Many hospitality and hotel jobs are not in your home town – often not even in your home country. A new job then means moving too: a new home, new paperwork, a new team. With good preparation the start can still be smooth. Here are the key steps for anyone moving to Germany or a new city for a hospitality job.
1. Sort out accommodation before you arrive
Many hospitality employers offer staff accommodation, especially in holiday regions and smaller towns. Clarify in advance:
- Is it a single or shared room? Is there a kitchen and washing machine?
- How much is the rent, and is it deducted from wages?
- How far is it to work?
- Is the accommodation temporary, and how long can I stay?
Get the arrangement in writing. If no accommodation is provided, ask whether the employer helps with the search – housing in big cities is tight.
2. Register your address
Anyone moving into a home in Germany must register at the local citizens’ office (Bürgeramt) within two weeks. You need your ID or passport and a confirmation from your landlord (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung). The registration certificate is the basis for many further steps.
3. Tax ID, social insurance and health insurance
- Tax ID: sent automatically by post after registration
- Social insurance number: usually applied for via your employer or health insurer
- Health insurance: compulsory in Germany – choose a statutory health insurer and tell your employer
- Bank account: for your salary; many banks offer online accounts
4. Your first days at work
- Bring your work clothes and, as a cook, your knives.
- Ask about the rota, break rules and contact persons.
- Learn your colleagues’ names and the routines quickly.
- The hygiene instruction under the Infection Protection Act is mandatory for work with food.
5. Settling into your new city
Use your days off to explore. A language course at the adult education centre (Volkshochschule), a sports club or simply coffee with colleagues help you connect quickly. Hospitality teams are often international, so you are rarely the only newcomer.
Arrive well with AS-Gastro-Consult
AS-Gastro-Consult offers hospitality and hotel jobs with and without accommodation across Germany. We explain all conditions in advance and stay in touch after you start.
See our current job offers or message us on WhatsApp: +49 163 501 95 12.
