How to Open a Bank Account in Europe as a Foreign Worker

You need a bank account to receive your salary. Here is how to open one in Germany, Denmark, Italy, and other European countries — step by step.

Why You Need a European Bank Account

Your employer will pay your salary by bank transfer — cash payments are rare in most of Europe. Additionally, you'll need a bank account for receiving salary, paying bills, and sending money home. Opening an account is one of the first things to do after arrival.

Country-by-Country Guide

Germany: Options: Sparkasse (local savings bank), Deutsche Bank, or N26/Revolut (digital). Requirements: passport, registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung), employment contract. Timeline: same day at a branch, 1-3 days for digital banks.
Denmark: Options: Danske Bank, Nordea, Jyske Bank. Requirements: CPR number (obtained after registration), passport, employment contract. Timeline: 1-2 weeks (CPR number takes a few days). Many workers use Revolut initially.
Italy: Options: Intesa Sanpaolo, UniCredit, Banca Mediolanum. Requirements: codice fiscale (tax code), passport, residence permit, proof of address. Timeline: 1-3 days at a branch.
Czechia: Options: Česká spořitelna, ČSOB, Raiffeisenbank. Requirements: passport, work permit, proof of address. Timeline: same day. Some branches have English-speaking staff.

Digital Bank Alternatives

While waiting for a traditional bank account, consider:

Revolut — Open an account with just your passport. Available throughout Europe. Works immediately.
N26 — German digital bank. Free basic account. EU-wide.
Wise (multi-currency account) — Excellent for receiving salary and sending money home with one account.

Documents to Bring

Valid passport
Residence/work permit or visa
Proof of address (registration certificate or utility bill)
Employment contract or letter from employer
Tax identification number (if already assigned)

Tips for Success

Go to the bank in person — it's faster than online for first-time foreign accounts
Bring a colleague or CHI Recruiting support staff who speaks the local language
Ask for online banking setup during your visit — you'll need it for salary monitoring
Request a Maestro/Visa debit card — essential for daily purchases
Keep your account details safe — never share your PIN or passwords

CHI Recruiting's local support team assists with bank account opening in every country we operate in. Reach out for help.

What this guide covers

This guide focuses on How to Open a Bank Account in Europe as a Foreign Worker. You need a bank account to receive your salary. Here is how to open one in Germany, Denmark, Italy, and other European countries — step by step. The sections below translate that framing into concrete steps, common mistakes from workers who walked this path before you, and a checklist you can run through in one sitting before deciding on next moves.

Why this matters now

Relocation is the part of the process where well-prepared workers thrive and unprepared ones lose money. The blocks below cover what to plan before flight, what to handle in the first 7 days on the ground, and the financial mistakes most newcomers make in month one.

The Europe-wide context

Across our placement network — currently 13 European countries spanning from Denmark in the north to Albania and Montenegro on the Adriatic — the underlying pattern for international blue-collar workers is consistent: 12-month entry contracts, accommodation typically included, salaries from €1,500 to €4,300/month depending on country and sector, with renewal and residency milestones aligned to a 5-year arc.

What varies most across countries is processing speed (Poland and Serbia among the fastest at 4-6 weeks; Italy and Vietnam-origin applications among the slowest at 12-16), cost of living (Bulgaria and Albania among the lowest; Denmark and France among the highest), and the path to permanent residency (clear and well-supported in Germany, Denmark, Czech Republic; less defined in non-EU destinations like Turkey).

