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Leipzig

Saxony, Germany

Arriving, settling in and working in Leipzig: what official sources say, in the order you’ll need it. Every point links to the page it came from.

Plan my move to LeipzigRead the guide ↓
Photo: Kiwihug / Unsplash
Guide sections12
Sourced facts68
Last verified1 Nov 2026
Time zoneBerlin

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Leipzig at a glance

The basics about Leipzig: size, residents from abroad and rents.

  • Leipzig had 630,757 residents with their main residence in the city on 30 September 2026 (preliminary register figures).
    statistik.leipzig.de ↗
  • On the same date 93,184 residents were foreign nationals, about 15% of the population.
    statistik.leipzig.de ↗
  • In the city's 2025 resident survey, the median base rent (Grundmiete) was €7.32 per m² a month, and the median total rent €10.25 per m².
    statistik.leipzig.de ↗
  • The survey median base rent has risen every year since 2021, when it was €6.47 per m².
    statistik.leipzig.de ↗
Show 1 more
  • People who move their main or second residence to Leipzig can collect a welcome package (Willkommenspaket) with vouchers and information at a Bürgerbüro.
    leipzig.de ↗
External links
Leipzig statistics office ↗Welcome package ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.
Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Laws and local rules

Everyday German rules that often surprise newcomers.

  • You must register your address (Anmeldung) with the local registration office within two weeks of moving into a flat.
    gesetze-im-internet.de ↗
  • Every home pays the broadcasting fee (Rundfunkbeitrag): €18.36 a month per dwelling, however many people live there. Register online when you move in.
    rundfunkbeitrag.de ↗
  • Adults 18+ may carry up to 25 g of dried cannabis in public and keep up to 50 g at home, and grow up to 3 plants each. Using it next to under-18s, or within sight of schools, playgrounds and youth facilities, is banned.
    bundesgesundheitsministerium.de ↗
  • For cannabis and driving, the legal limit is 3.5 ng/ml THC in blood serum. Novice drivers face a cannabis ban, and drivers may not combine cannabis with alcohol.
    bundesgesundheitsministerium.de ↗
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  • In Leipzig you register your address at one of the city's Bürgerbüros, which offer many central city services in one place.
    leipzig.de ↗
  • For a life-threatening emergency call 112. For an illness that can't wait when your doctor's practice is closed, call 116117 (free, 24/7).
    116117.de ↗
External links
Rundfunkbeitrag: register ↗Cannabis law FAQ (BMG) ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.
Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Arrive

The first 72 hours

Arriving in Leipzig

Getting from Leipzig/Halle airport into town, and your first admin steps.

  • S-Bahn lines S5 and S5X serve Leipzig/Halle Airport every half hour. The trip from Leipzig Hauptbahnhof takes 14 minutes.
    leipzig-halle-airport.de ↗
  • Intercity trains from Dresden, Magdeburg, Hannover, Bielefeld and Köln reach the airport without changing, every two hours.
    leipzig-halle-airport.de ↗
  • A DB ticket machine in the arrivals area (Terminal B) sells local and long-distance tickets and takes cash, EC cards and common credit cards.
    leipzig-halle-airport.de ↗
  • Register your address within two weeks of moving in. Your landlord must confirm your move-in within the same deadline.
    gesetze-im-internet.de ↗
Show 2 more
  • Leipzig's Ausländerbehörde, part of the city's Ordnungsamt, issues and extends residence permits and handles naturalisation.
    leipzig.de ↗
  • The city's Willkommenszentrum is a central first point of contact for newcomers with a migration background, whatever their residence status.
    leipzig.de ↗
External links
Airport bus and train ↗Leipzig Bürgerbüros ↗Immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.
Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Getting around

MDV tickets for LVB trams and buses and the S-Bahn.

  • A single ticket (Einzelfahrkarte) for the Leipzig city zone costs €3.80 and is valid for one hour.
    mdv.de ↗
  • A short-trip ticket (Kurzstrecke) costs €2.50 and a 4-trip ticket €15.20 for the Leipzig zone (MDV ticket table, 27 March 2026).
    mdv.de ↗
  • A 24-hour ticket (24-Stunden-Karte Plus) for one person costs €9.70 in the Leipzig zone.
    mdv.de ↗
  • The Deutschlandticket costs €63 a month and covers local transport and second-class regional trains across Germany, but not IC, EC or ICE. The price rises to €66.80 a month from 1 January 2027.
    bvg.de ↗
Show 1 more
  • You can cancel a Deutschlandticket at the end of any month. For subscriptions in BVG's apps, cancel by the 10th of the month; later notice pushes the end to the following month.
    bvg.de ↗
External links
MDV tickets ↗MDV ticket table (PDF) ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.
Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Settle

Home, school, doctor, bank

Neighbourhoods and renting

What rents look like by district, and tenant rules.

