HousingGermany

Registering your address (Anmeldung)

Die Anmeldung deiner Wohnung

Within two weeks of moving in you register your address at the citizens' office. You get the confirmation on the spot and your tax ID by post.

4 min read7 steps7 documents13 words to learnNot reviewed yet

Overview

In Germany everyone who lives in a flat or a room has to register that address with the local authority. This is called the Anmeldung, and it applies to Germans and foreigners alike, to people arriving from abroad and to people moving from one city to another.

You need the registration confirmation for almost every later step: opening a bank account, signing an employment contract, health insurance, child benefit, a phone or internet contract. That makes it the first official errand to complete once you have a place to live.

1

What the registration is and why it is compulsory

Under the federal registration act the state must know where each person lives.

  • The registration itself is usually free.
  • Registering late can cost a fine of up to a thousand euros, and in practice it blocks everything that needs a fixed address.
  • Your landlord plays a key role.
  • He or she is obliged to give you the landlord's confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung), which proves that you moved into the flat, and can be fined for refusing or for writing false information in it.
2

When and where to register

You have two weeks from the day you move into the flat.

  • You register at the citizens' office (Bürgeramt), the residents' registration office or the local service centre, and the name differs from city to city.
  • In big cities such as Berlin, Munich or Hamburg appointments run out quickly, so book on your city's website as soon as you sign the contract and check the site every morning, because new slots are released all the time.
  • In Berlin you can choose any office in the city.
  • Some cities let you fill in the form or upload documents online before the appointment.
3

Registering with a family or in shared housing

If you move with a spouse and children, everyone can be registered in one appointment, and each person brings their own documents: passport, marriage certificate and the children's birth certificates.

  • The office may ask for a certified translation of foreign documents.
  • If you rent a room from a main tenant, that person has to sign the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung for you and must be allowed to sublet, otherwise the contract can be terminated.
  • Never pay for an address that exists only for registration, because a sham registration is against the law.
4

What happens after you register

You normally receive the registration confirmation at the appointment itself.

  • A few weeks later the Federal Central Tax Office sends your tax identification number by post to your new address, and you will need it for your first job.
  • At registration you are asked about your religion, because members of certain churches pay a church tax of roughly eight to nine percent of their income tax, while Muslims and people without a church membership do not.
  • You will also receive a letter from the broadcasting fee service, since every household pays a small monthly fee, and you should not ignore that letter.
5

When you move or leave

If you move within the same city, register the new address within two weeks.

  • If you move to another city, you register there only, because the old office is informed automatically.
  • When you leave Germany for good you must deregister (Abmeldung) within two weeks of leaving, and you can do it up to a week in advance.
  • Keep a copy of every confirmation, as you may need it for your tax return or when applying for permanent residence.

Step by step

  1. 1

    Sign the rental contract and ask the landlord for the landlord's confirmation the same day if possible.

  2. 2

    Find your city's citizens' office online and book the earliest appointment available.

  3. 3

    Download the registration form from your city's website and fill it in using the Latin spelling from your passport.

  4. 4

    Put all documents in one folder and bring copies as a backup.

  5. 5

    Arrive ten minutes early and give your appointment number at reception.

  6. 6

    Check the recorded details before you sign, especially your name, dates and marital status.

  7. 7

    Receive and keep the confirmation, then wait for your tax ID to arrive by post within a few weeks.

Documents checklist

  • A valid passport or ID card.
  • Your visa or residence permit if you are not an EU citizen.
  • The completed registration form.
  • The landlord's confirmation, signed by the landlord.
  • Marriage certificate and children's birth certificates when registering a family.
  • Certified translations of foreign documents if requested.
  • The printed appointment confirmation or your appointment number.

Key vocabulary

  • dieAnmeldung
    address registration
  • dasBürgeramt
    citizens' office
  • dieWohnungsgeberbestätigung
    landlord's confirmation
  • dieMeldebescheinigung
    registration certificate
  • derVermieter
    landlord
  • dieFrist
    deadline
  • derTermin
    appointment
  • dieSteuer-Identifikationsnummer
    tax identification number
  • dieKirchensteuer
    church tax
  • derRundfunkbeitrag
    broadcasting fee
  • dieAbmeldung
    deregistration
  • derPersonalausweis
    ID card
  • dasBußgeld
    fine

Useful phrases

  • Ich möchte mich anmelden.I would like to register my address.
  • Ich habe einen Termin um zehn Uhr.I have an appointment at ten o'clock.
  • Hier ist meine Wohnungsgeberbestätigung.Here is my landlord's confirmation.
  • Ich bin gerade erst umgezogen.I have only just moved.
  • Können Sie das bitte langsamer sagen?Could you say that more slowly, please?
  • Wo muss ich unterschreiben?Where do I have to sign?
  • Bekomme ich die Bestätigung sofort?Do I get the confirmation straight away?
  • Wann kommt meine Steuer-ID?When will my tax ID arrive?

At the citizens' office

  • Mitarbeiterin

    Guten Tag. Wie kann ich Ihnen helfen?Good day. How can I help you?

  • Sie

    Guten Tag. Ich möchte mich anmelden. Ich bin letzte Woche eingezogen.Good day. I would like to register my address. I moved in last week.

  • Mitarbeiterin

    Haben Sie Ihren Pass und die Wohnungsgeberbestätigung dabei?Do you have your passport and the landlord's confirmation with you?

  • Sie

    Ja, hier bitte. Das Formular habe ich schon ausgefüllt.Yes, here you are. I have already filled in the form.

  • Mitarbeiterin

    Sehr gut. Sind Sie Mitglied einer Kirche?Very good. Are you a member of a church?

  • Sie

    Nein, ich gehöre keiner Kirche an.No, I do not belong to any church.

  • Mitarbeiterin

    Dann ist alles in Ordnung. Hier ist Ihre Anmeldebestätigung. Die Steuer-ID kommt in ein paar Wochen per Post.Then everything is in order. Here is your registration confirmation. The tax ID will arrive by post in a few weeks.

  • Sie

    Vielen Dank. Auf Wiedersehen!Thank you very much. Goodbye!

Common mistakes

  • Waiting until the two weeks are almost over before looking for an appointment, when the deadline may pass before you find one. Book on the first day.
  • Turning up without the landlord's confirmation. The office will not register you without it and you lose your appointment.
  • Writing your name with a spelling that differs from your passport, which causes trouble later with the bank, the tax office and your employer.
  • Ignoring the broadcasting fee or church tax letters after registering. They arrive automatically and the debt grows the longer you wait.

Cultural tips

  • Set up a permanent email address before you register, because you will receive many official messages and need to read them regularly.
  • If your city has no appointments, try a neighbouring district office or ask about walk-in hours early in the morning.
  • Bring a pen and a charged phone, since you may need to open your appointment email or translate a word on the spot.

Official links

Check yourself

Question 1 of 5

How long after moving in do you have to register your address?