Follow your route.
Relocation is a sequence, and getting the order wrong costs months. Built backwards from moving day — the titer test, the apostilles, the consulate — so starting today tells you your earliest landing.
Paperwork & visa track
12–31 WEEKS TOTAL · RANGES, NOT PROMISES — CONSULATES VARY
Papers for this route — EU Blue Card
The most common refusal cause isn't a missing paper — it's one that was valid when obtained but expired by submission. Watch the clocks below.
Government fees: National visa €75; §81a fast-track agreement €411 (employer-paid); residence-card fee on issue
Applies to every foreign document: Every foreign public document needs legalisation/apostille + a sworn German translation (beglaubigte Übersetzung); the qualification must be recognised in ANABIN (or via a formal recognition/Anerkennung)
- Recognised university degree (ANABIN entry or Anerkennungsbescheid)no expiry clock
The single most common rejection cause — the degree must be listed in ANABIN as 'H+' or formally recognised; a mismatch between degree field and job role also fails.
Official page - Employment contract / binding job offer with base salary above the thresholdno expiry clock
Base salary only; bonuses and variable pay do NOT count toward the threshold.
Official page - Passport, biometric photos, proof of health insurance≤90 days old at filing
GKV or an approved PKV policy from day one of employment.
3 DOCUMENTS · CONSERVATIVE VALIDITY WINDOWS — SOURCES: MAKE-IT-IN-GERMANY.COM — EU BLUE CARD (OFFICIAL PORTAL, READ 26 JUL 2026) · §18G AUFENTHG
After you land — Germany's clock starts
- Anmeldung (register your address at the Bürgeramt)within 14 days
The keystone step — gates the tax ID, bank, insurance, and residence permit. Book the Termin BEFORE you arrive; slots vanish in Berlin/Munich.
- Receive tax ID (Steuer-ID) by post
Arrives automatically ~2 weeks after Anmeldung.
- Open a bank account + take out health insurance (GKV/PKV)
Anmeldung certificate usually required first.
- Residence-permit appointment at the Ausländerbehörde
The long-lead item — book early; a Fiktionsbescheinigung bridges legal status if your prior permit expires first.
- Convert Turkish driving licence (theory + practical test)within 180 days
Turkish licence valid only 6 months after Anmeldung; start the Fahrschule process immediately.
Full conditions, documents and sources live in the Germany country file →