Schleswig-Holstein

The Welcome Centre Schleswig-Holstein offers free advice for skilled workers, students and trainees starting out in Schleswig-Holstein. The staff can help with questions about entry, residence, training or job hunting, for example. The website is available in German and English.

The Immigration Office is responsible for issuing residence permits, visas, naturalisation, and other matters related 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 various matters, including registration certificates, identity documents, and re-registrations. 

Under ‘Find your Bürgeramt’, you can find an office nearby. The website is available in German. 

The Employment Agency is your local branch of the Federal Employment Agency. It can help you if you are looking for work, would like advice or want to apply for unemployment benefits I (ALG I).

Under ‘Find your Employment Agency’, you can find the employment agency 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 your local Jobcenter? Under ‘Find your Jobcenter’, you can quickly find the contact point responsible for "Bürgergeld" as well as 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 services offered by the Jobcenter on our topic page „Jobcenter“. 

The Social Welfare Office can help you if you are unable to work or do not have enough money to live on– and do not receive benefits from the Jobcenter or the Employment Agency.

Under ‘Find your social welfare office’, you can find the social welfare office responsible for you. The website is in German. 

Are you looking for the Youth Welfare Office in your area to seek help with your family? They can offer you support, for instance, in the event of disputes, parenting issues or difficult situations. If you are a child or young person, you can also seek support there. You can find out more on our ‘Youth Welfare Office’ page.

Under ‘Find your Youth Welfare Office’, you can find the Youth Welfare 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 if you need a tax number, in case you are self-employed.

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

You can get free information about training, careers and job applications at the Career Information Centre (BiZ). Many services are also available online.

Under ‘Find your BiZ’, you can find the BiZ nearest to you. Enter your postcode or town in the search field. This will provide you with the address, opening hours, and contact details. The website is available in German and English.

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

Under ‘Find your IHK’, you can find the IHK nearest to you. The website is in German.

The Chamber of Crafts (HWK) can help you if you have questions about skilled trades, such as training, master craftsman examinations or self-employment in the skilled trades. 

You can find your local HWK under ‘Find your HWK’. The website is available in German.

In Germany, there are numerous doctors specialising in various areas of healthcare. For general health concerns, you should see a general practitioner. For specific problems, a specialist can help you.

Under ‘Find a doctor’, you can search for doctors and psychotherapists in your area. Simply enter the 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 the hospital if you have a referral for treatment or in the event of an emergency. In the event of 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 programmes and universities in Germany. The Hochschulkompass website provides a good overview. There you can also find information about financial support during your studies, such as scholarships or BAföG. You can find more information on the subject of studying on our website under „Education.

The Volkshochschule (VHS) offers a wide range of courses, including those in 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 topic, location or postcode in the search field. The website is available in German.

With the BAMF Navi, you can find integration courses from various providers. Enter your postcode, location or address in the search field. The website is in German and English. You can also find more information about integration courses on our ‘Integration courses’ page.

You can also find a course near you under ‘Find a VHS course’. For example, 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 to have a consultation beforehand. Please use the office hours of the VHS of your choice for this purpose. On our topic page ‘Learning German’, you can find out where else you can learn German.

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

Under ‘Find a library’, you can find libraries in your area. The website is available in German. 

Are you looking for a nearby swimming pool? 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 in German.

Admission fees apply, but discounts are also available, such as for children, school pupils, students, or individuals on low incomes.

There are many sports clubs in Germany that offer different sports, such as football, swimming, or even dancing. You can actively participate in sports there. You can read more about this on our topic page ‘Joining a sports club’.

Under ‘Find a sports club’, you can quickly find a club in your area. The website is available in German. 

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