Field note · 22 March 2026
Your first working week in Germany: a practical sequence
Organise arrival contact, accommodation records, address registration, insurance and working-time notes without trying to do everything at once.
The first week combines travel fatigue, new colleagues, unfamiliar shifts and administration. A short sequence keeps important details from being lost.
Before the first shift
Confirm who meets you, how keys are collected, and what to do if transport is delayed. Photograph the condition of staff accommodation on arrival and report existing damage promptly. Store the employer’s address and one direct contact offline.
Keep originals under your control
An employer may need to inspect documents or receive copies for payroll. Keep your passport or identity card with you unless an authority requires it for a defined process. Never leave account passwords or payment cards with another person.
Ask about address registration
If you establish a residence, the local registration office usually requires an appointment and landlord confirmation. Procedures and appointment availability vary by municipality. Check the official website for your town rather than relying only on a colleague’s older experience.
Confirm health insurance and payroll details
Clarify which health insurer has been notified and whether more information is needed. Ask payroll where to send your tax identification number when received. Individual tax and insurance questions should go to the relevant body or a qualified adviser.
Record working time from day one
Maintain your own simple record of start, end and break times, even if the workplace has a clock-in system. Compare it with payslips and overtime balances. Raise differences while dates are still easy to remember.
The week does not need to be administratively perfect. It does need a reliable trail of names, dates, documents and questions.