Anmeldung, SIM Card, Bank Account: Your First Week in Ingolstadt

You've arrived, the suitcase is unpacked, and the first day at Audi, THI or your new project is behind you. Now German bureaucracy is waiting. It's less painful than its reputation suggests, provided you do things in the right order.

If you haven't arrived yet, start with our guide Moving to Ingolstadt for Work, which covers accommodation, transport and daily life. This article picks up where that one ends: the paperwork.

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Step 1: Anmeldung: Registering Your Address

The Anmeldung is the key that unlocks almost everything else in Germany. Your tax ID, most bank accounts, phone contracts, they all trace back to it. So it goes first.

Do you even need it? That depends on your stay. If you're here for a short project and keep your registered residence abroad, short stays in hotel-style accommodation generally don't trigger a registration requirement. The obligation kicks in for longer stays, typically once you pass the three-month mark or move into a regular flat. If you're relocating properly, register within two weeks of moving in.

Where: The Bürgeramt of the city of Ingolstadt. Book an appointment online in advance, because walk-ins can mean long waits.

What to bring:

• Passport or national ID
• The Wohnungsgeberbestätigung, a confirmation from your landlord that you live at the address. If you're staying at 21rooms long term and need one, just contact us and we'll provide it.
• The registration form, available online or at the office

The appointment itself usually takes minutes. You'll leave with a Meldebescheinigung, the registration certificate. Keep it, you'll need it again.

What happens next: Your Steuer-ID, the tax identification number, is generated automatically after your first Anmeldung and arrives by post within a few weeks. Payroll will ask for it, and until it arrives you may be taxed at the highest rate, so hand it over as soon as you have it.

The Anmeldung also triggers the Rundfunkbeitrag, Germany's broadcast licence fee of roughly 18 euros per month. You'll get a letter about it. It applies per dwelling, not per person, so in a shared flat only one person pays.

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Step 2: A German SIM Card

Your EU SIM roams fine in Germany. But non-EU visitors and anyone staying longer will want a local number, because German services, delivery drivers and two-factor authentication all work more smoothly with one.

One thing that surprises people: German law requires identity verification even for prepaid SIMs. Activation happens via video identification or in a shop with your passport. It takes a few minutes, not days.

Your options:

• Prepaid: Available in supermarkets and drugstores, with budget brands running on the big networks. Cheapest way to get started, no contract, no SCHUFA check.
• Contract: Better rates for heavy data users, but usually requires a German bank account and address registration. Another reason to do the Anmeldung first.
• eSIM: Most providers now offer activation entirely online. The fastest option if your phone supports it.

Coverage in Ingolstadt is good across all three networks (Telekom, Vodafone, O2), including at both Audi sites and in the old town.

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Step 3: A German Bank Account

Do you need one? For a three-month project, often not. International cards work almost everywhere, though it's wise to carry some cash. For anything longer, a German account or at least a German IBAN makes life easier: salary payments, rent, phone contracts, the gym.

Two routes. Online banks let you open an account in minutes via app and video identification, usually free and with English-language interfaces. For most expats this is the pragmatic choice, and some don't even require a German Anmeldung to get started.

Branch banks, Sparkasse, Volksbank, the major private banks, all have locations in Ingolstadt. Worth it if you want in-person service or expect to need something like a rental deposit account. Bring your passport, your Meldebescheinigung and, sometimes, proof of income.

Worth knowing: German bank transfers (SEPA) are the default for rent and bills, and direct debit (Lastschrift) handles most recurring payments automatically once set up.

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Step 4: Non-EU Nationals Only: the Residence Permit

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can skip this section. Everyone else: your visa usually covers entry, but longer stays require a residence permit from the Ausländerbehörde, the foreigners' office. Book that appointment early, since waiting times can run to weeks. Your employer's HR department, Audi and the larger suppliers do this routinely, or the THI international office will guide you through the specifics, which depend on your nationality and visa type.

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Your First-Week Checklist

• Bürgeramt appointment booked, or confirmed you don't need Anmeldung yet
• Wohnungsgeberbestätigung obtained from your landlord
• SIM card activated and German number saved
• Bank account opened, or decided you don't need one yet
• Steuer-ID forwarded to payroll once it arrives
• Non-EU: Ausländerbehörde appointment booked

That's the bureaucracy done. Now the better part of settling in begins, exploring Bavaria by train on your first free weekend, for instance.

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A Base That Makes the First Weeks Easy

The first weeks in a new country go more smoothly when housing simply works. Check-in without a reception desk, your own kitchen, fast Wi-Fi, weekly cleaning, and a landlord who provides the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung without fuss. That's what our serviced apartments in the old town are built for, with better rates the longer you stay.

Check availability at 21rooms, central location, weekly and monthly rates, company invoice on request.

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