Relocating to Frankfurt for ECB employees

Take care of your current living situation by:

giving notice to your current rental home

selling your home or

finding a tenant for the duration of your absence.

Cancel all your insurances and subscriptions you no longer need

Provide forwarding addresses where needed and set up mail forwarding

In some cases, you may wish to keep your bank account open while you are abroad. Arrange a meeting with your bank to discuss your options

Ensure you and all travelling family members have a passport which is valid for at least one year after you arrive in your new country. This will help you not to worry about a renewal until after you have completed the visa process.

Make a copy/scan of all important documents

Ensure seamless medical coverage

Divide your possessions into three piles:

What to bring with you to temporary housing

What to ship to your new permanent home with your moving company

What to keep in your home country in storage or at family/friends’ home

Cancel your utilities

If you are planning to exchange large amounts of currency, make sure you do your research and are finding a cost-effective solution. International bank transfers and currency exchange at your local bank can be expensive

If you are bringing your pets, please speak to your vet well in advance to prepare them for departure. Together you can make sure that they are provided with all certifications, vaccinations and, if necessary, quarantine arrangements that they need to be able to enter Germany. This process may take 2-3 months, depending on the pet you have. It can be a daunting process, and there are pet relocation specialists available who can assist you with the process.

If you have any chronic illnesses for which you need continuous treatment and medication, please speak to your doctor about providing your medical record to ensure seamless treatment.

Registration with local authorities

One of the first things you must do within the first two weeks of arrival is register yourself with the local authorities at the “Bürgeramt”. To register, you need to make an appointment online. You’ll then receive a registration certificate which will enable you to open a bank account, obtain a tax number, register your children for Kindergarten and/or school, etc.

Your landlord will provide you with a landlord certificate of residence (called “Wohnungsgeberbestätigung” – or short “WGB”) when you move in. Please note that all residents must be listed on the “WGB” and must also be registered, including small children. Please ensure the names match those on your passport.

You will have to bring the WGB and your passport to the registration appointment. There are several Bürgeramt locations across Frankfurt for you to choose from. Here is a link to a list and map to all office. If you hover over the location, you will see the address.

Tax ID general information

To ensure you are paying the correct amount of taxes, every person gets a tax ID. During your first registration, the clerk will initiate correspondence with the tax office and a tax ID will be generated and sent to you by mail within 4 weeks of your registration. As soon as you receive it, please share the tax id with your employer so that they can withhold the correct amount of taxes. Please inform yourself of tax classes applicable to you.

Tax ID general information

A German bank account is necessary for your employer to pay your salary. It also helps you save money by having a German IBAN when paying your German bills. There are a variety of banks with branches you can visit, as well as some online banks you may wish to consider. To open a bank account at a branch, you will have to make an appointment and bring the following documents:

Passport

Registration certificate

Tax ID

Some banks will provide you with the option to have your online banking in English. Please also note that, unlike in some other countries, certain banks will ask you to pay a monthly or yearly service fee for each account, each debit and credit card. Please check the applicable fees beforehand with the bank of your choice.

Banks will also charge you for bank statements sent to you by mail and over-the-counter services, such as a transfer. You can avoid these charges by requesting electronic bank statements and using online banking facilities to send money and pay bills.