Key takeaways
- Everyone is legally required to register (Anmeldung) in Germany.
- You must register if you have moved to Germany from abroad or changed your address within Germany.
- You need the registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung) to open a bank account, apply for a residence permit, get a tax ID, etc.
This is how you do it
- Registration must be done in person at the municipality registration office (Rathaus or Bürgeramt).
- Make an appointment at the local registration office.
- Prepare all your documents and bring the originals to the appointment.
- Be on time for the appointment. The registration process will be finished within 10 minutes.
Table of Contents
What is registration in Germany (Anmeldung)?
Registration in Germany is informing the local authorities that you now live at this address. It’s legally required.
Why must you register in Germany?
- Legally required: Failure to register can result in fines as per § 54 Abs. 2 Nr. 1 BMG.
- Residence Proof (Meldebescheinigung): You get a registration certificate, which acts as official proof of residence in Germany. You need it for various things, such as opening a bank account, health insurance, tax number, etc.
- Health Insurance: To get a health insurance policy in Germany, you must have a registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung).
- Social Benefits: Registration is required to receive social benefits, such as child benefits (Kindergeld), unemployment benefits, Kita Gutschein, etc.
- Tax Purposes: If you are new to Germany, you will get your tax ID and tax number after you register at the local office (Rathaus, Bürgeramt, Bürgerbüro, or Kundenzentrum).
- Voting Rights: You (a German citizen) must have the registration certificate to be eligible to vote in local and federal elections.
- Vehicle Registration: You must register not only yourself but also your vehicle. You need the registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung) to register the vehicle.
- Visa: You need a certificate of registration (Meldebescheinigung) to extend or apply for your residence permit.
What is the deadline for registering in Germany?
You must register your new address within 14 days of moving. However, finding a rental property is tough in big cities like Berlin, Munich, Stuttgart, etc. And the local authorities also know that.
So, if you haven’t found a place yet, you can inform the local authorities. Usually, they understand and don’t fine you for registering late.
NOTE: The city registration office (Rathaus, Bürgeramt) considers the move-in date on the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung document. It doesn’t matter when you actually moved in.
Who must register in Germany?
You must register in Germany in the following cases:
- Once you move to Germany from your home country.
- If you change your place of residence in Germany,
- You must also register your family members if they moved with you.
- Suppose you and your partner don’t live in the same household, and your minor child changes residence from one legal guardian to another. In this case, you must register your minor child at the new residence. You must provide a declaration of consent signed by both legal guardians. You can download the sample form here.
Who is not required to register in Germany?
You don’t have to register in Germany in the following situations.
- You are staying in Germany for up to three months.
- Registration is optional if you are already registered in Germany and moving somewhere else for less than six months.
How to register in Germany?
- Get an appointment at your local citizen’s office (Rathaus or Bürgeramt). In some cities you don’t need an appointment and can go directly during the opening hours.
- Prepare the documents
- Go to the local office at your appointment.
- Your case officer will check your documents and register you.
Registration in Germany is very quick. You’ll be done within 10 minutes. After registration, the officer will give you your registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung).
NOTE: You can register your whole family in the same appointment.
Documents required for registration in Germany
- Residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) and passport if you are a foreigner.
- A passport is sufficient if you are a German citizen or citizen of a country in the European Union.
- Identification documents of every family member moving in are required.
- Registration form: Each city has its own registration form. Some don’t require it if you register onsite. You can download it from their website. Here are the forms of the major German cities: Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Cologne, and Stuttgart.
- Declaration of consent: Minors who move in with only one parent must have the consent of the other parent. You can download the “Declaration of Consent of the legal guardian” here.
- Wohnungsgeberbestätigung: This is the certificate from the landlord stating that you have moved into the rental property and when. You can create or download this certificate here. The certificate must be signed by your landlord. Presenting the rental contract is not enough.
- Land register extract: If you move into your own home instead of a rental property, you need a land register extract (Grundbuchauszug), a notary contract, or a current property tax assessment (Grundsteuerbescheid).
- Marriage certificate: If you are moving from abroad and are married.
- Divorce certificate if you are divorced
- Death certificate of your spouse if you are a widow.
- Birth certificate of your minor children who are also moving with you.
NOTE: You must translate the documents to German if they are not in English or German. The translation must be done by a publicly appointed or sworn translator.
You must bring the original documents and their translations to the appointment.
