - [Setting Up Health Insurance in Germany](https://www.firstweek.de/guides/health-insurance): Health insurance is mandatory in Germany from day one. As a student under 30, you qualify for the heavily subsidised student rate of around €120/month. - [Getting Your Tax ID (Steuerliche Identifikationsnummer)](https://www.firstweek.de/guides/tax-id): Your German tax ID (IdNr) is an 11-digit number automatically assigned after your Anmeldung. You need it for employment, tax refunds, and pension contributions. - [Using Your Blocked Account](https://www.firstweek.de/guides/blocked-account): If you used a blocked account (Sperrkonto) to get your student visa, you need to set up monthly withdrawals once you arrive. Here's how to unlock your funds. - [The TV Tax (Rundfunkbeitrag) Explained](https://www.firstweek.de/guides/rundfunkbeitrag): The Rundfunkbeitrag is Germany's mandatory €18.36/month broadcasting licence fee. Every household pays it, regardless of whether you own a TV. - [The Deutschland-Ticket Explained](https://www.firstweek.de/guides/deutschland-ticket): The Deutschland-Ticket (D-Ticket) is a monthly subscription for €58 that gives you unlimited access to all local and regional public transport across Germany. - [How to Get a SCHUFA Report (and Why Landlords Want It)](https://www.firstweek.de/guides/schufa): Almost every German landlord asks for a SCHUFA-BonitätsAuskunft, proof of your credit standing, before they hand over a flat. As a new arrival you have no SCHUFA history yet, which is completely normal. Here's how to get the report and what to do when you have none. ## Cities - [Munich](https://www.firstweek.de/cities/munich): Orientation for Munich, Bavaria — universities, neighbourhoods, Anmeldung and transport links. - [Berlin](https://www.firstweek.de/cities/berlin): Orientation for Berlin, Berlin — universities, neighbourhoods, Anmeldung and transport links. - [Hamburg](https://www.firstweek.de/cities/hamburg): Orientation for Hamburg, Hamburg — universities, neighbourhoods, Anmeldung and transport links. - [Frankfurt](https://www.firstweek.de/cities/frankfurt): Orientation for Frankfurt, Hesse — universities, neighbourhoods, Anmeldung and transport links. - [Cologne](https://www.firstweek.de/cities/cologne): Orientation for Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia — universities, neighbourhoods, Anmeldung and transport links. - [Stuttgart](https://www.firstweek.de/cities/stuttgart): Orientation for Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg — universities, neighbourhoods, Anmeldung and transport links. - [Düsseldorf](https://www.firstweek.de/cities/dusseldorf): Orientation for Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia — universities, neighbourhoods, Anmeldung and transport links. - [Leipzig](https://www.firstweek.de/cities/leipzig): Orientation for Leipzig, Saxony — universities, neighbourhoods, Anmeldung and transport links. - [Dresden](https://www.firstweek.de/cities/dresden): Orientation for Dresden, Saxony — universities, neighbourhoods, Anmeldung and transport links. - [Nuremberg](https://www.firstweek.de/cities/nuremberg): Orientation for Nuremberg, Bavaria — universities, neighbourhoods, Anmeldung and transport links. - [Hannover](https://www.firstweek.de/cities/hannover): Orientation for Hannover, Lower Saxony — universities, neighbourhoods, Anmeldung and transport links. - [Bremen](https://www.firstweek.de/cities/bremen): Orientation for Bremen, Bremen — universities, neighbourhoods, Anmeldung and transport links. - [Freiburg](https://www.firstweek.de/cities/freiburg): Orientation for Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg — universities, neighbourhoods, Anmeldung and transport links. - [Bonn](https://www.firstweek.de/cities/bonn): Orientation for Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia — universities, neighbourhoods, Anmeldung and transport links. - [Heidelberg](https://www.firstweek.de/cities/heidelberg): Orientation for Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg — universities, neighbourhoods, Anmeldung and transport links. - [Ingolstadt](https://www.firstweek.de/cities/ingolstadt): Orientation for Ingolstadt, Bavaria — universities, neighbourhoods, Anmeldung and transport links. - [Aachen](https://www.firstweek.de/cities/aachen): Orientation for Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia — universities, neighbourhoods, Anmeldung and transport links. - [Regensburg](https://www.firstweek.de/cities/regensburg): Orientation for Regensburg, Bavaria — universities, neighbourhoods, Anmeldung and transport links. - [Augsburg](https://www.firstweek.de/cities/augsburg): Orientation for Augsburg, Bavaria — universities, neighbourhoods, Anmeldung and transport links. - [Münster](https://www.firstweek.de/cities/muenster): Orientation for Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia — universities, neighbourhoods, Anmeldung and transport links. - [Mannheim](https://www.firstweek.de/cities/mannheim): Orientation for Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg — universities, neighbourhoods, Anmeldung and transport links. - [Mainz](https://www.firstweek.de/cities/mainz): Orientation for Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate — universities, neighbourhoods, Anmeldung and transport links. - [Kiel](https://www.firstweek.de/cities/kiel): Orientation for Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein — universities, neighbourhoods, Anmeldung and transport links. - [Karlsruhe](https://www.firstweek.de/cities/karlsruhe): Orientation for Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg — universities, neighbourhoods, Anmeldung and transport links. - [Jena](https://www.firstweek.de/cities/jena): Orientation for Jena, Thuringia — universities, neighbourhoods, Anmeldung and transport links. - [Dortmund](https://www.firstweek.de/cities/dortmund): Orientation for Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia — universities, neighbourhoods, Anmeldung and transport links. ## Guides beyond bureaucracy - [Getting a job in Germany](https://www.firstweek.de/jobs): German CV conventions, which job platforms to use, and the current minimum wage, Minijob threshold, Werkstudent hour cap and non-EU student work-day limit, cited to statute/official source. - [How to study in Germany](https://www.firstweek.de/study-in-germany): Universität vs. Hochschule vs. Duale Hochschule, uni-assist, hochschulstart, APS and anabin explained. - [German student visa process](https://www.firstweek.de/student-visa): the universal steps (APS certificate, blocked account, Consular Services Portal, VFS Global appointment) plus a country-by-country table of where APS and CSP actually apply. - [Hidden costs of moving to Germany](https://www.firstweek.de/hidden-costs): the legal deposit cap, the Bestellerprinzip agency-fee rule, Nebenkosten, semester fees and SCHUFA — cited to statute where the law sets a hard rule. - [Insurance beyond health cover](https://www.firstweek.de/insurance): Haftpflicht, Hausrat and Rechtsschutz insurance explained — what each covers, no premiums quoted. - [Learning German as a newcomer](https://www.firstweek.de/learn-german): which of the five German-course systems applies to you (state-funded Integrationskurs, university language centre, municipal Volkshochschule, free self-study), and the CEFR level the law requires. ## Optional - [All cities](https://www.firstweek.de/cities) - [Sources & data policy](https://www.firstweek.de/sources): every source behind the figures on this site, what each one can and cannot support, and when it was last checked. - [Privacy policy](https://www.firstweek.de/privacy) - [Terms](https://www.firstweek.de/terms)