Anmeldung: residence registration – simply explained.
Who knew that one of your first encounters with German bureaucracy could be so terrifying? Doing your Anmeldung in Berlin is however essential to your new life here.
This small guide is explaining how to do the Anmeldung in English in Berlin (and all other cities in Germany). It also aims at giving you tips to save time & stress. And if everything fails, you can always ask a question in the comments.
What is the Anmeldung in Germany?
In English: Anmeldung is Germany is registering your current address with the local authorities. This is one of the most important administrative steps for anybody moving to Germany. Anmeldung comes from “An/melden“, to register in German. This needs to be done in person.
When doing so, you will be given the “Meldebescheinigung“, a residence registration certificate. This innocent piece of paper will be necessary in many aspects of your life in this country. You will be asked for this if you want to sign-up for health insurance, open a bank account, set up an internet connection or simply obtain a tax ID number.
How to do the Anmeldung in Berlin (& any city):
1- Secure an appointment
In larger cities, it is strongly recommended to book an appointment to avoid long waiting times. In some cities like Berlin, it is even compulsory to book an appointment before-hand. You will find the link below to book to do your Anmeldung in Berlin, and other cities too.
- Book an appointment in Berlin here.
- Book an appointment in Munich here
- Book an appointment in Frankfurt here.
- Book an appointment in Hamburg here.
- Book an appointment in Stuttgart here.
- Book an appointment in Dortmund here.
- Book an appointment Düsseldorf here.
- For any other city try to Google, “Meldebehörde Anmeldung City Termin”
You will be given an appointment number, unique to you. Make sure to store it safely. Without it, you won’t be able to attend. I have also made a detailed post on get an appointment fast at the Bürgeramt in Berlin.
2- Bring the right documents with you
As you could expect, Germany loves a long list of documents. Bring these to the appointment with you:
- The form called “Anmeldung bei einer Meldebehörde“. You will find it on your city website or use Appmeldung instead to fill it in easily in English 100% digitally. This form lists your personal details, addresses, document details, etc.
Here is a small guide on filling in the Anmeldung form in English. - The form called “Wohnungsgeberbestätigung“. This document is a statement from your landlord that you have moved in at the address. The main tenant can also fill this in, in case of sublet or flatshare.
You can use this guide to fill in the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung in English. - An ID card or passport.
- Your tenancy or sublet contract for good measure. If you are simply temporarily staying at a friend’s or a relative’s while looking for something more permanent, have them write and sign a letter stating that you are staying with them. Here is a draft you can use.
- A birth certificate (optional).
You may also need the following documents:
- If you are in Germany on a visa, bring your residence permit with you.
- If you are married/in a partnership, they will also want see a relevant marriage certificate, translated in German by a certified translator.
- If you are divorced/separated with children, you will need a letter of consent from the other parent stating that they agree the child/children should live with you.
3- Attend the appointment
Armed with your trusty stack and your appointment number, show up on time. A few elements to remember and/or consider:
- Most city workers won’t be speaking English to you. It’s not because they can’t, it’s simply because they are liable if they mistranslate or misrepresent something to you. You can bring someone with you, if you need assistance registering your address with the language.
- Registration includes giving away your religion. It’s completely normal as there is a church tax in Germany.
- If you come here to work, it’s best to mention it during the appointement. The worker will then request a German tax ID for you.
- You can usually request 1-2 extra copies of your registration certificate for free. Extra copies will cost you 5-10 euros. Cash only usually.
- If everything is in order, the city worker will give you your registration certificate, complete with stamp. Make sure that all details are accurate before leaving the office.
- Store your Meldebescheinigung safely.
Things you should know
Who needs to register their address in Germany?
Everyone who becomes a German resident must register their address with the local authorities, as stated by law (§17 of the Bundesmeldegesetz). The reason of your stay in the country or your nationality makes no exception to this rule.
This is also a requirement if you simply change addresses, it is then called the Ummeldung.
Visitors staying in Germany for less than 3 months:
Another piece of law (§27 BMG) states that visitors do not need to register in the following cases:
- You are visiting the country for less than 3 months, typically tourists.
- You are registered somewhere else in Germany, and stay in another city for less than 6 months.
In this case, be aware that you will be deprived of some possibilities. You won’t be able sign up with a mobile phone provider, so make sure you can sort that out through other ways.
About registration deadlines, and possible fines
The German law states that the Anmeldung in Berlin & any other city in Germany must be done within 2 weeks after your move-in date (§54 BMG). Anyone failing to do that exposes themselves to fines up to 1000€.
This can cause some stress because newcomers are sometimes faced with one of those situation:
- They didn’t know registration was compulsory and failed to register.
- They can’t find any appointment to register within the time limit.
However, there is no cause for concern because there is no usually no harsh consequences involved. Fines are very rarely applied when it’s a honest mistake or if there were no appointment slots available. You might get a harsh look but that’s about it.
Also, do know that the deadline is extended further in the future when using short-term accommodations, considered “commercial” as per German law (§29 BMG). It is then 3 months after move-in date.
Who can fill-in the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung
It’s a legal duty to provide the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung to anyone who signs a tenancy contract (§19 BMG). The following people are able to provide/sign this document:
- A landlord: that can be a private person or the estate management company (Hausverwaltung). This is the most common case.
- A main tenant: this is common in flat shares or in sublets. However, do make sure that the landlord is aware of it.
- A friend lending their couch: Even if you don’t pay rent, your friend can also do that. Again, in theory, the landlord must be aware of it. This applies also if you move in with your partner/husband/wife.
- Yourself: when you own your place, you are the landlord. So you do it yourself.
Bürgeramt, Bürgerbüro, Rathaus, or Kundezentrum?
This post was originally meant to explain how to do the Anmeldung in Berlin, thus only the term Bürgeramt was used here. However, since people from everywhere in Germany are reading this, it’s worthwhile to say that it’s called differently in other parts of the country. So check the local lingo. 🙂 Those terms can be used interchangeably in this post.
Filling-in the Anmeldung forms online in English, is that possible?
If you really don’t know any German and don’t know anybody who can help, this simple task can be hard to achieve. There are so many things to think about when moving to Germany, so it’s sometimes nice to take a little shortcut! To make your life easier, you can turn to Appmeldung, which lets you fill in the Anmeldung form in English for Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Munich. Disclaimer: Appmeldung was built by the guy behind this blog.
How to get an appointment at the Bürgeramt, fast
The demand for appointements at the Bürgeramt is so high that the first available slot is usually weeks away. This can be a real challenge, especially if you need to get your life in order now. You can use those 2 tips to increase your chances:
- Check the booking system at 8 a.m. This is when the whole system is refreshed and it often shows open slots when it didn’t a few minutes before. Especially on mondays.
- Keep refreshing the page, or else use a browser extension that can detect changes on the page. It can warn you when a new slot is available. Try this for Chrome.
- In larger cities, you can often go to any Bürgeramt in the city. Offices located outside the city center tend to be less busy. Sometimes, you can even get something for the same day!
- Use your phone. Larger cities have setup dedicated hotlines to book appointments. This may help too.
