Anmeldung means registering your address with the local registration office, usually called the Bürgeramt or Bürgerbüro. Everyone who moves into a flat in Germany has to do it, Germans included. The certificate you get, the Meldebescheinigung, is what banks, the immigration office, employers and phone companies ask for.
What to bring
- Your passport. EU citizens can bring a national ID card instead.
- Your visa or residence permit, if you have one.
- The Wohnungsgeberbestätigung: a form your landlord signs to confirm you moved in. Your rental contract is not a substitute.
- The registration form (Anmeldeformular), filled in. Many cities let you download it; some fill it in at the counter. For Berlin and Hamburg, you can fill it in in English.
- Marriage or birth certificates if you're registering family members, with translations if the office asks.
Booking the appointment
- 1
Find your city's booking page
Most cities book Bürgeramt appointments online. Our city guides link the page for Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Cologne, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf, Leipzig and Heidelberg.
- 2
Book as soon as you know your move-in date
In large cities the first free slot can be weeks away. Cancelled appointments are released during the day, so checking again in the morning often finds an earlier one.
- 3
Check whether any office will do
In some cities you can register at any Bürgeramt, not only the one for your district. A slightly longer trip is often a much earlier date.
At the appointment
The appointment usually takes 10 to 15 minutes. The official checks your documents, enters your address and prints your Meldebescheinigung. It's free. Check the spelling of your name and your date of birth before you leave: the Steuer-ID letter and your tax records are created from this entry.
Track Anmeldung in HomeSettled
HomeSettled checks your passport and Wohnungsgeberbestätigung, and tells you what's missing before the appointment.
What happens afterwards
- Your tax ID (Steuer-ID) arrives by post, usually 2 to 4 weeks later. See Tax ID and tax class.
- The Rundfunkbeitrag office writes to your address about the broadcasting fee. See Rundfunkbeitrag.
- You can now book the immigration office appointment for your residence permit. See Your residence permit appointment.
- Put your name on your letterbox. German authorities send almost everything by post, and letters to an unnamed box are returned.
Moving again, or leaving
Every move within Germany needs a new registration at the new address within 14 days, with a new Wohnungsgeberbestätigung. The old address is updated automatically. If you leave Germany, you deregister instead. See Leaving Germany.
Common questions
Can I register at a friend's address?
Only if you actually live there. Registering at an address where you don't live is an offence, and a landlord who signs a false Wohnungsgeberbestätigung can be fined too.
I'm in temporary accommodation. Do I need to register?
If you stay somewhere for longer than a short visit and it is where you live, yes. Many serviced apartments and student halls provide the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung for this reason. Hotels and hostels generally don't.
Do I need a German speaker with me?
It helps but isn't required. Bring the completed form so the conversation is short. Staff at offices in large cities often speak some English.
Sources
Rules and amounts change. Check the official source before you rely on a figure.