Guides
Longer pieces for one appointment
Phrase pages are the short lines for the queue. A guide is the rest of one visit. Two per language: the first-week desk and the flat viewing. Filter so a Japanese desk is not sitting next to a Spanish kitchen.
Spanish · 2
- What to say at a flat viewing in Spain — Write the Idealista message, ask about la fianza and which bills are included, and say whether you want the piso. Spain-specific — not Latin American rentar.
- Spanish phrases for empadronamiento — Book cita previa, bring the lease or a friend's autorización, and ask for the volante before you leave. Spanish for the padrón desk — not a tourist word list.
French · 2
- French phrases for a préfecture appointment — Book the rendez-vous, bring the folder, and say whether this is a first titre de séjour or a renewal. French for the préfecture window — not the mairie queue.
- What to say at a French flat viewing (visite) — Write the Leboncoin message, ask which charges are included, and name the dépôt de garantie. French for the visite — not the préfecture queue.
Mandarin · 2
- Mandarin for 临时住宿登记 (línshí zhùsù dēngjì) — Register lodging with public security within 24 hours if you are not in a hotel. Mandarin for the 派出所 desk — Exit-Entry Law article 39, not a tourist word list.
- Mandarin for a Shanghai flat viewing (看房 / kànfáng) — Ask 押金 versus 中介费, name 水电煤, and get 网签备案 before you sign. Mandarin for a Shanghai 看房 — not the 派出所 lodging desk.
Japanese · 2
- What to say at a Japanese ward office (転入届 / tennyū todoke) — File 転入届 within 14 days of settling, bring the residence card, and ask for a 住民票. Ward-office Japanese for the city desk — not a tourist phrase list.
- What to say at a Japanese flat viewing (内見 / naiken) — Book the 内見, ask 敷金 versus 礼金, and sit through the restoration explainer. Ward-and-shop Japanese for a Tokyo viewing — not a tourist phrase list.
Korean · 2
- What to say at a Korean 주민센터 (전입신고 / jeonip singo) — File 전입신고 at the 주민센터 and the 15-day 체류지변경신고. Korean for the community-centre desk — lease, 확정일자, and the two clocks.
- What to say at a Korean flat viewing (집 보기 / jip bogi) — Say whether this is 월세 or 전세, ask 관리비 and 보증금, and get 확정일자 on the real contract. Korean for the viewing — not the 주민센터 morning after.
German · 2
- What to say at a German Anmeldung appointment — Book the Termin, get the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung signed, and answer what the Bürgeramt clerk asks. 14 days from move-in. Berlin’s official checklist.
- What to say at a German flat viewing (Besichtigung) — Write the Immobilienscout message, ask Kaltmiete versus Nebenkosten, and check the Kaution against BGB § 551. German for the Besichtigung.
Italian · 2
- What to say at an Italian anagrafe (dichiarazione di residenza) — File the dichiarazione di residenza within 20 days. Accolta con riserva is the 45-day check. Italian for the anagrafe — not the Questura.
- What to say at an Italian flat viewing (visita) — Ask cauzione, spese condominiali, and whether the contratto will be registered. Italian for the visita — three months max under legge 392/1978.
Portuguese · 2
- What to say at Polícia Federal (CRNM registration) — Register at Polícia Federal for the CRNM: 90 days after entry on a temporary visa, or 30 days after the DOU. Portuguese for the PF window — not the prefeitura.
- What to say at a São Paulo flat viewing (visita) — Ask caução, condomínio and IPTU, and pick one guarantee — not a stack. Brazilian Portuguese for São Paulo — Lei 8.245, not a Lisbon viewing.
Russian · 2
- What to say for миграционный учёт (migration registration) — Migration registration is generally seven working days; the host usually files. Russian for the window — Federal Law 109-FZ, not a tourist phrase list.
- What to say at a Moscow flat viewing (просмотр) — Ask залог, коммуналка, and for an акт приёма-передачи. Russian for a Циан viewing — Civil Code 381.1, not миграционный учёт.
Turkish · 2
- What to say for ikamet and a Turkish address change — Apply for ikamet on e-ikamet, then report an address change within 20 business days. Turkish for Göç İdaresi and nüfus — two desks, two clocks.
- What to say at an Istanbul flat viewing (görüntüleme) — Ask depozito, aidat, and whether the address works on e-ikamet. Turkish for a Sahibinden viewing — TBK 342 caps the deposit at three months.
Dutch · 2
- What to say at a Dutch gemeente (BRP inschrijving) — File the inschrijving within 5 days of arrival, bring the lease, and leave with a BSN. Dutch for the gemeente desk — Amsterdam’s Stadsloket, not a Belgian commune.
- What to say at an Amsterdam flat viewing (bezichtiging) — Ask borg, servicekosten, and kale huur. Dutch for a Funda viewing — waarborgsom is capped at two months of kale huur.
