EU Student Germany Document Checklist — 2026
Track every document you need before and after arriving in Germany.
Your progress
0 / 21 complete
✓ You're ready. All documents checked — good luck with your move!
🪪
Identity Document
0 / 1
✓
Valid national ID card or passport — check it covers your full study period
Priority
🎓
University Admission
0 / 3
✓
University acceptance letter (Zulassungsbescheid) received
Priority
✓
Enrollment confirmed — Immatrikulationsbescheinigung issued by university
✓
Semester fee paid (Semesterbeitrag) — required to complete enrollment
🏥
Health Insurance
0 / 3
✓
EHIC card valid and not expired
Priority
✓
EHIC exemption certificate (Befreiung) obtained from a German insurer — OR German student health insurance policy confirmed
Priority
✓
Insurance document submitted to university admissions office
🏠
Housing & Address Registration
0 / 4
✓
Signed rental contract or Wohnungsgeberbestätigung from landlord
Priority
✓
Anmeldung (address registration) appointment booked at local Bürgeramt
✓
Anmeldung completed — Meldebescheinigung (registration certificate) received
✓
Copies of Meldebescheinigung made — needed for bank, employer, insurer
📄
Academic Records
0 / 3
✓
Secondary school leaving certificate (Abitur equivalent) — original and copies
✓
Prior university transcripts (if applicable)
✓
Certified translations arranged if documents are not in German or English
💳
Banking & Finances
0 / 3
✓
Proof of financial means — bank statement, scholarship letter, or parental support letter
✓
German bank account opened (requires Meldebescheinigung + Immatrikulationsbescheinigung)
✓
BAföG application submitted if eligible as EU citizen
📸
Practical Essentials
0 / 4
✓
At least 6 biometric passport photos
✓
Digital copies of all documents stored in cloud (email or Drive)
✓
German SIM card or mobile plan sorted
✓
Tax ID (Steueridentifikationsnummer) — arrives by post after Anmeldung, keep it safe