You passed your language exam. You signed your contract. You survived the visa process. You landed in Germany. Now what?
The first year in Germany is exciting, challenging, and sometimes overwhelming – all at the same time. This guide covers everything practical: banking, housing, health insurance, food, transport, making friends, and handling homesickness.
The First 14 Days: Your Administrative Priority List
- Anmeldung (Address Registration) – Register at your local Einwohnermeldeamt within 14 days. You receive a Meldebescheinigung – needed for almost everything.
- Open a German Bank Account – N26 (online, fast), DKB (free), or Deutsche Bank.
- Health Insurance Card – Your employer registers you with TK, AOK, or similar. Card arrives within 1-2 weeks.
- Ausländerbehörde – Visit immigration office to convert visa to §16a residence permit if required.
- Tax ID (Steueridentifikationsnummer) – Arrives automatically by post after Anmeldung.
💡 Pro Tip: Bring multiple copies of every document to every administrative appointment. Germans love paperwork and always ask for copies.
Housing: What to Expect
Types of Housing
- Employer-provided accommodation: Many hospitals, hotels, and care homes offer subsidised rooms. The easiest option.
- Shared flat (WG – Wohngemeinschaft): Renting a room in a shared apartment. WG-Gesucht.de, Immoscout24.de.
- Studio or 1-bedroom: Harder to secure as a first arrival. Better after 6+ months in Germany.
| City Type | WG Room /per month | Studio /per month |
|---|---|---|
| Major city (Munich, Frankfurt) | €800–€1,200 | €1,200 –€2,000 |
| Mid-size city | €600 –€900 | €900 – €1,400 |
| Smaller cities | €350 –€600 | €550 –€850 |
⚠️ Watch Out: German landlords typically require 2-3 months deposit (Kaution) and a Schufa credit check. Employer-provided accommodation or a WG room is much easier to secure in your first year.
Money: Managing Your Salary
| Gross Salary | Approx. Net Take-Home |
|---|---|
| €800/month | ~€640-660/month |
| €1,000/month | ~€800-820/month |
| €1,200/month | ~€960-990/month |
| €1,400/month | ~€1,100-1,150/month |
Sample Monthly Budget (WG room, mid-size city)
| Expense | Approx. Cost |
|---|---|
| Rent (WG, all inclusive) | €500 – €700 |
| Food and groceries | €150 – €250 |
| Public transport | €30 – €100 |
| Phone plan | €10 – €25 |
| Entertainment | €50 – €100 |
| Remittances (optional) | €50 – €200 |
💡 Pro Tip: Aldi, Lidl, Penny, and Netto are Germany’s most affordable supermarkets. A full week of groceries typically costs €30-50 for one person.
Getting Around: Public Transport
- Monthly pass (Monatskarte): €30-100 depending on city
- Deutschlandticket: €49/month for all local and regional transport across Germany – one of the best deals for Azubi
- Bicycle: Fast, safe, and free in most German cities. Used bikes €50-150.
🌍 Culture Check: Germans follow traffic rules strictly. Do not cross a red pedestrian light even if there are no cars. Jaywalking is technically a minor offence.
Food: What to Expect
- Schnitzel – breaded pork or cutlet
- Bratwurst – grilled sausage
- Döner Kebab – Turkey-German fusion street food, €4-6
- Bread (Brot) – 300+ varieties. German supermarkets have excellent bakeries
💡 Pro Tip: Filipino ingredients like rice, patis, and soy sauce are available in Asian supermarkets in most German cities. Search for Asiamarkt or Filipino Store near you.
Managing Homesickness
Almost every Filipino trainee experiences homesickness in the first 3-6 months. The quiet Sundays, the cold weather, the language barrier, missing family – it is all real and it is completely normal.
What helps:
- Connect with the Filipino community in your city – most German cities have active Filipino Facebook groups
- Video call family regularly – but also set limits to help yourself settle in
- Make German friends at your Berufsschule and workplace
- Explore your city – Germany has beautiful old towns, parks, lakes, Christmas markets
- Give yourself 6 months – most Filipino trainees say everything feels much more manageable after that
🌍 Culture Check: Germans can seem cold or distant at first. This is mostly cultural, not personal. Once you build trust, German friends are loyal and genuinely warm.
Download Our First Year in Germany Guide
Our team at AusbildungForFilipinos has helped hundreds of Filipinos navigate their first year in Germany – from finding housing to managing homesickness.