- Call 030 115 in Berlin.
- Call 040 115 in Hamburg.
- Call 069 115 in Frankfurt.
- Call 089 23396 000 in Munich.
- Other cities, try googling “Anmeldung hotline [cityname]”
Et voila, you are on the fast track.
Next steps after the Anmeldung
This is usually what whappens when you have registered:
- You receive a German tax ID if you have requested to work.
- You receive a German social security number if relevant.
- You can now open a bank account in Germany.
- You can now sign-up for health insurance in Germany with a local provider.
- You can now register as a freelancer, start your job or enroll at a university.
- You can now sign-up for services like internet service providers, mobile phone service, electricity or gas providers.
FAQ about the Anmeldung in Germany
The German administration wants landlords to fill in that document to confirm that you moved in. This also makes sure that the landlord is aware of the sublet, which is required by law. It also seems that the Bürgeramt employees don’t care and/or don’t check. It’s up to you to take that risk.
This probably means that they are not allowed to sub-rent their room. They maybe live in a WBS flat (where rent is subsidized by the city) or they haven’t let the landlord know about it. This is a bad bet if you need to register to start working and stuff.
It’s obvious, to register your flat with the Anmeldung in Berlin, you need to have found one. But for many of us, we haven’t found one yet. A simple letter from a friend letting you stay at their place will be enough to register. Same goes in case of a sublet situation. Bear in mind that in theory, the landlord should always be aware of who is living in the place, providing a written confirmation that you have moved in there.
Each Bürgeramt seems to have its own policy regarding appointments. The best is maybe to call one to check with them. If they do accept walk-ins, go queue there 30min before opening time to make sure you have a ticket. You may also want to go to less busy offices. Read onto the next question for more details.
You can register at any Bürgeramt in Berlin but check for other cities. This is especially useful if you need to register fast. You can travel to a less popular Bezirke that has less traffic to get an appointment sooner. You’d need to check about that for other cities than Berlin.
It depends on a few factors and on where you live. In Berlin, the law says that for each adult person, there should be at least 9 sqm, and for kids only 6 sqm. In Bavaria, that is 10 sqm per person over 6 years old, 6 sqm per person under 6 years old.
Absolutely. Someone can represent you and do all this for you provided this person has all the required documents together with your ID/Passport and a Vollmacht (a procuration) for this person.
No, you will be fine. If you could have been considered a temporary visitor until now but your plans have changed simply book an appointment asap.
Most cities do not require a tenancy contract anymore to do the Anmeldung. Check your local city’s policy. It’s still a good idea to bring it with you for good measure.
This document is required to be able to do the Anmeldung in Berlin. However city workers usually don’t have the time or resources to check who filled-in that document during the appointement. Keep in mind that it is illegal to produce a fraudulent version of that document.
No. Welcome to Germany.
If some reason, you cannot have your name on the mailbox, you should insert the name on the mailbox in your address with “bei” like this:
First Name Last Name
bei [name on mailbox]
Schlesisches Tor 1
10999 Berlin
I hope this guide about the Anmeldung in English for Berlin and other cities helped to answer some of your questions. Feel free to ask more in the comments.
Bastien
Hi there!
First off, thank you for all the useful information and time you take to answer all the questions.
I will be in Berlin for 4 months for one semester, then relocating to another EU country the following semester. For the 4 month I am staying in Berlin, I am planning on visiting my home country (also an EU member) maybe once or twice, as it is close by.
Would I be able to get away with not registering, as I am leaving for a short period and therefore my stay will not be 4 months consecutively?
I would prefer not having to move my address from my home country, seeing that it would make my insurance situation a lot easier.
Thanks again!
Hey Helene. I can’t really tell you what you could get away this since it depends on what you want to achieve here, during your time in Germany. You seem to be aware of the possible consequences though. Depends on what your university says for example. Can’t answer that question for you i’m afraid.
Hello ! How many people can register in an address ? Is it about m2? Or amount of rooms ?
Thanks !
Hey Emmanuel. As this is Germany, it depends on a few factors and on where you live. In Berlin, the law says that for each adult person, there should be at least 9sqm. for Kids only 6sqm, but it may be 6sqm or 4sqm for kids, if the common shared rooms are big enough. Source.
Hi, after I registred what do I do? They send a document or something else that shows prrof of it? Like some kind of ID? I wanted a contract phone with a Phone Company but they require the Anmeldung info. Help pls
Hey Rejkard. You obtain a Meldebescheinigung on the spot.
Hi ! I’m a student that will start studying in Berlin soon. I have a Spanish Residence Permit, and would like to know something.
I would like to get my anmeldung, but I’m planning to come to the city first in order to find an accommodation. I don’t know if I can get my anmeldung through living in a student residence/coliving place, or if I should mandatorily sublet a studio/room temporarily and talk with the landlord about it. Thanks !
Hey Mateo. Both options are possible. Depends on each place’s policies.
Hello. I have a question regarding anmeldung in the flat rented via wunderflats (for 3 months for now, we plan to stay for good in Berlin). Does the landlord have obligation to provide me with die Wohnungsgeberbestätigung or it is only if he want to? I have read somewhere that in case of short term renting he can refuse. Is that true? Thank you in advance for the answer.
Hey Katarzyna. Wunderflats usually guarantees you can do an Anmeldung with their partner flats. But yes, landlords must provide you with that document.
Hi! I’m registered at a friend’s place in Bremen and I’ve got a job in Mannheim for one year. I found a nice apartment there but it’s a sublet and the girl said the landlord won’t sign my registration because of people per quadratmeter. My question is, would it cause me any problems to live and work in a city (and state!) different from the one I am registered?
Hey Beatriz. No, that is not a problem.
Hi Bastien ! One question, maybe you know the answer. I have a subletting contract contract with my flatmate (he is the Hauptmieter). Right now its 3 days before termination and we will renew it, but still waiting for the answer from Hausverwlatung. Is it a problem to stay registered somewhere, when you do not have an actual contract for a flat? Thanks
Hey Evie. You’d have to ask a Beamter for the exact response but nobody at the Bürgeramt will check if the hauptmieter contract has run out, if you are already registered. In theory, the Hauptmieter bares the legal risks i assume.
Hi Thor. Thank you very much for your very comprehensive introduction on how to setting in Berlin. Because now I am doing a postdoc in Spain with a Spanish visa (Valid until February, 2021), I could go to Berlin without a German visa. Do you know whether I can (1) register with the local authorities (ANMELDUNG), and (2) obtain residence permit, if I don’t have a German visa? According to the requirement of registration and obtaining residence permit in the document, I don’t need the Germany visa to do these two administration process. Or should I ask the German Embassy in Spain about this question?
Hey Chunlong. I would double check with them because it may depend on your specific case as well. The only comment i would have is that it might be risky to move here before having a more permanent residence permit because you might be rejected in the first place.
Hi all. I have an enquiry.I tried to find relevant info on the internet but no luck. I moved to a new apartment in Berlin from Stuttgart and the main tenant made the document that needs to filed to the Registry office for the registration. He also sent the sub-letting contract to the landlord.
