What to Sort Out Before Moving to Germany – A Document and Task Checklist

The most costly relocation mistakes are the ones you discover only after arriving in Germany: a document you never got, a missing certification, a contract back home that's still running. This checklist covers everything you need to take care of before you leave — compiled from the experience of candidates we've supported through the process. Documents for diploma recognition and your visa were submitted long ago. This is the "everything else."

Documents to Obtain in Original, with Translation and Apostille

German authorities require multilingual (international) certificates or certified translations. For documents from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and North Macedonia, an Apostille stamp is also required (obtained at a municipal or district court, depending on the country). Get two copies of each:

• birth certificate (for every family member coming with you);
• marriage certificate; divorce decree if you were previously married;
• certificate of citizenship;
• police clearance certificate (issued by the police; valid for six months — obtain it as close to your departure date as possible);
• employment confirmation letters from all previous employers, stating your job title, duties, and period of employment — request these on official letterhead with a stamp;
• for doctors: specialist qualification certificate, chamber licence, and Certificate of Good Standing — no older than three months;
• vaccination record (measles vaccination is mandatory for healthcare work; hepatitis B is strongly recommended), plus children's health booklets;
• driving licence and, if possible, your driving record extract — for information on the exchange process, see Driving Licence in Germany;
• a no-claims bonus letter from your home insurer (this reduces your car insurance premium in Germany).

Have judicial translations done by a certified translator for the German language. German authorities generally accept translations certified in Serbia or Bosnia and Herzegovina, but some require a translator sworn in Germany — check the requirements in your recognition decision.

Money and Banking

• Open or keep a foreign currency account at home for sending money to family and for any potential return — more on this in Sending Money and Double Taxation.
• Notify your bank that you're moving abroad and activate online banking. Replace any cards expiring soon before you leave.
• Any loans you have at home remain your responsibility — set up a standing order or authorise a family member to handle payments.
• Bring cash for the first month: a security deposit, first month's rent, registration fees, and everyday expenses typically require between €1,500 and €3,000 before your first German salary arrives at the end of your first full working month. If your employer provides an advance or accommodation, this will be stated in your contract.

Health and Social Insurance at Home

• Statutory health insurance in Germany starts on your first working day. For travel and the first few days before registration, bring a European Health Insurance Card or a private travel insurance policy.
• Request a record of your insurance contributions (a pension statement) from your home fund — this is needed for pension entitlements under bilateral social security agreements. Read more in Pension in Germany and Returning Home.
• If you're registered with the employment office, deregister before you leave. If you're paying voluntary insurance, decide whether to keep it running.
• Chronic medications: bring a two-to-three month supply and medical records in English or German, as your German doctor will rely on these for continuity of care.

Military Registration, Courts, and Taxes

• If you're a military conscript in Serbia, report your change of residence or stay abroad to your local military department. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, no such obligation applies.
• Verify that you have no open court or tax proceedings, and settle any outstanding utility bills. Debt doesn't disappear — and Germany requires a clean police clearance certificate.
• Home country tax return for your year of departure: if you were employed, your employer will have handled the calculation. Self-employed individuals need to file a final return.

Apartment, Contracts, and Mail

• Cancel or transfer your mobile plan, internet, cable, gym membership, and subscriptions — the standard notice period in the region is usually one month.
• If you're renting out your apartment: prepare a lease agreement and a signed authorisation for a family member to manage the property.
• Grant someone a notarised power of attorney for dealings at home (bank, municipal office, post) — these things are very difficult to manage remotely from Germany.
• Leave a forwarding address and make sure official correspondence (tax office, courts, military) is going to an address someone is actively checking.

Children and School

• School reports for every completed year, with translations; a certificate of enrolment for the current year (Germany places children by age, but the school will still require documentation).
• Vaccination booklet — German schools require proof of measles vaccination.
• If your children are joining you later: start the family reunification process as soon as you have a signed contract, as appointment waiting times can stretch to several months. See Family Reunification in Germany for details.

What to Pack

• All original documents in a folder that travels in your carry-on luggage, not in checked baggage.
• Passport-style photos (biometric, 35×45 mm) — photo booths in Germany cost €8 to €12, but you won't have easy access to one on your very first day.
• Don't bother packing a uniform — your employer provides it. Do bring your own work clogs if you have a preferred pair.
• No adapter needed (same plug type), but a power strip is useful.
• Medications, prescription glasses, and a little food from home — more comforting in those first weeks than it might sound.

One Week Before Departure

Double-check: your visa is in your passport and your entry date aligns with your contract start date; you have your employer's accommodation confirmation or the address of your flat; your travel tickets and transport from the airport are sorted; you have the phone number of your contact person at the hospital and at our office; copies of all documents are saved on your phone and in your email.

For your first weeks after arrival, see Anmeldung – Registering Your Address in Germany and Your First 30 Days in Germany.

Candidates we place receive a version of this checklist tailored to their country and profession, and we go through it together before departure. See what our relocation support looks like.