How to Open a German Bank Account (2026): Step-by-Step Guide & Documents

Almost every German landlord, insurer and gym collects payment by SEPA Lastschrift (direct debit), so a German-IBAN current account is one of the first things you need after arriving. This guide focuses strictly on the opening process itself — the documents, the VideoIdent verification, and how to open an account before your Anmeldung. If you are still choosing a provider, see our comparison of the best German bank accounts for expats; this page does not rank providers.

Documents required to open a German bank account

The exact document set varies by provider, but the list below covers what almost every German current-account application asks for. Have scans or clear photos of each ready before you start, because the online form times out if you leave it mid-way.

• Passport — the universal identity document; a national ID card is accepted by some providers but a passport avoids friction for non-EU nationals.
• Visa or residence permit — non-EU applicants are usually asked for proof of their right to reside in Germany.
• Tax ID (Steueridentifikationsnummer) — not always required to open the account, but your bank will request it soon after for interest reporting and to pass to your employer.
• Anmeldung confirmation (Meldebescheinigung) — required by direct and branch banks; app-only banks often let you open without it (see the section below).
• Proof of address and a German mobile number — needed for the VideoIdent or PostIdent step and to receive your card by post.

Step-by-step: opening your German bank account

1. 01

   Choose your provider and start the application

   Pick a provider and begin the application on its website or app. App-only banks such as N26 and Revolut let you start before you have a German address; direct banks such as DKB and Comdirect typically require a German residential address and your Anmeldung. Have your passport to hand from the first screen.

2. 02

   Enter your personal details

   Complete the online form with your name, date of birth, address and contact details exactly as they appear on your passport and Anmeldung. A spelling mismatch between your application and your registration document is the most common cause of a delayed or rejected application.

3. 03

   Complete VideoIdent or PostIdent verification

   Verify your identity. App-only banks use an in-app VideoIdent call; direct banks such as Comdirect commonly use PostIdent or Online-ID; branch banks verify in person. The call takes a few minutes — you hold your passport to the camera and answer a few questions.

4. 04

   Wait for approval and receive your IBAN

   App-only banks usually approve within minutes and issue your IBAN immediately; direct banks take one to a few days and run a SCHUFA check as part of approval. You receive your IBAN by email or in the app, and your card follows by post in three to five working days.

5. 05

   Activate the card and set up SEPA direct debits

   Once the card arrives, activate it in the app and set your PIN. Add your IBAN to your landlord's SEPA mandate, your employer's payroll form and any recurring payments. If you have not yet received your tax ID, give it to your bank and employer as soon as it arrives by post.

VideoIdent verification explained

VideoIdent is the video-call identity check most digital banks use instead of a branch visit. You start it from the bank's app or a link, connect to an agent (or an automated system), and hold your passport open to the camera so the machine-readable zone can be read. The agent confirms you match the photo and asks one or two security questions. It takes under five minutes and works from anywhere with a stable internet connection.

• Use a well-lit room and a plain background so the passport photo and your face are clearly visible.
• Have your original passport — not a scan or photo of it — because the agent reads the physical page.
• If VideoIdent is unavailable for your nationality, your provider will offer PostIdent at a post office or in-branch verification instead.
• The check creates no SCHUFA entry by itself; a separate credit assessment may run as part of approval.

Can You Open a German Bank Account Without Anmeldung?

Yes — but only with certain providers. App-only banks such as N26 and Revolut verify your identity in-app and do not require an Anmeldung confirmation to open the account, which makes them the practical choice for your first days in Germany before you have registered your address. Direct banks such as DKB and Comdirect, and branch banks such as Sparkasse, typically require a German residential address and your Anmeldung (or at least proof that you have registered) before approval.

• Open an app-only account on day one so you can pay and be paid before your Bürgeramt appointment.
• Switch to or add a direct bank once you have your Anmeldung confirmation and a German address for the long run.
• Even app-only banks will ask for your registered address once you have it, so keep your Anmeldung confirmation ready to update later.
• A SCHUFA check is separate from the address requirement — a new arrival with an empty SCHUFA record is not automatically rejected, but each provider sets its own criteria.

If you want to see what SCHUFA holds before you apply, you can request your free Datenkopie under GDPR Article 15 — it costs nothing and does not require a paid subscription.

After your account is open

Once salary starts landing, our line-by-line guide to reading a German payslip helps you check the deductions are correct, and your Anmeldung confirmation is the document that unlocked the account in the first place.