However, he left the moving date blank, for me to fill in because I was going to move later, which I did. My question is, the date on the contract is different from the date I moved in (I moved 3 months later), and from what I read, at the Registry Office they do not require the contract. Will I have a legal problem because of the date difference? Does anybody submit the contract to the Registry Office? They will know when I go to register that I rent the apartment 3 months prior? Many thanks in advance
Hey Margarita. You don’t need to worry about this. You’re fine.
I came to Germany from a non European country though I am having Lithuania work visa D, I have gotten an apartment where I will put my address here in Germany, I am a medical graduate and I intent to live and work in Germany, my question is, will I be allowed to look for job once I have an address?
Hey Daniel. Err, yes? I don’t get the question?
Thank you for the very useful article.
Could you kindly give me some clarification on this situation?
Basically I was already registered and working two years ago in Germany and then left and “abgemeldet”.
Now I came back and found a job in a different city. Do I need to restart the procedure all from zero or are my Taxsteuernummer and Renteversicherungsnummer still valid? Should I just do the anmeldung and krankenversicherung and that’s it right?
Thank you for your patience and wish you a great day.
Hey Alex. If you are talking about your Identifikationsnummer, then yes, it will stay the same. Also your Renteverischerungsnummer. Your Steuernummer might change but you will get a new one from your local Finanzamt if that is the case.
Hi,
I have my anmeldung at my first apartment, i recently moved to a new apartment. do i need to do my registration all over again or can i just change the address
Hey Suzanne. New address = you need to do an Ummeldung/New Anmeldung.
Thank you for the valuable information. Do you know if I should do another Anmeldung if I moved to a different apartment In the same building?
Hey Maram. I don’t know for sure. I think it’s not necessary.
Hey there,
Thanks for what you doing here.
Here the story;
I used to live here in Berlin in the past and left without pay BVG fines. ( i know )
Now im back here have a job a flat but my steurnummer is ‘desactivated’ as ive been abmelden from my last flat when i left it.
Im taxed 25 percent tax level 6 but im a bit scared to do the anmeldung and the police show up because of the fines that must be crazy expensive now.
Sorry to ask for this, everybody do mistakes,
Thanks in advance
Hey Mael. I don’t see any question but i assume you are asking about the likelihood of the police or collection agency finding you if you do an anmeldung. In short: i don’t know.
Hi Bastien,
My boyfriend signed a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung and I received a Meldebestätigung so I could move in his apartment and register his address as mine. What type of notice of termination applies to me in case my boyfriend wants me to move out? How many days do I lawfully get to move out?
Hey Martha. That belongs to tenancy law. Landlords need to abide by a 3 months notice period if you have living in the place for less than 5 years. If 5-8 years, it’s 6 months.
We are 5 people staying in an apartment. 4 of them have anmeldung done. One was supposed to leave when I moved in. But now due to some issue he is not moving out for now and not sure how long he gonna be here. I dont have anmeldung. And some say not more than 4 can have it on same address. So my question is can each of us (5 persons) have anmeldung for the same address..?
Hey Zeeshan. There is a theoretical limit of sqm per head in a given flat, but that will not be checked at the Bürgeramt.
Thanks for the article! I have recently moved to Germany for the second time. Last time I lived here I did anmeldung and abmeldung in one of the amts. Do I need to go back to the same one to do anmeldung again? Thanks in advance.
No.
Thanks for your amazing work with this site!
Have you heard of any ways to register at a new address from overseas? I’m in the UK and unable to get back because of C-19, but need to de-register from my old place and register at the new one…
I know I could just do a straightforward abmeldung, but as a Brit, worried that this will affect chances of staying in Germany because of Brexit implications…
anyway, just in case you’d heard of a way round this.
thanks and hope you’re ok!
I have a question. I was living in Bielefeld until November last year. Then I moved to Stuttgart (temporarily) in December 2019 but I did not register myself here ( I shall be here only up til April). I also sublet-ted my apartment to someone, who registered himself. Now the question is: Since he has done his Anmeldung, does that automatically de-registers me from that apartment. Secondly, will it cause any troubles for me when I go back there in April and re-register myself there? I hope you got what I am trying to ask here!
Hey Shah. 1. No, you still live there as far as everybody is concerned. 2. If you never deregistered, no need to re-register probably.
Hey Bastien!
Thanks for all the help. I’m heading to Neubrandenburg next month for my master’s degree and will be living in the student accommodation. Do I have to redo my Anmeldung every time my room number changes throughout my course?
Hey Rhea. I think it probably depends where you get your mail/post from. If you have one mail box per room number, then yes, it might be necessary.
Hello Bastien, thank you very much for this website, always a source of valuable information!
My question is this: I am moving out of Germany for one year but for taxation reasons I was advised by the personal department of my job to keep my residency here, otherwise I’ll be put in Steuerklasse 6 (not good). A college is willing to let me put my residency in his place (as well as the landlord), but I was wondering if I can do the change of address (which is the anmeldung again right?) a few days before actually leaving the country, because, well, I’ll no longer be here! Thank you very much again and all the best!
Lilian
Hey Lilian. I don’t really get the question? if you are doing little white lies for tax reasons, why bother about the date this is all starting? As far as Germany is concerned, you will never leave the country.
Thank you Bastien! Yeah, I think you are right, after all a couple of days are not the real problem in my case…
Thank you again and carry on!
Hello what is the purpose of a stauernummer?
Hey Bastien, thanks for a job well done… Kindly advice, am on a tourist visa, got a job offer in Bremen that requires my expertise but was told I need am Anmeldung before the contract can be processed
Hey Teddy. You can read the post about the work visa in Germany here. Since you already have a job offer, that will make the process easier though.
Thanks for the helpful information. I have a situation like this: I registered my address 11 months ago and now I am going to leave that address and go to my home country for 3 months. After 3 months I need to come again to Germany for some exams and will stay at my friend’s place without registration for one month. After that will leave Germany permanently. So, my question is: Can it be the problem to live without ummeldung that one month? And will it be a problem when I leave the country?
Hey Jane. I suppose you will do an Abmeldung because you leave the country permanently. You won’t be a German resident anymore. In that case when you come back, you could probably considered as a tourist in Germany for that time?
No, actually I’ll be considered as a student, because I have a registration at the university. And I’ll come for one month for final exams. So, therefore I think I cannot do an Abmeldung. What can happen if I just leave my address (without notifying the Burgeramt), go to my country and come back for exams( staying at my friend’s home without any registration)?
Hey Jane. I think you can understand the consequences of that. I cannot give you advice on what to do in that case, as it may impact things i am not aware of. Sorry.
This site really has all the information and facts I wanted concerning this subject and didn’t
know who to ask.
Magnificent site. Lots of helpful info here. I’m sending it to several friends ans also sharing in delicious.
And of course, thanks on your effort!
Good morning, one question. I didn’t have Anmeldung for one year and three months and now I will go do the registration. I will have to pay a fine?
Hey Spe. In theory, this is what should happen yes. I can’t say what will happen in practice.