IMPORTANT: Reach the local office at least 10 minutes before your appointment. Germans are very punctual and don’t appreicate unpunctuality.
Can someone else register you on your behalf?
Yes, if you change your address within Germany, someone else can register you on your behalf. However, it costs money.
If you moved to Germany from abroad, you must register in person at the local office. However, in this case also, you can hire a person to do the registration on your behalf in some cities.
You must provide this person with your original documents and power of attorney (Vollmacht).
Can you register if you don’t speak German?
Yes, you can register yourself even if you don’t speak German. Most local authority officers speak and understand basic English.
Even if they don’t, you have the following options:
- Use Google Translate to communicate during the appointment.
- Hire a translator to accompany you at the appointment (it costs money).
- Take a friend with you who can translate for you.
Moreover, registration is a straightforward process. And the officer usually doesn’t ask many questions.
Can you register in Germany online?
No, registration (Anmeldung) must be done in person at the local office (Rathaus or Bürgeramt).
How much does the registration in Germany cost?
Registering in Germany is free.
However, you must pay a small fee for a registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung). It’s usually between 10€ and 15€.
What happens after you register in Germany?
- If this is your first time registering in Germany (Anmeldung), you will get a tax ID by post within 2 to 5 weeks.
- You’ll get a new health insurance card.
- You get a registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung). You need this certificate for many purposes, such as opening a bank account, applying for a Residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel), etc.
What happens if you don’t register in Germany?
If you don’t register within two weeks of moving to a new address, you can be fined as per § 54 Abs. 2 Nr. 1 BMG. You may pay fines between 10€ and 1000€.
How much fine you pay depends on
- how long you have delayed the registration and
- whether it’s your first offense.
The biggest problem expats face when registering in Germany
The only problem expats face when registering in Germany is the lack of the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung document.
It’s tough to find a rental property in Germany. Many expats end up in temporary accommodations. The landlords of these accommodations don’t always provide the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung document.
Unfortunately, you can’t do much about it.
The only option you have is to book a short-term rental. You can find one on one of the portals:
- Homelike*
- Housing Anywhere
- Wunderflats
- Spotahome
- Nestpick
These are fully furnished apartments. However, they are a bit on the expensive side.
You can take them for a few months to register in Germany, get all the important documents, and search for a permanent rental property.
Things you must do after changing the address in Germany
- Change your address everywhere: bank account, internet contracts, insurance contracts, etc.
- Fill out the relocation form (Umzugsmitteilung) at Deutsche Post. It will inform Deutsche Post that you are moving and provide your new address. This way, your posts from the banks, insurance partners, etc., will reach the right address.
- You can also opt-in for Deutsche Post’s post-forwarding service (Nachsendeauftrag). This way, all the posts addressed to your old address will be automatically forwarded to your new address. If you are expecting any important documents, this service can save you a lot of headaches.
- Find a new family doctor (Hausartz), dentist (Zahnartz), Gynaecologist (Frauartz), and pediatrician (Kinderartz) and register yourself as the new patient.
FAQs
Do you need to deregister when moving to a different city in Germany?
Deregistration in the old city happens automatically once you are registered in the new city. You must deregister yourself if you are permanently moving out of Germany.
What should you keep in mind if your name is not on the letterbox?
If your name is not on the post box, you must add ‘care of’ or C/O to your address on your registration form.
Once you register at the local office, you automatically receive your tax ID and health insurance card. The tax office and the health insurance company send the documents to the address mentioned in the registration form.
You won’t receive the letters if your name is not on the post box. Here is an example:
[Your name]
C/O [Name of the person on letterbox]
[Your street name and number]
[Pincode] [City]
Can you register in Germany before moving to the new address?
No, you cannot do the registration (Anmeldung) before your move-in date.
The registration office (Rathaus, Bürgeramt) considers the move-in date on the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung document. It doesn’t matter when you actually moved in.
What is the significance of declaring your religion in the registration (Anmeldung) form?
If you are a member of the Catholic, Protestant, or Jewish church, you pay church tax in Germany. Church tax is 8% of your income tax to be paid (not income) in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. It’s 9% in all other federal states.
The registration form asks about your religion to determine if you are a member of the church. If you are, the registration office will communicate this to the local tax office (Finanzamt).
Can you open a bank account in Germany without the registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung)?
Most German banks require a registration certificate to open a bank account. However, banks like N26 and Revolut don’t.
