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In brief
After entry, registering the address, the residence permit at the foreigners authority, health insurance and a bank account are due. Many of these steps depend on one another, so it pays to plan the order in advance and to secure the accommodation before arrival. A fixed contact person in the company and time for appointments make the start easier than any brochure.
Before arrival
The start begins before the first day. The accommodation is settled, the address is known, and the landlord can issue the confirmation needed for registration. Without an address, the further steps can hardly be completed.
Name a fixed contact person in the company. This person knows the appointments, answers questions and is easy to reach in the first weeks. Arrange a deputy as well.
Agree on travel and pick-up. A pick-up at the station or airport costs little and leaves a lasting impression. A short note with addresses, emergency numbers and the way to work helps in the first days.
Also clarify how the skilled worker will have money in the first days, until the bank account and the first pay arrive. An advance is an arrangement, not an obligation, and should be put in writing.
- Accommodation with address and landlord's confirmation
- Contact person in the company and a deputy
- Appointments at the registration office and foreigners authority noted
- Papers for payroll prepared
Registering the address
Anyone moving into a home in Germany has to register with the registration office. A statutory deadline applies. The registration office will tell you what it is. Many cities give appointments online.
As a rule, the passport with the visa and the landlord's confirmation have to be brought along. Whoever provides the accommodation has to issue this confirmation.
The registration certificate is an important document. It is needed for many further steps, for example for the bank account. Keep a copy in the company if the skilled worker agrees.
If the skilled worker moves later, they have to register again. Remind them of this when the first accommodation comes to an end.
Residence permit at the foreigners authority
The visa is limited in time. The skilled worker applies for the residence permit at the foreigners authority at the place of residence while the visa is still valid. Appointments there are often scarce, so this point belongs at the start.
The authority names the papers. They usually include the passport, registration certificate, employment contract, proof of health insurance and a photo. Some authorities ask for further documents.
As the employer, you check whether the permit allows the employment. A copy belongs in the personnel file. Note when it has to be renewed.
Health insurance
Health insurance is compulsory in Germany. Employees are usually insured in the statutory health insurance. The skilled worker chooses the health insurance fund themselves.
The company registers the employment with the chosen fund. For this it needs the membership certificate or the name of the fund. Clarify the choice early for that reason.
For the time before the employment starts, separate cover may be needed, for example for the visa. The mission abroad will tell you which insurance applies.
Explain briefly how a visit to the doctor works in Germany. The insurance card, the family doctor's practice and reporting sick to the company are new to many.
Bank account
Pay is transferred to an account. An account in Germany is therefore one of the first steps. Banks usually ask for the passport, the residence document and the registration certificate.
Some banks open accounts online, others only in a branch. The requirements differ. Go along to the appointment if language is still a hurdle.
Pass the account details to payroll early. Without an account, the first payment is delayed.
Tax and social security
After registration, the skilled worker receives their tax identification number by post. Payroll needs it to apply the correct tax.
Social security has a number of its own. If it does not exist yet, the company requests it from the data office of the German pension insurance together with the social security notification. Both numbers belong in the payroll papers.
Explain the first payslip calmly. Deductions for tax and social security are new to many. Anyone who understands how their pay is made up trusts the company more.
Support in the first weeks
The first weeks are demanding. New work, a new language and many appointments come together. A buddy in the team who answers questions helps more than any brochure.
Plan time for appointments with authorities. Registration, the bank and the health insurance fund can hardly be done on the side. Going along to these appointments saves missed dates and builds trust.
Talk calmly with each other after the first weeks. Ask about the work, the accommodation and the family. That way small problems come up before they grow.
Regalis stays reachable for both sides in the first months. Induction and day-to-day leadership remain the company's task.
Frequently asked questions
What has to be done first after entry?
Registering the address and an appointment at the foreigners authority for the residence permit. Many further steps build on the registration certificate.
Who issues the landlord's confirmation?
Whoever provides the home. If the company provides the accommodation, it also issues the confirmation.
Does the skilled worker choose the health insurance fund?
Yes, in the statutory health insurance they choose their fund themselves. The company registers the employment there.
When does the tax identification number arrive?
By post after registration. Payroll needs it, so the skilled worker should pass it on straight away.
May we accompany the skilled worker to the authorities?
Yes, and it pays off. Going along to registration, the bank and the health insurance fund saves missed appointments and builds trust. Some offices require the skilled worker to appear in person.
- For Employers How Regalis works with employers: capture requirements, present candidates, coordinate entry and the start of work. Direct employment, no staff leasing.