Hey, great website! I’ve been trying to find this out and I’m hoping you might have some insight (at least on who to contact): I am a foreign resident in Germany, but will be doing my thesis abroad. Because it’ll take 6 months, I’ll be moving out of my current apartment, and not getting a new one til I come back. Should I do the Abmeldung when I leave? I just don’t know where they’ll send my official mail for 6 months if I do. There doesn’t seem to be a system in place for temporarily living abroad and not having a German address while you do it.
Hey Han. Just curious which sort of official correspondance are you expecting? Can you not pay for a mail redirection by the Deutsche Post for 6 months and sent it somewhere else?
Hello Bastien,
I did the anmeldung one month ago, however i didn´t receive the tax number at my address because i didn´t put my name in the mailbox since I just moved in. Where can i get my tax number?
Hey Paulo. Have you seen this post?
Thanks for all your amazingly helpful content! I am already living in Berlin, and registered here, and a tax resident here. I am about to move to another EU country and become a tax resident there, but I will keep the apartment I own in Berlin, and come here frequently. I assume I need to do my abmeldung, and of course remove myself as a tax resident. Do you know if there are any issues with this (will there be problems with my utilities, or internet accounts, or some other thing I have not thought of). Any helpful info you have greatly appreciated!
Hey Joseph. I’m no property expert but i assume you will still be liable for local property taxes and other general building maintenance costs. As for the rest, since you won’t use internet, utilities, etc, there is probably nothing else to think of.
Hello there, great tips. Just one question can i get the anmeldung done before my move in date. I have the contract and move in.
Hey Ansh. No.
Hello! I’m moving to Berlin in January to live with my boyfriend. He has a very old apartment contract from the GDR. His parents moved out of the apartment last year but did not inform the landlord (he was living there as a child when they registered 40+ years ago.) He is registered at the address, but he is afraid that if he tells the landlord i’m moving in that the landlord will realize the original tennants are gone and would make my boyfriend renegotiate his contract (making his rent much higher.) Is this a legitimate fear in your opinion? And would I be able to get anmeldung without talking to the landlord?
Hey Allie. Anmeldung requires the knowledge of the landlord as they need to fill in that document, as listed in the post. If the contract has effectively ended, the landlord may have the right to rise the rent, within a certain limit.
Hi! I am living at a friend’s place in Berlin and have been registered there since June. The landlord is aware that I’m there, but since I’m not on the main lease they got snippy about the fact that we put my name on the mailbox, and after some heated back-and-forth my friend no longer wants to make a fuss. SO my name got taken off the box a couple of months ago and now I’m having a hard time getting mail — specifically, necessary mail from ELSTER and other tax stuff (I received my Tax-ID before my name was removed). For most things like health insurance I just give my address as “c/o friends name,” but since that’s not on my original registration, that doesn’t work for government mail.
The ELSTER office told me I can add “c/o friends name” directly at the Bürgeramt so I went ahead and made an appointment. Things I’ve seen online seem to back up that people have done a “c/o” with their original registration. Does anybody know whether I have to submit an ENTIRELY new registration with a new paperwork and wohnungsgeberbestätigung (the Bürgeramt kept the original and I dread asking for a new one given the situation), or if there’s an easier way to make the modification? Again, I didn’t actually move apartments. I barely speak German so calling and asking will be… tough. Getting this far has already been a massive headache.
Hi Bastien, do I have to bring proof of medical insurance for the Anmendung? I’m an Italian citizen covered by EHIC and I’ll be in Germany a few months, but my residency will remain in Italy (for now).
Thanks!
Hey Mary. It’s not needed.
Hi! Thanks so much for this post and your website in general, it’s so helpful!
I have arrived in Berlin, found a flat, and have my Anmeldung appointment booked for a few weeks time (though I will probably try to get one earlier through cancellation as you suggest). I also have a job lined as a childminder. When I’m at the appointment can I request a tax number without having health insurance? And at what point / in what circumstances would I have to prove that I have health insurance?
I will be getting health insurance, but as myself and my employers haven’t decided yet whether it would be best to work for then under a mini job, midi job, or on a freelance / self employed basis, it isn’t clear which health insurance I should go with yet. However, I know that the process of getting health insurance itself can take a long time, so I’m wondering whether I should try and get health insurance before my Anmeldung appointment so that I can a tax number (if health insurance is a prerequisite of getting a tax number).
Many thanks for any advice you can offer!
Hey Nancy. You don’t an health insurance certificate to get a tax number.
Hi what is the cost to register for anmelding please
No cost.
Hi,
I will be sharing the house with three other tenants. The landlord has provided only one copy of Wohnungsgeberbestätigung. So, during the anmeldung appointment, is the copy of Wohnungsgeberbestätigung collected by Bürgeramt for each tenant? Or can we all use the same copy of Wohnungsgeberbestätigung to register? We all have appointments on different days.
Hey Spporthi. Well, if all your names are on that document, you can use that document yes.
I have my residence permit that is attached to my Husband as it’s his work that brought us here. How can I tell if it allows me to work? I do have a tax number.
Hey Tammy. It should be written somewhere on your permit.
Can I go and register my address later than two weeks? Will any consequence happen? Thank you!
Hey Emma. It’s fine to be late if you don’t take months to oblige.
Hi,
I’m filling in the form now, and just have a few questions;
– Some websites state that to avoid church tax, you should leave the space blank, and some say to put oa = keiner Religionsgesellschaft angehörig. What would be better?
– Appmeldung put ‘LD’ in the Familienstand field, but the options seem to be 1, oder 1 und 2. I know LD means single, but would it not be better to put 1 then?
– Should I put my girlfriend who I’ll be living with as Lebenspartner? – I’m unsure whether it means an official civil partnership or similar, or just someone you’ve been living in sin with for the past eight years 🙂
Thanks in advance 🙂
Hey Richard. – In my opinion, OA is better. LD means Ledig (=single), 1 and 2 are just referring to people on the form. Your partnership needs to be registered/official somewhere, whether at home or here in Germany.
When you write this “The Anmeldung may not be a necessary step if you plan to stay for a semester or less than 3 months.” what are the conditions for which Anmeldung is not necessary for 6 months?
Hello,
Great post I found it super helpful. If I am moving to Berlin and I have a German friend in Frankfurt, would I be able to get my anmeldung in Frankfurt using my friend’s address and would it work in Berlin to get my student visa.
Thanks in advance!
Hey Matt. They would probably ask why not making an appointment with the foreigner’s office in Frankfurt, don’t you think?
Sorry if i misunderstood the reply. but I mean take an appointment in Frankfurt and register an address in Frankfurt. Then when I have it, use it in Berlin to get my residency. Thanks 🙂
Still not sure what you are getting at… An appointment in Frankfurt will be valid in Frankfurt…
Hi, i have a question. in the Anmeldung for, there is a box for signature, it i written in it ” unterschrift einer der meldepflichtigen oder einer person mit betreuungsvollmacht” i am not sure if somebody from Burgeramt should sign it or the person who i got the apparent from. i would be thankful if you could guide me
Hey Mars. You should sign it or person able to officialy represent you.
