Your first address,
officially registered.
Anmeldung is the registration of your residential address with the local registration office. It is one of the first practical tasks after moving into a home in Germany. Here is what to prepare, when to act and how to keep the process straightforward.
At a glance: normally register within two weeks of moving in. Prepare your passport or ID, the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung and any form or family documents your municipality requires. Check the exceptions below for short stays.
When do you need to register?
Normally within two weeks of actually moving into a dwelling. The move-in date matters, rather than the date you sign the rental agreement. The office is usually called the Bürgeramt, Bürgerbüro or Einwohnermeldeamt. A later move within Germany normally means registering your new address; you do not separately deregister the previous main address.
Short stays have exceptions. If you normally live abroad and are not registered in Germany, a stay of no more than three months can fall under an exemption. People already registered in Germany can have a different exemption for a temporary additional dwelling of up to six months. Hotels and special accommodation have separate rules. If you are unsure, describe your actual stay to the local office.
Prepare the documents before your appointment
Bring a valid passport or identity document and a completed registration form if your municipality requires one. Check its document list for everyone moving in: marriage or birth certificates and translations may be requested when recording family details.
You normally also need a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung: confirmation from the person providing the accommodation. A rental contract alone is not a substitute. The confirmation records the move-in date, address and names of the people moving in, together with the required provider and owner details. It can come from a landlord or, for an authorised sublet, the person actually providing the room. If it is refused or delayed, notify the registration office promptly. Never register at an address where you do not actually live.
Book early—and keep a record
Use your municipality’s official appointment or online-service page. Online registration is available for certain moves and identity documents, but not every first arrival from abroad is eligible. Check the service conditions before relying on it.
If no appointment is available within the normal deadline, book the earliest one, keep evidence of your attempts and ask the office what it requires. Do not assume a booking automatically extends the statutory deadline everywhere. Tell the office your true move-in date, and follow its local instructions.
After registration: keep the confirmation
You receive a Meldebestätigung confirming your registered details. Check the spelling of your name and the address, then keep a digital copy and the original. This document can be requested for other administrative tasks.
At a first registration, people who do not already have one are normally assigned a tax identification number, which is sent by post. An existing German tax ID stays with you. Make sure your name is visible on the letterbox. Registration itself does not grant a visa, residence permit or permission to work.
Your practical checklist
- Confirm your actual move-in date and local registration deadline.
- Request the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung before the appointment.
- Check the official document list for every household member.
- Book early and keep records if appointments are scarce.
- Check and save your registration confirmation; label your letterbox.
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General information checked 4 October 2026. Procedures and individual requirements can differ. Use the official sources linked above and confirm your position with the relevant authority or provider.