Hamburg · Newcomer guide
Settling in Hamburg
Hamburg runs most services through its central hamburg.de portal, which often lets you start online. Work through the steps below — each guide lists the exact documents to bring.
Typical monthly cost in Hamburg: ~€1.980 (rent + essentials). See the full city guide →
When you arrive
Register your address (Anmeldung) in Hamburg
Anmeldung
Read the guide→Get your tax ID & tax class in Hamburg
Steuer-ID / Finanzamt
Read the guide→Open a bank account in Hamburg
Girokonto
Read the guide→Sign up for health insurance in Hamburg
Krankenversicherung
Read the guide→Apply for a residence permit in Hamburg
Aufenthaltstitel
Read the guide→Find a place to live in Hamburg
Wohnungssuche
Read the guide→Get a SIM or phone contract in Hamburg
Handyvertrag
Read the guide→Extend your residence permit in Hamburg
Aufenthaltstitel verlängern
Read the guide→As you settle in
Exchange your driving licence in Hamburg
Führerschein umschreiben
Read the guide→Claim child benefit (Kindergeld) in Hamburg
Kindergeld
Read the guide→Get a public transport ticket in Hamburg
Deutschlandticket
Read the guide→Register as a freelancer in Hamburg
Freiberufler anmelden
Read the guide→File an income-tax return in Hamburg
Einkommensteuererklärung
Read the guide→Register a car (Kfz-Zulassung) in Hamburg
Kfz-Zulassung
Read the guide→Apply for parental allowance (Elterngeld) in Hamburg
Elterngeld
Read the guide→Apply for housing benefit (Wohngeld) in Hamburg
Wohngeld
Read the guide→Find a daycare place (Kita) in Hamburg
Kita-Platz
Read the guide→Enrol your child in school in Hamburg
Schulanmeldung
Read the guide→Apply for German citizenship in Hamburg
Einbürgerung
Read the guide→Apply for permanent residence (Niederlassungserlaubnis) in Hamburg
Niederlassungserlaubnis
Read the guide→Get a German driving licence (driving school) in Hamburg
Führerschein / Fahrschule
Read the guide→Meet Amtly
🚧 Coming soonTrack your move to Hamburg 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 — optional end-to-end encrypted backup only you can unlock
- 💬Ask Amtly + a community of internationals who've done it