Hello! Thanks for the article. I have been living in Wuerzburg for year and a half, and my residence permit is attached to my job here. I’ll be moving to Berlin soon for a new job, and will have to apply for a new residence permit. The application requires the city Anmeldung certificate, and I was wondering if I’ll be able to make the Anmeldung even if my Aufenhaltstitel is only valid for Wuerzburg…
Hey Baldeep. Well it’s valid for Germany right? Not just the city of Wuerzburg?
Great blog!! I have a question – I already registered with the Bürgeramt several years ago and am now just finding work (here as an EXPAT). I need to apply for my Steuernummer but in order to do so I need my Anmeldung form which unfortunately i cannot locate anywhere. What do I need to do in order to just get a copy of the form? Is there a quick way or do I need to go to the Bürgeramt and get one in person? Or do I have to re-apply? Many thanks!
Hey Sara. You’d need to go the Bürgeramt again in person to get a new copy. This might cost you 5€ per copy.
My German friends are telling me that a simple letter from a friend does not work in 2019 🙁
Do you think you could check that and update the page? Thank you
Hey Sasha. You still need the confirmation for the landlord. The letter from a friend is only there to replace a tenancy contract, if you are crashing at their place for free.
Hello Bastien. I’ve been scouring the internet for information about this topic and yours seems to be the most comprehensive so far. Thank you for the great resource of information.
Here’s my situation: I will be moving to Germany from the US at the end of the year and I’ll be recently retired from the military (though never been stationed in Europe). I’ll want to get a place but have no Schufa and no friends to sublet/stay with once I’m there. Is it possible to find a place that will allow me to start paying rent/build Schufa when I arrive, and then get the Anmeldung once I’m settled in? If I can start looking now, I will. If there’s something in a housing listing that will tell me that, that would be appreciated as well
Thank you in advance!
Hey Dane. Not sure i get the logic: you first need to register in order to build a Schufa report on you. You can turn to platforms like Wunderflats if you are looking into a easy way to find a temporary solution with the Anmeldung, albeit it’s a little more expensive.
Hi guys, I booked the apartment through the spotahome online platform. The point is that I had to pay for the first month + booking fee and after that I got the contract. In the contract is stated that I can not be registered at that address (Eine Anmeldung und Nutzung als Erst- / Zweitwohnsitz bzw. postalische Korrespondenzanschrift ist nicht gestattet). The contract is for 6 months. I’m wondering is this legal? How can someone rent an accommodation on this way? This is definitely suspicious…
Hey Marco. This is not legal in most cases, and it’s definitely a blocker for a lot of things you need to do in Germany. Maybe you should consider another place?
Hi!
I’m from Belgium and about to start a 6-month internship in Berlin. The owner of the room I’m looking at is telling me I can’t have an Anmeldung there, but my internship is within the Erasmus+ program. Do I need one anyway?
Hey Kris. I don’t see any connection between those 2 things. You need to register regardless of the reason you live in Germany.
Ah, I thought that maybe because it’s only for 6 months that it wouldn’t be necessary!
Hi Kris ! I am exactly in the same situation as you are- belgian student going to Berlin for a 4 months internship within Erasmus+ . Did you do the Anmeldung ? Is it a real problem not to do so for such a short period and if my internship is not paid?
I have the same question: if I’m staying for just 4 months (and I already have a valid student visa), do I really need the Anmeldung? I’m using AirBnb. Please answer me 🙂 Thank you.
Hey Raquel, yes you do.
I don’t know why you’re saying they do, when it really doesn’t make any difference for an EU citizen. I mean technically yes, but in real life def no. No ne will ask, no one can know.
Yes. I quite agree, that’s also what i mention in the post.
Just a note to add to this that it’s not usually possible to register at a friends place or at an Airbnb/hotel/Hostel. Cheers!
Hey Thor. Thanks for contributing. Care to quote a source? Where is this coming from? I get the airbnb/hotel/hostel, but why not at a friends place. I want to update my post if it’s really so.
Definitely in Hessen it’s not possible without the permission of the landlord/owner of the place you are staying. They make you have a filled out “Wohnungsgeberbestätigung” form.
See here: https://www.wiesbaden.de/vv/produkte/31/141010100000002627.php
This is a really helpful article thanks! Can anyone tell me what documentation I would need to register at the rathaus if I have a place and am lucky enough to live there rent free.
Hey Ernst. If there is no official lease contract, a simple letter from your host would do. You still need a confirmation from the landlord though.
It’s a help post.i have one question. I already make anmeldung but my name Don’t put in a mail box . My anmeldung was done by friend. He fillup bei der meldebehorde form on his name.which name he put on meldebehorde It have on mail box. I will get letter for post office? Or i need to modify the name.like C/O my name
Thanks for this super helpful article! Do you receive your registration certificate at your appointment?
Or do you have to wait for that in the post too?
Hey. You get it on the spot.
Hi there, quick question maybe you can help me with. My partner and I have found and signed for an apartment together, and move in 1st Aug. We would like to do the Anmeldung together, and also update the address on our personal ausweiß…do we need to book 4 consecutive termins to get all this done in one visit? Ive heard we can anmeldung together if we book two termins, but not sure about also changing the address on ausweiß. 4 termins seems excessive?
Many thanks,
Olivia
Hey Olivia, i can’t speak for the Ausweis adress. You can use one Termin to register everybody moving at the same adress.
Hi there, how quickly does the anmeldung get approved? Will I walk out of the appointment with the apartment registration, or will it arrive later in the mail? I am asking because I am trying to figure out when I can schedule an appointment to apply for a visa. Same for the tax ID number, will they give me the card that same day or will it come later? Thanks!
Hey Sean. You walk out with the right paper and a big fat stamp on it.
Hello!
Your blog really helps us, thank you!
I’m brazilian moving to germany.
My husband will move in July, I’ll go with him but 15 days after I back to Brazil. My definitive trip will be in December.
One question: Does he need to get mine anmeldung with his in July or I schedule my own appointment in December?
thank a lot!
Hey Mariana. You won’t be a German resident until December so it makes sense to have your own appointment.
Hi. I am doing my internship in Göttingen for 11 weeks and I wanted to get the Anmeldung from the Bürgeramt, but they told me my visa type is a travel type and does not allow it. It is a C type visa, but it is clearly written on the visa that I am here for the internship. I need the Anmeldung to open a bank account to get my salary. What should I do?
(i came from Mongolia)
P.S. I have a friend who lives in Aachen and got the document with the C type of visa. Is it different in other locations?
Hey Yayaz. I am as confused as you. Can you not use your bank account from back home?
Hello! Thank you for the information. In the post you mentioned that if we are subletting all we need is a letter from the person we are subletting from (“A simple letter from a friend letting you stay at their place will be enough to register.”). However, later on in the post you say that we will need both the letter from the friend as well as the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung. Is the letter (or sublease, in my case) sufficient, or do we also need the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung?
Hey Tyler. I just mean that this letter can replace a formal tenancy contract. A Wohnungsgeberbestätigung is always required.