Step-by-step breakdown

Step 1. Two weeks before departure: confirm passport validity (18+ months recommended), print all documents in duplicate, pack a 7-day clothing kit appropriate to the destination season.
Step 2. Day of arrival: keep cash to cover 7 days, transit pass, charged phone with destination SIM ready, and the employer or recruiter's emergency contact saved.
Step 3. Days 1-3: register at the local residency office, open a bank account (most employers require an IBAN before first paycheck), set up healthcare registration where applicable.
Step 4. Days 4-14: apply for tax number, local mobile contract, residency card. Forward your home-country mail to a trusted contact who can scan and send.
Step 5. Days 15-30: build local reference points — a doctor, a grocery store, a transport route, a community centre. The first 30 days set the next 12 months' rhythm.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

Bringing too much cash. Most EU countries require declaration above €10,000 and getting a local IBAN within the first 14 days makes everything from rent to phone contracts to employer reimbursements smoother.
Underestimating winter clothing costs in Northern Europe. Workers from Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and parts of Africa frequently arrive in October without thermals or insulated boots and lose €200-400 in the first cold week.
Skipping mandatory healthcare registration in the first month assuming the employer handles it. Some do; many don't until you ask.
Booking a one-way ticket without confirming the residency-registration deadline (Anmeldung in Germany, soggiorno in Italy, registracja in Poland). These deadlines start ticking on arrival day, not on contract day.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to bring my own bedding/cookware?

Most employer-provided accommodation comes furnished with bed, bedding, basic kitchen, washing machine. Personal items (toiletries, prayer mat, small electronics with EU plug adapter) are worth packing.

How quickly can I bring my family?

Family reunification typically requires 12-24 months of continuous employment plus proof of housing capacity. Some countries (Denmark, Germany) move faster than others (Italy, France) on processing.

Will my employer pick me up at the airport?

Many partner employers do — especially for first-time international workers — and CHI Recruiting confirms this in advance. If not, the recruiter provides written instructions for the airport-to-accommodation transfer (train, taxi, prepaid bus).

How much money should I bring on day one?

Cash equivalent to €500-800 for the first 14 days (transit, food, basic SIM). More than €10,000 must be declared at EU borders. Most expenses can be paid by card once your local bank account opens (typically within the first 7 days).

What about driving — can I use my home-country license?

In the EU, most non-EU licenses are valid for 6 months from arrival, after which you need an EU license. Many workers do not need a car (employer-provided shuttle or public transport handle the commute), but plan ahead if your role requires driving.

Action checklist

Pack a 7-day kit appropriate to destination weather
Schedule residency registration within 14 days of arrival
Bring €500-800 in cash for first 14 days
Open local bank account in week 1
Confirm passport 18+ months valid

Resources to bookmark

Official immigration portals — every EU country publishes its work-permit guidance in English. Bookmark the official portal for your destination (e.g. diplo.de for Germany, nyidanmark.dk for Denmark, gov.pl for Poland) and check it once a month for rule changes.
Sector wage councils — Germany's Mindestlohnkommission, Denmark's sector unions, Poland's national wage announcements. These move 6 months ahead of what employers actually pay.
Eurostat labour statistics — quarterly releases on employment, vacancy rates, and average wages by sector. Useful for sense-checking employer claims.
CHI Recruiting blog — country-by-country guides, sector-specific salary research, and updates on visa quota changes from your home country.
Worker community groups — Telegram, WhatsApp and Facebook groups by country and source-country. Look for those moderated by long-term residents, not recruitment agencies posing as community.

Glossary of terms you will see

Type D visa — long-stay national visa used by most EU countries to admit non-EU workers. Tied to a specific employer and job.
Single permit — combined work and residence permit issued in countries like Czech Republic, Slovakia, Croatia. Simplifies the paper chain.
Blue Card — EU-wide highly-skilled worker permit. Mostly relevant for university-educated roles, not blue-collar.
Anmeldung / soggiorno / TRP — local residency registration that must happen within a fixed window (often 14 days) after arrival.
IBAN — international bank account number; required by most employers before first paycheck.
Mindestlohn / minimum wage — country-set floor that defines the lower bound on legal pay. Updated yearly.
Apostille — international certification that authenticates documents (education, police, marriage). Most EU countries now accept it instead of the older consular legalisation chain.

Related guides

Looking for a specific role aligned with this guide? Browse open positions at CHI Recruiting — every job page lists the country-specific salary, contract length, and onboarding details so you can match this guide to live opportunities. Reference: BLOG-OPEN-BANK-ACCOUNT-EUROPE.