What to do first when arriving in Rostock?

Finding an apartment and registering

• the IOW offers guest rooms for up to 4 months --> to check the availability of these rooms please contact the secretary of the department

• if no guest room at the IOW is available or latest after 4 months of staying there, you should find an apartment of your own. You find some useful websites in here.
  

• if you stay longer than three months in Germany, please register your German address at the citizens' registration office (Ortsamt) that is responsible for your area that you live in --> Information for Rostock citizens

• the following documents are required before you go there:

  1. fill out the "Wohnungsgeberbestätigung" (landlord confirmation) and let it sign from your landlord
  2. your passport or ID card
     
  3. if you already have an address in Germany then bring the confirmation of your registration of that place
     

  If you move to Germany with your family (spouse, children) make sure they are mentioned on the form as well and they will have to go to the Ortsamt with you personally.
  

   

Finances / tax classes

When having registered at the Ortsamt you will automatically receive a German tax ID number (Steueridentifikationsnummer) that will be sent to you within a couple of weeks to your registered address. The tax ID number is important for your salary. If you do not register, you will be put to "Steuerklasse VI" which is the highest tax class with the highest tax deduction. As soon as you receive the letter from the "Bundeszentralamt für Steuern" (BZSt) send a copy to IOW's human ressources.

Tax class II is only intended for single parents. One of the prerequisites is that the single parent must live with at least one child to be considered for tax purposes.

The tax class with a married status is automatically tax class IV. Even if a spouse receives no salary, you are automatically classified in tax class 4. Tax class IV is useful for spouses who earn roughly the same amount. Married couples can change their tax classes to a III/V or IV/IV combination.

If you would like to have the tax class combination III/V, you must apply to the tax authority (Finanzamt).The change of the tax class cannot be done online. Therefore you must fill out this form (https://www.steuerklassen.com/content/antrag_steuerklassenwechsel.pdf) and send it to the "Finanzamt Rostock" (Möllner Strasse 13, 18109 Rostock).

Tax class VI is intended for employees who have two or more jobs. The second job (if it exceeds the mini job limit) is always taxed according to income tax class VI. Deductions are particularly high in tax class VI.

Opening a bank account

To have a German bank account is very important for receiving your salary as well as making contracts in Germany, i.e. mobile phone, renting an apartment, etc.

For opening a bank account you need your passport, temporary visa and the document for registration of your address.

Get a health insurance

Most Germans are members of the government health system (GKV), and for all employees it is mandatory. You can choose one health insurance out of about 113 health insurances in Germany. The basic rate is 14.6 % of your monthly gross salary.