Hello, I’m a student who’s already been in Berlin. I had my anmeldung and I have a bank account/insurance/phone number but when I left I did my Abmeldung.
I have to be back from September till April but I won’t be there permanently. Do I have to do my Anmeldung again as I see no real use for it.
Best,
Toto
Hey Toto. Can’t really answer for you there. In practical terms, it depends of course. In legal terms, if you are not a tourist residing less than 3 months, you should register.
Hello I have been registered in Berlin for the past 2 years now and my wife is applying for a family reunion visa that requires an anmeldung proof that’s not older than 3 months. Is there a way to get a document like that? Can I book an appointment for it? (preferrable) If yes is it the same as the anmeldung appointment? do I need different documents to get it or just my original anmeldung.
Thanks a lot for the taking the time to write such useful posts and answering people’s questions!
Hey Omar. You can book an appointment to request a copy of your Meldebescheinigung, which can cost a few euros (5€ in Berlin for example). Same as a normal anmeldung appointment. I suppose you can also show up and take a ticket in line. Your original Meldebescheinigung and some piece of ID should do it.
Hi, my subtenant is not moving out of my flat, even after an expulsion process of 3 months. Can I de-register her from my flat at the end of the month or she needs to do it. How should I proceed with that?
Hey Lia. I think this is privilege only reserved to landlords/Hausverwaltung. You may want to get in touch with them to do that.
Hello there. Thank you for the great resource of information.
My question: I will be moving with my family to Germany from the US. We will arrive around July 12th 2019. We have found a house to rent starting August 15th 2019, and will be staying in a temporary housing in the meantime. Can I do the Anmeldung as soon as I arrive in Germany in July, showing my future rental contract, or does it have to be after the start date of my rental contract (after August 15th)?
Thank you in advance!
Hey Antoine. You can only register after the first day of the rental contract. Alternatively, you can first register at your temporary address if possible, and then register again at the permanent address. Not sure if worth the effort.
Hey
I was registered in Leipzig for last 2 years but I left my last apartment almost 80 days ago and have not registered on a new address but I will do in a week. Is it OK or I actually want to know the limit of days I can stay without anmeldung?
Hey Rupali. If you haven#t unregistered from your Leipzig address, on paper, it will look like you were still living there.
Hi, I own an apartment in Berlin that I plan to live in only for a few days every month. I do not plan to rent it otherwise. I would like to do a type of registration that allows me to get some benefits e.g. order electricity, get a license for my car etc. Does that exist? How are owners of holiday homes supposed to apply for services etc, without incurring tax liability in Germany? Many thanks
Hey Roni. It would be best to talk to a tax consultant to sort this questions out. This is a bit out of the registration procedure itself.
Hi
I have a question if a person have permanent stay in Germany and he is here from last 14 years if he is hiding for some reason from state .
Is it possible he can stay forever like that e.g hiding his self or there is a law for that person should register if not he should be black list or his permanent stay will be finished. That person is my husband and he is hiding because of our divorce procedure and hidding from state not to get letters.
Hey Aniqa. This is way beyond my ability. I’d suggest to turn to a more qualified person for this.
Hello, i am Can,
I am an expat working in Berlin and recently made anmeldung for both me and my wife since it is quite important. But plan has changed a little bit and my wife returned back to our country and will come back to Berlin in august permanently. But in between she will regularly visit me. Should we de-register her? It is an interesting case and i wonder if i can find anmeldung law in english somewehere.
Hey Can. Interesting case. Probably best to ask an expert but in my opinion, if your wife is going to be staying more than 180 days in Germany in the next 12 months, then she could be considered a German resident and thus still be registered here. It’s as if she was on holidays abroad so to speak.
Hi there, thank you for your article. I am from the US and moved to a new apartment in Germany almost a year ago with roommates. When they went to register, I thought they had done it for all of us, as I was out of town for work. I only just found out I was never properly registered. I have made an appointment and will go but I am very nervous. Do you know what can possibly happen to me?
Hey Sara. So in theory, there can be a fine applied to you but if you explain the honest mistake, the Beamter might not apply it, if they even bring it up.
Hello Bastien,
Once again applause for your great work. I need your feedback for below query.
I am staying in Germany from Mid of 2018 with my spouse and a kid. We do have residence permit till 2022. Now, due to some personal reasons, I want to put my family (spouse and/or kid) in my country for some months. They will de-register (Abmeldung) before leaving Germany and can they reenter Germany with same residence permit after five months or six months ? or whether residence permit goes invalid ?
Hey Ram, residence permits are bit out of my league sorry. Better ask a specialisst.
Hello, although I’ve read the post I still didn’t understand something. My friend is a renter in Berlin. So he has a landlord. I will be staying with him for a little while while I’m looking for a permanent place to live. Is the letter from my friend stating that I am staying with him enough to get the anmeldung? or Do ı still need the “Wohnungsgeberbestätigung” from his landlord? Or could he just fill that form him self as well?
Hey Harun. In theory, the landlord has to fill-in because they have to know at all times who is staying in the flat. In practice, some main tenants have filled-in (although it’s not what the law wants), and it went fine at the Bürgeramt.
Hey Bastien, thanks for such an useful article, I’m using it as a reference to understand Germany a little bit more 🙂
I wanted to ask something: I’m moving from Mexico to Dusseldorf for my MBA, but my studying visa starts on August 31, before that, Mexicans are allowed to enter Germany as tourists without visa for 3 months. I’m entering Germany without a Visa, as a tourist and on these 3 months I plan to find an apartment. Can I do Anmeldung before my student visa period starts? (Example: If I find an apartment in June, can I do Anmeldung in June?)
Hey Gabriela, yes you can.
Can my landlord/property manager charge me 10Euros, before they fill out the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung form?
Hey man. No, it is required by law that they provide this document at no charge.
Thanks!
She is pretty persistant. Do you have refernce to this law so I can show her please?
Bundesmeldegesetz § 19 Abs. 1 BMG – Fines from 1000€ can be inflicted to the Vermieter if they don’t cooperate.
Hello, does the apartment area affect registration? Is it possible to get registration for 2 people in an apartment of 32 sq. m?
Hey Nick. It’s 9 sqm per adult minimum. Source: nach § 7 Wohnungsaufsichtsgesetz Berlin.
hallo! 🙂
tomi here,
so i got papers for the A., stating 1.3.’19 as the move-in date…my b-amt termin is in june…
should I worry about paying for not registering inerhalb 14 days?
vielen dank :*
Hey Tomislav. In theory, there is a fine but in practice, it’s rare when it’s due to a lack of appointment slots.
Hey
I want to ask a question. I am a student and having anmeldung till today but i am going to my country for 3 months for my thesis and my landlord is asking me to do abmeldung. My question is i will come after three months will there be any issue in it? Will they impose fine on me ? Of will there be any problem in getting register once i will come back.
Hey Brave. I’m not sure what the problem is. If you do the Abmeldung, you can register again when you come back yes.
