Moving to Berlin as a Doctor: The Practical Guide

You have passed your exams, received your Approbation (or Berufserlaubnis), and accepted a position at a Berlin hospital. Congratulations — now comes the part nobody prepared you for: actually moving to Berlin and setting up your life. This guide covers the essential bureaucratic and practical steps, in the order that works.

Before you arrive

Open a blocked account (Sperrkonto) if your visa requires it. Book temporary accommodation for your first two to four weeks — you need a registered address before you can do almost anything else, and finding a permanent apartment takes time. Bring certified copies of your degree, your Approbation/Berufserlaubnis, your passport, and at least two biometric photos.

Week 1: Anmeldung (city registration)

Your first priority is the Anmeldung — registering your address at the Bürgeramt. You need this for everything: bank account, health insurance, tax ID, employment contract. Book the appointment online at service.berlin.de as soon as you have a confirmed address. Bring your passport, rental contract (or Wohnungsgeberbestätigung from your landlord), and the registration form (Anmeldung bei einer Meldebehörde).

Week 1–2: Bank account

With your Anmeldung confirmation, open a German bank account. N26 or DKB are popular with expats and can be opened quickly. Traditional banks (Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank) are also fine but may take longer. You need a German IBAN for your salary, health insurance and rent.

Week 2: Health insurance

Germany requires health insurance for all residents. As an employed doctor, you will typically join a gesetzliche Krankenkasse (public health insurer) — TK, AOK, Barmer and DAK are the largest. Your employer deducts contributions automatically. If your salary is above the Versicherungspflichtgrenze (currently around €69,300), you may opt for private insurance (PKV) — but this is a significant decision with long-term implications. Get advice before switching.

Week 2–3: Tax ID and salary

Your tax identification number (Steuerliche Identifikationsnummer) is mailed automatically after Anmeldung — it takes one to three weeks. Your employer needs it to calculate your tax correctly. In the meantime, they can use a temporary tax class, but you will want the real one as soon as possible.

Ongoing: Apartment hunting

Berlin is competitive for housing. Expect to spend two to eight weeks finding a permanent apartment. Use Immobilienscout24, WG-Gesucht, and eBay Kleinanzeigen. Prepare a Bewerbungsmappe (application folder) with your Schufa report, Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung (proof you owe no rent elsewhere), salary slips and ID. Landlords receive dozens of applications — a complete, professional folder makes you stand out.

The Schufa: Your German credit score

The Schufa Holding AG maintains credit scores for residents of Germany. You build a Schufa score by having a German bank account, phone contract, and paying bills on time. Landlords almost always require a Schufa-Auskunft (self-disclosure report). Order yours at meineschufa.de as soon as you have a bank account.

Other essentials

Register for the Rundfunkbeitrag (broadcast fee, €18.36/month — mandatory). Set up your utilities (electricity is often separate from the rental contract — check Verivox or Check24 for the best rates). Get a German SIM card. Register with the Ärztekammer Berlin if you have not already. Join the Marburger Bund (the doctors' union) for contract advice and workplace support.

Berlin is a fantastic city for international doctors — diverse, affordable by Western European standards, and home to some of the best hospitals in Germany. The bureaucracy is real, but it is finite. Get through it systematically and you will be settled in a month.