What documents do I need to activate my accounts?

To activate your accounts and start receiving your monthly payouts from your Blocked Account, you must provide valid proof of address in Germany. This is required to keep your accounts and money safe, and to adhere to EU banking regulations. Both your Blocked Account and Bank Account are activated at the same time in one easy process.

You will need the following documents to activate your Blocked Account and Bank Account:

1. Passport
2. Proof of address
3. Proof of residency

The following guidelines must be adhered to for your documents to be approved:

1. Passport:

   • must be in your name
   • must be valid and in-date

2. Proof of address:

   • must be less than 3 months old
   • must display your full name
   • must display your German address

   Here are examples of documents you can use as proof of address:

   ✅ utility bill (electricity, water, or gas bill)

   ✅ letter from a health insurance company

   ✅ rental agreement (signed by both parties and dated)

   ✅ official municipality document (for example, your Anmeldung/address registration form or a letter from Deutsche Rentenversicherung)

   Here are examples of documents you can not use as proof of address:

   ❌ AirBnB receipts

   ❌ hotel receipts

   ❌ rental agreements with missing signatures

   Tip:

   If you do not have one of the proof of address document types listed above that is less than three months old, you can get one from your insurance provider.

   You can ask them to send you a confirmation of your insurance via post or email with your address shown. In German, this document is called "Bestätigung des Krankenversicherung.”

3. Proof of residency:

   • must be in your name
   • must be valid for Germany
   • must be valid and in-date

Here are examples of documents you can use as proof of residency:

✅ visa document

✅ temporary residence permit card (Fiktionsbescheinigung)

✅ residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel)

Here are examples of documents you can not use as proof of residency:

❌ passport

❌ Anmeldung / Meldebestätigung (city registration)

Exceptions:

1. If you arrived in Germany less than 90 days ago and you are from Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, the Republic of Korea (South Korea), New Zealand, or the USA, you will not need proof of residency.
2. If you have TK Public Health Insurance with Expatrio, you do not need to provide proof of address. Your insurance certificate will automatically be used as proof of address.