I just registered (Almendung) in Germany, Magdeburg and I got my certificate of residence now. They gave me a form my friend whom I am now staying with. He had written a letter to say I am just staying with him. What is the purpose of the form they have given me? It is called a Wohungsberbestatigung.
thank you
Hey Lonz. Please read the post again. It’s all there.
Hey!
Im Cristina and I arrived to Berlin 2 weeks ago. My aunt lives in Bavaria and I was wondering if its possible to register with her address here in Berlin. (I have a german passport).
Thanks!
Hey Cristina. No. You’d need to register in Bavaria.
Hi,
What are the costs for the anmeldung?
Thanks 🙂
None, but they might ask you for money if you want additional copies of your Meldebescheinigung.
Hello! My name is Clara and I am studying in Berlin in University. I arrived in September but I just found now a place were I can register. What do you suggest to do to avoid a fine? Should I pretend that I arrived just a couple of months ago? Would that be possible? My university accepted me without a registration at the beginning but they now need it.
Hey Clara. You guess is as good as mine. I very rarely hear about fines being actually applied.
Hi! Is a problem if my last address is from another country?
Hey Gabriel. No.
Hi! I have a question, what if I dont have a last residency in Germany, I just came 2 weeks ago? I saty in Airbnb and now I have a place that I can get the anmeldung-
Hey Miga. I don’t understand the question.
Hey, I’m Tom.
I need to somehow extract my entire Anmeldung registration records from Germany to show in my home country for the sake of Tax stuff.
I was registered once in Berlin, then Leipzig, now Berlin again. Any idea how? 😉
Hey Tom. Probably by showing your Meldebescheinigungen from the Bürgeramt, if you still have them. Or maybe use official letters from the Finanzamt for that purpose as well?
Hi, I am Bela
I’am studying in Frankfurt since 2 months and I need to renew my visa. I am No Eu Citizen, For this reason needs a registration ( AMMELDUNG) , but I have not find an apartment in Frankfurt, yet. I wanted to ask you, If Can My friend registered me ( Ammeldung) ?
She lives in another city, 200 km from Frankfurt, 2 hours by train?
Thank you,
Bela
Hey Bela. That’s theoretically possible: you don’t need to live in the same city where you study.
Hello Bela,
I’m sonia. If you would have made you registered in another city and you lives in Frankfurt then from which city you could extend your visa? From frankfurt or from the other city of which you have the anmeldung. Because i’m gonna have the same case. Thanks in advance.
Hello,
I am planning on staying at my friends house while I source a flat. I would like to stay here rent free for as long as possible.
If he provides me with a letter and I notify the Anmeldung will I be able to obtain a tax file number and work over this period without my own residency?
Hey Rachel. If you successfuly register there, then yes, you can obtain a Steuernummer.
Hi all, what is the easiest way to cancel this residency permit? I need to cancel it as I’m moving back to where I have my permanent residency (different that this temporary one). Because I now need to travel next week and due to the increased likelihood of a no deal Brexit I want to cancel this temporary residency ASAP to avoid any confusion about my status. Please advise. Thanks!
Hi bestien ,l just came to germany from italy with permanent stay .what are the procedure to get a stay here in germany and how long is my permit for the first time
Hey Obasciyi. I don’t know.
Hey Bastien. I have a question related to the Anmeldung. I was renting an apartment and I was already registered to the Anmeldung with my rental apartment address. In the last weeks I bought an apartment. Do I need to change my address or since I have registered the apartment with the Land Register office under my name this will be done automatically?
Hey Andres. Congrats on the purchase. Yes you still need to register; you could very well own the place and rent it out to somebody for example. So that’s not automatic.
Hello, I have an issue. Please help me out as soon as possible.
I came to Germany in 2017 and I took room and did city registration. Unfortunately I met with an accident and doctor told to take rest for 4-6 months and asked me not to work. I was unable to pay the rent so I left the room and was stayed in my friends room for almost 7-8 months without city registration. After that I took room and did city registration .but presently they are asking me to show the proof where I stayed during those 7months without doing city registration. I don’t know exactly what should I do now.please me out. Thanks in advance
Hey Sai. Just an opinion: ask your friend to write you a letter certifying you were staying at his place for those dates.
Hi,
I got a Visa of 6 months and its type D.
The university I planned on to enroll in has an enrollment deadline of around 18th April.
I got an admission letter from another university whose enrollment is 1st September. My visa is valid till 30th September.
I wanted to ask whether I can work in Germany before enrolling in the university in September? Am I allowed?
I want to come to Germany, work till my enrollment in September. I got the study visa of 6 months.
Please let me know what the law says.
Thanks
Hey Fahad. I’m no visa specialist but i think your permit must specify whether or not you are allowed to work during that time.
Hi, i’ve been living in berlin since january 2018, and between nobody warning me and later on problems with registering for the anmellung i never actually got it. Right now i’m afraid of applying because i heard i might be subjected to a fine which i definetly can’t afford. What do you suggest?
Hey Adriano. First off, sometimes the Beamter will show some understanding for not doing this right away. Other than that, some just pretend they just arrived in Germany to avoid a fine like this.
I am a US citizen moving to Berlin for a job with a German company. I will be living in an Airbnb for the first two months, then moving into a subleased apartment for one year. I have the signed sublease / rental contract for the one year apartment and the landlord gave permission for the sublease. I’m worried about the Bürgeramt registration. I asked the Airbnb person if I could register that address for the first two months, and he said no. He said to register my address starting in July. It seems like this is going to cause me some problems if I am not able to register the Airbnb address. I probably can’t register the sublease address until I move in in July, correct? I also have an appointment with the Auslanderbehörde on May 16 to get my residence permit, but I’m envisioning issues with doing that before living in my permanent residence where I can actually register.
I’m wondering if it would be better for me to get a hotel for the first two months instead of the Airbnb, and registering there. Do you know if it is possible to register the hotel you are staying?
Thank you very much for your help.
Hey Lily. The short and unsatisfactory answer is: it depends. Some do allow it and some don’t.
Hello Bastien,
I’m not sure whether this is the right place to ask, but I will try my luck and would be super grateful if you could help me out. I’m currently registered in Hohen Neuendorf and work in Berlin. As I’m soon going to extend my visa (non-EU citizen) to start my master studies, I want to know whether I have to relocate to Berlin and register there or can I stay in Hohen Neuendorf and extend my visa (or residence permit) for my studies in the auslanderbehorde in Oranienburg (and not the one in Berlin)?
Thank you so much in advance!
Hey Ken. Not sure i can connect the dots: you can be resident somewhere and work in another city. Why the wish/need to relocate here?
Good Afternoon,
I went into the Bürgeramt here in Dietzenbach and they are telling me I need an appointment in order to register my address. The only problem is they are making me wait an entire month for the appointment. I tried going to Frankfurt and while the attendant was filling in my paperwork informed me I had to register in the city that I lived! Long story short I am extremely desperate to register my address and can absolutely not wait the month they are telling me I must wait. I need a job and am running out out time in the 3 months I am allowed to be here in Germany. Do you have any advice for me that might be able to assist me? I hate that my dream of living here in Germany is about to be destroyed because I can not wait the month they are telling me I must wait! Any information you may provide will be greatly appreciated. As I said before I am very desperate and anxious to find a solution to this problem.
