Arriving in the Ruhrgebiet
Bank account & health insurance
Having a current bank account to manage your own financial affairs is one of the basic building blocks of life in Germany. It is necessary for salary payments or social benefits. But health insurance is also an extremely important form of protection for the individual, as illness can strike anyone at any time. This is why health insurance has been compulsory in Germany since 2009. It is linked to the place of residence. As a rule, anyone who lives in Germany for more than six months a year must take out insurance here.
Health insurance
As a rule, you can choose which health insurance company you would like to be insured with. However, there are different types of insurance. Which health insurance is suitable for you depends on your income and professional status or residence status. A basic distinction is made between the following types of health insurance:
- Statutory health insurance
- Private health insurance
- Incoming insurance (option for language students, interns, university applicants, researchers, job seekers, doctoral students from abroad)
Important: Health insurance cover is generally compulsory in Germany and non-compliance can be penalised with fines.
Further basic information on the different types of health insurance, how to register, which health insurance funds are available and what rights and obligations you have can be found here.
You can find an overview of all statutory health insurance companies here.
Bank account
You need a German bank account so that you can rent a flat or transfer your salary. You can open this at a German bank of your choice. You will need the following documents to open the account:
- Identity card or passport
- Registration certificate
- depending on the account type, a wage statement
- depending on the bank, a work permit
Ask the bank directly whether a salary certificate and/or work permit is required. As soon as you have the above-mentioned documents complete, make an appointment to open a current account with an EC card. Depending on the bank, you can do this by telephone or online. You can find information on this on the bank's website. By the way, many banks in the Ruhr region offer advice in several languages.