  • In the 2023 resident survey, median base rents ranged from €5.25 per m² in Grünau-Ost to €9.03 per m² in Zentrum. The city median was €6.88.
    statistik.leipzig.de ↗
  • Inner districts were highest: Zentrum-Südost €9.00, Zentrum-West €8.57 and Lindenau €7.89 per m² (2023).
    statistik.leipzig.de ↗
  • The rent figures come from the city's annual resident survey, in which several thousand residents aged 18 to 85 are asked in writing.
    statistik.leipzig.de ↗
  • In areas designated as tight housing markets, a new rent may be at most 10% above the local comparative rent (Mietpreisbremse). Federal law lets states keep these designations until 31 December 2029 at the latest.
    gesetze-im-internet.de ↗
Show 2 more
  • A deposit (Kaution) can be at most 3 months' rent, excluding service charges. You may pay it in 3 equal monthly instalments, and the landlord must keep it in a separate interest-bearing account.
    gesetze-im-internet.de ↗
  • Your landlord must help with your registration and confirm your move-in to the registration office, in writing or electronically.
    gesetze-im-internet.de ↗
External links
Rents by district (statistics office) ↗Deposit rules (§ 551 BGB) ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.
Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Schools and childcare

Kita places and the school system in Saxony.

  • In Saxony, children have a legal right to a childcare place from their first birthday.
    kita.sachsen.de ↗
  • Parent fees for Kita are set by each municipality and are the same in every facility, whoever runs it.
    kita.sachsen.de ↗
  • In Leipzig the parent fee depends on the number of care hours you book.
    leipzig.de ↗
  • Leipzig has Grundschulen, Oberschulen, a Gemeinschaftsschule, Gymnasien, special schools (Förderschulen) and vocational schools.
    leipzig.de ↗
Show 3 more
  • Leipzig schools teach German as a second language (DaZ) as a subject for pupils still learning German.
    leipzig.de ↗
  • Newly arrived children are admitted to preparatory classes (Vorbereitungsklassen) and regular classes.
    leipzig.de ↗
  • The brochure "Viele Wege zum Erfolg. Das sächsische Schulsystem" explains Saxony's school system and is available in German and other languages.
    schule.sachsen.de ↗
External links
Leipzig schools ↗Kita in Saxony ↗Kita fees in Leipzig ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.
Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Healthcare

Health insurance is compulsory. Here's how it works and where to get help.

  • Health insurance is compulsory in Germany. International cover is advisable for your first days or weeks until German insurance starts.
    make-it-in-germany.com ↗
  • Most employees are compulsorily insured in statutory health insurance (GKV) if they earn more than €603 a month and less than €77,400 a year (2026). Above that limit you may choose private insurance.
    bundesgesundheitsministerium.de ↗
  • In 2026 the GKV contribution is 14.6% of earnings plus a fund-specific extra (average 2.9%). Employer and employee each pay half, on earnings up to €5,812.50 a month.
    bundesgesundheitsministerium.de ↗
  • Statutory members get an electronic health card (eGK). Take it to every doctor's visit; the back works as a European Health Insurance Card.
    make-it-in-germany.com ↗
Show 2 more
  • Call 116117 for the on-call doctor service when your practice is closed: 24/7 and free from German phone contracts. In a life-threatening emergency call 112.
    116117.de ↗
  • Leipzig University Hospital (UKL) runs an adult emergency department at Paul-List-Straße 27 (Haus 4.1) and a children's emergency department at Liebigstraße 20a (Haus 6). Its 24-hour switchboard is 0341 97 109.
    uniklinikum-leipzig.de ↗
External links
Health insurance (Make it in Germany) ↗116117 on-call doctors ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.
Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Banking and IDs

Your tax ID, a German bank account and SIM registration.