Thank You!
Hey Colin. If booking an appointement is the only option, you may want to check onlin in the morning (around 8am) and refresh every now and then to see if spots are available.
Hello,
Your article is quite helpful and I think I might get my answer here. I’m not sure if you have come across a similar case or not. I have a work permit to work in Germany. I’ll be entering Germany for the first time with this permit (meaning that I don’t have any bank account, registration done previously). But my work will surely be of 2-3 weeks. The place will probably be Munich. I read everywhere how important Anmeldung is. I believe equally important will be de-registration as well. Given that I am going for such a short duration, do I need to register (and de-register) compulsorily if I stay in a hotel/Airbnb provided accommodation and use a prepaid mobile connection? I would need to open a bank account though. What will be the repercussion during my next visit to Germany/EU if I skip the process? Is the answer different if I stay for less than 14 calendar days vs. if I stay for 3 weeks?
Thanks in advance.
Sauvik
Hey Sauvik. I don’t know if you need to register. It mostly depends on where you will need to pay taxes i suppose. Since you are not becoming a German resident, there is no need to register here but it might limit some access to services. for a bank account, you might want to check N26 that doesn’t require the anmeldung.
Hi Bastien, Thank you for the response. That gives a lot of relief, given that I’ll be there for just a short duration. Yes, I understand the limitation in services.
I will be earning German salary for two/three weeks though (depending on how long my work allows me to stay).
Hello,
Thank you for your helpful post!
I’ve already registered an address once in the city, I have a full time job and tax ID number already, receiving a salary, I have EU citizenship, etc. Is it legal for me to move into a new apartment for a few months without registering there? I would un-register at my last flat, and then simply would not re-register at a new flat for 6 months. I am able to receive mail at the new address but the landlord is not willing to sign the registration form for me until after 6 months. My question is whether that is legal for me?
Any insight on this situation would be great!
Hey Christina. No that would be illegal.
Hi Bastien,
Hope you can help me.
I’ve been living in Berlin for a couple of years, last year I moved from an apartment to another but I didn’t changed my anmeldung until last month and now I received a letter saying that I made an administrative infringement and I need to send some info to the burgeramt. Should I worry? Do you know what are the consequences? Or if I need to check it with an attorney?
Thanks.
Hey Andres. That’s a very interesting case; it’s the first time that i hear about a literal application of the law. The Amt is usually quite relaxed about the rule; although i must say that a year too late is definitely past the tolerance zone. I’m afraid my small knowledge cannot help you there. I can read here that you risk anything up to a 1000€ fine. Good luck with this.
Hi,
Thank you for the article. I am an Erasmus student here in Germany, doing a mixed study and work abroad module in Germany in an English University. My student visa is until the 31st of March, after which I need to find a work placement in Germany for at least 3-4 months. I went to register at the City Hall of the city I live in the first week that I arrived but the authorities were confused about the fact that I have to work after my study placement, and asked for a letter from my University in England. I told my Uni in England and they indeed they gave me the letter, but I am someone with ADHD and I completely forgot that I had to register. I was overwhelmed with life in a new country, and having opened a bank account, health insurance, enrolled in Uni without any problems- I completely forgot that the registration process is compulsory for those who have to stay for more than 3 months. Moreover, I was never informed of any strict deadlines by the German embassy when my visa was issued or when I arrived here, which is partly why I forgot. Now, there are a few days left before my 3 months in Germany is completed, and I don’t know what to do 🙁 I’m really anxious regarding the consequences. Are there any fines, will I have to return to my country? Is it possible to register any time before 3 weeks? I have no idea, and I am super anxious. Please help me.
Hey Sez. There are indeed fines that can be applied in theory but most of the time, the Amt is closing a eye on it, provided it’s not really too late. Your condition could help explain why you are so late too. Depends on the person in front of you. If you want to register fast; queue up in front of the office 30min before opening times and take a ticket. Good luck!
Hello, I have a query. I have subleted my apartment as I wanted to leave germany. But, somehow I came to know that I have to live here for a year more. Now, I have not yet deregistered, while the guy to whom I have subleted has registered. The situation is that i have to live in the current city for a month and then shift to another city. Hence, I am living with a friend (as no one is giving me apartment for a month) and decided not to deregister from my old apartment for a month and then register to another city after a month. Is this a ok or i might face some legal issue?
Hey Prashant. Hard to say. Who knows if your landlord or Hausverwaltung will check in the meantime, and unregister you then.
Thanks a lot Bastien. Hope i dont get into some issue.
Hello Bastien,
Thank you VERY much for this really helpful and informative article (as well as the website as a whole).
A small question of clarification – if I am going to be registered under the address of a family member with whom I am staying (not renting), do I still need to fill in the form of the landlord (the “Wohnungsgeberbestätigung”), or is it enough to just bring the letter that I am staying with them ?
Many thanks
Hey Amir. You need both forms, as mentioned in the post.
Hi,
I am moving to Berlin and will need to anmeldung when i arrive, My german isnt so good get and dont think i would be able to speak to someone in the office and ask about tax number, is there english . speakers there too or just german?
thank you
Hey Sue. The workers can often speak English but prefer not too, in case they make a mistake or things get lost in translation.
From what movie does that gif come from ? 🙂
Beetlejuice! 😉
Hi! First of all thank you SO much of your site! It helped tremendously when I moved to Berlin two years ago 🙂
Now I have a question, to which you maybe have some input: I would need to get my Anmeldung translated into English just in case, so would you happen to have any idea how could I do it? Have you heard anybody doing that? I mean asking from an Amt is probably the best bet but I have also read some people asking in some Facebook groups for professional translations, although probably for school certificates only AND from English to German and not the other way around… I am going to the States this Spring and some officials might want to look at my Anmeldung and also understand something of it as well.
Thank you so much in any case!
Hey Heidi. That’s an unusual request for sure. I’m sure you could ask for a custom certified translation via platforms like Lingoking for example.
Hello i want to ask about something, i have been in berlin for almost five months and I registered in a place for the first 2 months then i changed it for several times but without re-registration and i leaving Germany in 2 weeks, is there any problem for me ?!
Hey Fady. In theory, there could be a fine for doing an “Ummeldung” everytime you move, but i have yet to hear about any application of this law.
Hi there,
I’ve lived in Berlin for a while and did my registration so I have an IdNr. or SteuerNr. Then I moved away for bit so I did my abmeldung. Now I would like to return, so doing my anmeldung again, is there something I need to be aware of? Do I need to write my old IdNr. down somewhere or is still in their system?
Would appreiate some help. Thanks!
Hey André. I believe that their keep record of your IdNr. for a few years before they erase, if at all. I would simply ask the Bundeszentralamt für Steuern in that case or even simply request that they send it to you again via this form, a week or two after your anmeldung.
Great, thanks!
Hi i am tania,
is it ok if i already abmeldung but i will fly to home (asia) from zurich instead of from germany ?
thank you
Hey Tania. Er yes, i don’t see anything against it…