Saarland

A Welcome Center (or “Willkommenszentrum”) will help you get started in your federal state. You can receive free advice on many important topics there. For instance, when looking for a German course, a job or leisure activities.

Please note: The Welcome Centers sometimes serve different target groups (e.g. skilled workers or refugees), so you need to check out which Welcome Center is right for you.

The “Ausländerbehörde” is responsible for residence permits, visas, naturalisation and other matters relating to residence law.

Under “Find your Immigration Office”, you can find the office responsible for you. Enter your postcode, town or address in the search field. The website is available in German and English.

The Bürgeramt is your central point of contact for many matters such as registration certificates, ID documents and re-registrations.

Under “Find your Bürgeramt”, you can find a Bürgeramt nearby. The website is available in German.

The Employment Agency is the point of contact for the Federal Employment Agency in your area. It can help you when you are looking for work, need advice or want to apply for Unemployment Benefit I (ALG I).

Under “Find your Employment Agency”, you can find the office responsible for you by entering your postcode or town in the search field. The website is available in German and English.

Are you looking for the Jobcenter nearby? Under “Find your Jobcenter”, you can quickly find the relevant contact point for “Bürgergeld” and counselling. Simply enter your postcode or town in the search field. The website is available in German and English. You can find out more about the Jobcenter's services on our topic page “Jobcenter”.

The Social Welfare Office supports you when you cannot work or do not have enough money to live on– and do not receive any benefits from the Jobcenter or Employment Agency.

Under “Find your Social Welfare Office”, you can find the office responsible for you. The website is available in German.

You can look for the Youth Welfare Office in your area when you need help with your family, for instance, in disputes, regarding parenting, or difficult situations. You can also seek support there as a child or adolescent. You can learn more on our “Youth Welfare Office” topic page.

Under “Find your Youth Welfare Office”, you can find the office responsible for you. The website is available in German. 

The Tax Office is responsible for your taxes– for instance, for your tax return or in case you need a tax number as a self-employed individual.

Under “Find your Tax Office”, you can find the office responsible for you. The website is available in German.

The Career Information Centre (BiZ) provides free information on training, careers and job applications. Many services are also available online.

Under “Find your BiZ”, you can find the BiZ in your area. Enter the postcode or town in the search field. You will then see the address, opening hours and contact details. The website is available in German and English.

The Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) helps you with questions about training, careers and starting a business.

Under “Find your IHK”, you can find the IHK in your area. The website is available in German.

The Chamber of Crafts (HWK) will help you with any questions about skilled trades: for instance, on training, master craftsman examinations or self-employment in the skilled trades.

Under “Find your HWK”, you can find the HWK in your area. The website is available in German.

In Germany, there are numerous doctors specialising in different areas of health. For general health issues, you should consult a family doctor. A specialist will help you with specific problems.

Under “Find a doctor”, you can search for doctors and psychotherapists in your area. Simply enter your speciality in the search field. Enter the postcode, town or address. The website is available in German, Arabic, English, Spanish, French, Italian, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian and Turkish.

If you are looking for a dentist, look under “Find a dentist”. The website is available in German.

You can go to a hospital if you have a referral for treatment or in an emergency. In an acute emergency, call the emergency services on 112.

Under “Find a hospital”, you can find a hospital nearby. Enter the postcode or town in the search field. The website is available in German and English.

There are many different degree courses and universities in Germany. The website Hochschulkompass gives you a good overview. There you will also find information about financial support during your studies, such as scholarships or BAföG. You can find more information about studying on our website under “Education”.

The Volkshochschule (VHS) offers many courses, for instance, for languages, computers, careers, and health. The courses are often affordable and open to everyone.

Under “Find a VHS course”, you can search for VHS courses in your area. Simply enter a subject, town or postcode in the search field. The website is available in German.

You can use the BAMF-Navi to find an integration course from various providers. Enter your postcode, town or address in the search field. The website is available in German and English. You can also find out more about integration courses on our topic page “Integration courses”.

You can also find a course in your area under “Find a VHS course”. For instance, enter “integration course” and the location in the search engine.

Please note: If you would like to attend a German or integration course, you will need a consultation beforehand– use the office hours of the VHS of your choice for this. On our topic page “Learning German”, you can find out where else you can learn German.

In a library, you can borrow books, films, newspapers and much more– often for free or a small fee. Many libraries also offer study spaces, internet and events.

Under “Find a library”, you can find the libraries in your area. The website is available in German.

Are you looking for a swimming pool nearby? Under “Find a swimming pool”, you can filter by location and type of pool– many also offer courses for children and adults. The website is available in German.

There are admission fees, but there are also discounts, e.g. for children, pupils, students or people with low income.

There are many sports clubs in Germany that offer various sports, such as, football, swimming or dancing. You can actively do sport there. You can read more about this in our topic page “Joining A Sports Club”.

Under “Find a sports club” you can quickly search for a club in your area. The website is in German.

At Integreat, you will find local information and offers to help you settle down in your city or region. Simply enter your location and see if it is included. The content is available in several languages.