Rules in Germany for Indians

The rules that surprise people who move from India to Germany, explained in plain English: what to do, what it costs if you don't, the German words you will hear, and the official source for every amount.

• AnmeldungRegister your address within 2 weeksEveryone who moves into a flat in Germany must register at the local office (Bürgeramt) within two weeks.
• SchwarzfahrenRiding without a ticket costs €60Travelling by train, bus or tram without a valid ticket costs at least €60, and it can be a criminal offence.
• RuhezeitenQuiet hours: nights and SundaysNight rest from 22:00 to 6:00 and all of Sunday are quiet times in German homes; loud noise can be fined.
• Mülltrennung und PfandSort your rubbish, return your bottlesGermany separates paper, packaging, organic waste, glass and the rest, and you get money back for bottles and cans.
• FahrradregelnCycling rules and finesCyclists in Germany pay fines for red lights, phones, missing lights and riding on the footpath.
• Rote AmpelWait at the red light, even on footPedestrians who cross at a red light can be fined, and Germans really do wait, even on an empty street.
• RundfunkbeitragEvery flat pays the broadcasting feeEvery flat in Germany pays €18.36 a month for public TV and radio, whether you watch or not.
• KrankenversicherungHealth insurance is compulsoryEveryone living in Germany must have health insurance, and students need proof of it to enrol.
• Arbeiten im StudiumWorking as a student: 140 days a yearStudents from outside the EU may work 140 full days a year; up to 4 hours a day counts as half a day.
• KündigungLeaving a flat: 3 months' notice, in writingTenants in Germany usually give three months' notice, on paper with a handwritten signature.
• SonntagsruheSundays: shops are closedOn Sundays and public holidays most shops in Germany are closed, so buy your groceries on Saturday.
• Recht am eigenen BildAsk before you post photos of peopleIn Germany you need a person's permission before you publish a photo of them; posting without it can be a crime.

Last checked: 8 November 2026, against the official sources named on each page. General information for learners, not legal advice: rules can change and some depend on your state or city. If something matters for you, check the official source or ask the office.