newcomers · Germany
Newcomers in Germany
First steps, trusted services and people who have done it before you.
DEU×Newcomers
Newcomers · Germany · 37 public bodies
Germany · newcomers
Newcomers in Germany
First steps, trusted services and people who have done it before you.
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Germany
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First steps
This guide for Germany is being prepared and will be reviewed by a qualified professional. It gives information and referrals, never legal advice.
First steps
6 topics- 01Status and documents
Residence, asylum and family reunification: where to find official information and qualified help.
- 02Work and qualifications
Recognition of qualifications, licensing paths and first jobs.
- 03Language
Host-language courses and heritage-language schools.
- 04Health and wellbeing
Registering with health services and finding culturally competent care.
- 05Housing and money
Housing, banking and avoiding scams that target newcomers.
- 06Community
Meeting people safely: the local cell, events and mentors.
Public bodies for newcomers in Germany
37 public bodies, by what each one deals with. Each one is checked against its official page (last on 23 October 2026).
Settlement and integration
9 bodies- Migration counselling for adults (MBE)verified
Free counselling for adult immigrants on language, work, housing and family.
- Youth Migration Services (Jugendmigrationsdienste)verified
Free counselling for young people with a migration background aged 12 to 27.
- Handbook Germanyverified
Information on life in Germany and a local search for counselling services.
- Landesamt für Einwanderungverified
The immigration office for Berlin: residence permits and naturalisation.
- Hamburg Welcome Centerverified
Advice and residence services for people who move to Hamburg.
- City of Munichverified
The city's official portal for local services.
- City of Hanoververified
The city's official portal for local services.
- City of Düsseldorfverified
The city's official portal for local services.
- City of Bielefeldverified
The city's official portal for local services.
Study and research centres
5 bodies- Iranian Studies (Iranistik)verified
Teaching and research on Iranian languages, history and cultures.
- Kurdish language and literatureverified
Teaching and research in Kurdish language, history and literature, including Kurmanji and Sorani.
- Iranian Studies (Iranistik)verified
Teaching and research on Iranian languages and cultures. Kurdish is also taught.
- Iranian Studies (Iranistik)verified
Teaching and research on Iran and Iranian languages.
- Iranian Studies (Iranistik)verified
Teaching and research on Iranian languages, literature and history.
Asylum and refugee protection
3 bodies- Asylum and refugee protectionverified
How the asylum procedure works in Germany.
- UNHCR Help Germanysecondary
UNHCR guidance on asylum, rights and where to seek help in Germany.
- PRO ASYLverified
Information and advice for refugees and people seeking asylum.
Recognition of qualifications
3 bodies- Recognition in Germanyverified
The official portal for the recognition of professional qualifications from abroad.
- anabinverified
A database to check how school and higher education qualifications from abroad are assessed.
- IQ Network (Netzwerk IQ)verified
Advice on recognition and job entry for people with qualifications from abroad.
Arrival and status
2 bodies- Make it in Germanysecondary
The official portal for skilled workers moving to Germany: visas, recognition and work.
- Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF)verified
The federal office for asylum, integration courses and migration.
Health and mental health
2 bodies- Psychosocial centres for refugees (BAfF)to verify
A network of psychosocial centres for refugees and survivors of torture.
- TelefonSeelsorgeverified
Free, anonymous crisis support by phone and online, day and night.
Language learning
2 bodies- Integration coursesverified
Language and orientation courses for immigrants. The page explains who can attend and what it costs.
- Mein Weg nach Deutschlandverified
Free online German practice and information for life in Germany.
Legal help and discrimination
2 bodies- Federal Anti-Discrimination Agencyverified
Advice for people who face discrimination.
- Refugee Law Clinicsto verify
Free legal advice on asylum and residence from law student clinics.
Citizenship
1 body- Naturalisationverified
Conditions and steps for German citizenship.
Culture and festivals
1 body- Museum für Islamische Kunstverified
A museum of Islamic art with major works from Iran.
Disability
1 body- Einfach teilhabenverified
The federal portal for people with disabilities and their families.
Emergency numbers
1 body- 112 and 110verified
Call 112 for fire and ambulance. Call 110 for the police.
Work and business
1 body- Federal Employment Agencyverified
Job search, career advice and benefits for job seekers.
Family and women
1 body- Violence against Women Support Hotlineverified
Free, anonymous support for women, in 18 languages, day and night. Phone 116 016.
Mother-tongue and heritage languages
1 body- Heritage language teaching (Herkunftssprachlicher Unterricht)verified
State school teaching in heritage languages in North Rhine-Westphalia, including Farsi, Dari and Kurdish.
Housing
1 body- Looking for housingsecondary
How renting works in Germany and what to look out for.
Young people
1 body- Nummer gegen Kummerverified
Free, anonymous phone support for children, young people and parents.
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विषय
अकादमीविषयHeritageTopicLanguageTopicसंशोधनविषयOpportunitiesTopicCivicTopicDevelopmentTopicNews and eventsTopicदेश
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