  • Your tax ID (Steueridentifikationsnummer) is sent to your registered address by letter after you first register. Employers need it to deduct wage tax.
    service.berlin.de ↗
  • No tax ID letter within 3 months of registering? Request it from the Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt) with its online form. It's free.
    service.berlin.de ↗
  • To open a current account (Girokonto) banks usually ask for a valid passport, a residence permit, a registration certificate and possibly a payslip.
    make-it-in-germany.com ↗
  • Anyone lawfully resident in the EU without a German payment account has the right to a basic account (Basiskonto), including people with no fixed address. The bank must offer it within 10 business days of a complete application.
    bafin.de ↗
Show 2 more
  • Statutory deposit protection covers up to €100,000 per customer per bank.
    bafin.de ↗
  • Providers must check your name and date of birth against an ID document before activating a prepaid SIM card.
    gesetze-im-internet.de ↗
External links
Basiskonto (BaFin) ↗Bank account (Make it in Germany) ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.
Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Driving and cars

Using your licence in Germany and converting it in Leipzig.

  • A non-EU/EEA licence stays valid for six months after you establish your normal residence in Germany. After that it is no longer recognised. In exceptional cases the licensing authority can extend this by up to six months on application.
    bmv.de ↗
  • To get a German licence, contact the licensing authority (Fahrerlaubnisbehörde) where you live in good time.
    bmv.de ↗
  • There is no deadline to apply to convert a non-EU licence, but your foreign licence must still be valid. Driving on a licence that is no longer recognised is punished as driving without a licence.
    bmv.de ↗
  • An EU/EEA licence generally stays valid until it expires after you move to Germany. You need a national licence: an international driving permit alone is not enough.
    bmv.de ↗
Show 2 more
  • A UK licence must be converted into an EU/EEA licence no later than six months after you take up residence. This is currently possible without theory or practical tests.
    bmv.de ↗
  • Leipzig's licensing authority (Fahrerlaubnisbehörde) takes appointments through the city's online booking service.
    leipzig.de ↗
External links
Foreign licences in Germany (BMV) ↗Book the Leipzig licensing office ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.
Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Thrive

Work, study, belong

Jobs and work

Pay rules, work visas and getting qualifications recognised.

  • The statutory minimum wage has been €13.90 gross per hour since 1 January 2026. It rises to €14.60 on 1 January 2027.
    bundesregierung.de ↗
  • The earnings limit for a mini-job is €603 a month in 2026, rising to €633 in 2027.
    bundesregierung.de ↗
  • An EU Blue Card needs a recognised degree and a job offer of at least 6 months paying €50,700 a year (2026). The threshold is €45,934.20 for shortage occupations and graduates of the last 3 years.
    make-it-in-germany.com ↗
  • Blue Card holders can get a settlement permit after 27 months with A1 German, or after 21 months with B1.
    make-it-in-germany.com ↗
Show 2 more
  • The Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) lets you look for work for up to 1 year. You may work part-time up to 20 hours a week and do 2-week job trials. You need about €1,091 net a month in a blocked account (2026).
    make-it-in-germany.com ↗
  • The federal portal Recognition in Germany explains how to get foreign professional qualifications recognised and has a Recognition Finder.
    anerkennung-in-deutschland.de ↗
External links
Make it in Germany ↗Recognition Finder ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.
Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Universities and colleges

Student services, applications and student residence rules.

  • Studentenwerk Leipzig offers student housing, canteens and cafés, student finance including BAföG, the semester ticket, counselling and social support, and cultural funding.
    studentenwerk-leipzig.de ↗
  • From winter 2026/27 the student Deutschland semester ticket costs €37.80 a month (€226.80 per semester), according to AStA TU Berlin.
    asta.tu-berlin.de ↗
  • Non-EU students need a residence permit for study: proof of €992 a month (€11,904 a year, 2026), German health insurance and a main residence in Berlin. A first electronic permit costs €100.
    service.berlin.de ↗
  • Many German universities use uni-assist to check applications from international students; it works for 180 universities.
    uni-assist.de ↗
External links
Studentenwerk Leipzig ↗uni-assist ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.
Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

Newcomer support

Official help for newcomers, in several languages.

  • The Willkommenszentrum is the city's central, low-threshold contact point for first orientation, and a gateway to city services for newcomers.
    leipzig.de ↗
  • The Willkommenszentrum pages are available in German, English, Spanish, French, Russian, Ukrainian and Arabic.
    leipzig.de ↗
  • Afeefa, a networking and information platform for newcomer support, is linked from the Willkommenszentrum pages.
    leipzig.de ↗
  • New residents get a welcome package with vouchers and information at a Bürgerbüro.
    leipzig.de ↗
Show 1 more
  • The integration course ends with the "German test for immigrants" (target level B1) and an orientation test on law, culture and history.
    berlin.de ↗
External links
Willkommenszentrum Leipzig ↗Recognition in Germany ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.
Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 1 Nov 2026

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