Before you start

Passport or national ID for verification
A German address, for postpaid contracts
A German bank account, for postpaid direct debit

Step-by-step

1
Buy a prepaid SIM and verify your identity
Available from supermarkets, phone shops and online. Activation requires identity verification — in shop with your passport, by video call, or through the Post's identification service.
In personWho: YouWeek 1
2
Do not attempt a postpaid contract in your first weeks
Contracts run a Schufa check and require a German bank account and registered address. With no credit history you will be declined or asked for a deposit.
OnlineWho: You
3
Check coverage on your commute
German mobile coverage is weaker than most of western Europe outside the cities, particularly on regional rail. If you commute from the Hamburg metropolitan region by train, compare the three operators on coverage rather than price.
OnlineWho: You
4
Switch to a contract once you have a Schufa record
After a few months with a registered address, a bank account in good standing and prepaid history, a postpaid contract becomes achievable and is usually cheaper for the same allowance.
OnlineWho: You
5
Order home internet the day you sign the lease
German broadband installation routinely takes several weeks and sometimes requires an engineer visit. Ordering on move-in day means a month of tethering.
OnlineWho: You
6
Know the cancellation rules
German telecoms contracts historically auto-renewed for a full year if not cancelled in time. Since 1 December 2021, when the reformed Telekommunikationsgesetz took effect, a contract continuing past its minimum term can be cancelled at any point with one month's notice — but check your specific terms.
OnlineWho: You

Documents you’ll need

Passport or national ID for SIM registration
Meldebescheinigung, for postpaid contracts
German bank details, for direct debit
Schufa report, which some providers request

Things most newcomers don’t know

Even prepaid SIMs require identity verification in Germany.

Every SIM must be registered to an identified person, so a supermarket prepaid card still needs a passport check by video, in shop, or through the Post. Arriving expecting to buy an anonymous SIM off a shelf, as you can in the US, wastes an afternoon.

Source: Bundesnetzagentur

Home internet takes weeks, so order at lease signing.

German broadband provisioning routinely takes several weeks and can require engineer visits and work in the stairwell of older buildings. Order the day the lease is signed, giving the future address.

Source: community-reported

German mobile coverage is worse than its reputation.

For one of Europe's wealthiest countries, Germany has persistent coverage gaps, notably along regional rail corridors. If you commute into Hamburg from the surrounding region, compare operators on actual coverage maps.

Source: Bundesnetzagentur — mobile coverage map

The reformed telecoms law fixed a real contract trap, and it dates from 1 December 2021.

German telecom contracts historically rolled over for another full year if you missed the cancellation window. Since the Telekommunikationsmodernisierungsgesetz took effect on 1 December 2021, §56 TKG caps the initial term at 24 months and lets you cancel at any time with one month's notice thereafter. A parallel change to §309 BGB brought gym and similar consumer contracts into line from 1 March 2022. Older advice and older contracts may still reflect the previous regime.

Source: Bundesnetzagentur / §56 TKG

Common mistakes to avoid

Expecting to buy an unregistered prepaid SIM off a shelf.
Applying for postpaid before you have any Schufa record.
Ordering home internet on move-in day rather than at lease signing.
Choosing a network on price when your regional commute runs through a coverage gap.
Missing a cancellation window under older terms that still auto-renew annually.

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.