Anmeldung in Germany: How to Register Your Address

Anmeldung is the first bureaucratic step every person living in Germany must complete, and it unlocks almost everything else. Without it, you can't open most bank accounts, get your tax ID, sign a phone contract, or in some cases receive your salary. It sounds intimidating, but the appointment itself takes about 10 minutes.

What is Anmeldung?

Anmeldung (literally "registration") is the process of registering your residential address with the local authorities. Every person living in Germany, whether a German citizen or a foreign national, is legally required to be registered. The office responsible is called the Einwohnermeldeamt or Bürgeramt (citizens' office).

When you register, your details are added to the Einwohnermelderegister (residents' register). This is the backbone of Germany's administrative system. Tax authorities, health insurers, pension funds, and banks all rely on it.

When to register

You must register within 14 days of moving into your new address. This applies to:

• New arrivals from abroad
• Anyone moving from one German address to another
• German citizens returning from abroad

In practice, enforcement is rare, but late registration can complicate things: your employer may delay your first salary, and your Steuer-ID won't arrive until you register.

What you need to bring

Show up with all of these. Missing any one item means you'll have to rebook:

• Valid passport or EU national ID card (not a driving licence)
• Anmeldeformular: the official registration form. Download it from your city's website, fill it in before you arrive, and sign it. Some offices have paper forms on-site but don't rely on it.
• Wohnungsgeberbestätigung: a signed letter from your landlord (see below). This is mandatory since 2015.
• For families: passports and birth certificates for all family members being registered. Children must be registered too.

You do not need:

• A rental contract (though it can help if there are questions)
• Proof of health insurance
• A German bank account
• Your visa (though bring it anyway, as some offices ask)

The landlord letter (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung)

This is the document most expats get stuck on. Since November 2015, every Anmeldung requires a signed confirmation from the person providing your accommodation: the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung.

It must include:

• The address of the property
• The name and signature of the person providing accommodation (Wohnungsgeber)
• The date you moved in
• The name(s) of the person(s) moving in

You can download an official template from any city's Bürgeramt website and ask your landlord to fill it in and sign it. Most landlords know this form well, as it's a standard part of renting in Germany.

What if your landlord won't provide it?

A landlord is legally obligated to provide the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung. If they refuse, you can report this to the Bürgeramt and in some cities register without it while filing a complaint. In practice, this is rare and most landlords comply immediately.

Staying in a hotel, Airbnb, or shared flat?

• Hotel / serviced apartment: The front desk is used to this. Ask for the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung and most can provide one.
• Airbnb: Many Airbnb hosts will not provide this. Use a short-term serviced apartment instead if you need to register immediately.
• Shared flat (WG): The main tenant (Hauptmieter) or the landlord signs the form for you.

How to book an appointment

Most cities require an appointment (Termin). Walk-ins exist in some smaller towns but are not reliable in major cities.

• Berlin: service.berlin.de (book under "Anmeldung einer Wohnung")
• Munich: muenchen.de/buergerbuero
• Frankfurt: frankfurt.de/buergeramt
• Hamburg: hamburg.de/kundenzentren
• Stuttgart: stuttgart.de/buergerbuero
• Cologne: koeln.de/buergerbuero

Tips for getting an appointment faster:

• Check early in the morning, as slots are released and cancelled throughout the day
• Try multiple Bürgeramt locations in the same city, not just the closest one
• Check at exactly midnight, as many cities release new slots at 00:00
• In Berlin, use the unofficial bot/tracker on Telegram that notifies when slots open

At the Bürgeramt: what to expect

Arrive a few minutes early. The process itself is fast:

1. Check in at reception or take a number from the machine
2. Wait to be called (usually your number appears on a screen with the desk number)
3. Hand over your passport, the Anmeldeformular, and the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung
4. The officer enters your details into the system (this takes about 5 minutes)
5. You receive your Meldebescheinigung (registration certificate) immediately. Keep several copies.

Most officers in major cities speak some English. Bring all documents in a folder, organized rather than loose. Germans appreciate preparedness.

What happens after Anmeldung

Once registered, several things happen automatically:

• Steuer-ID arrives by post within 2–4 weeks at your registered address
• GEZ/Rundfunkbeitrag letter arrives: the €18.36/month public broadcasting fee. Every registered household pays this, regardless of whether you own a TV. Register online at rundfunkbeitrag.de.
• Your employer can process your salary correctly. Give them your Meldebescheinigung and Steuer-ID as soon as you have both.

With your Meldebescheinigung, you can now:

• Open a full German bank account (DKB, ING, Commerzbank etc.)
• Sign a mobile phone contract
• Enroll in health insurance
• Apply for a German driving licence conversion
• Register a vehicle

Your Steuer-ID (tax identification number)

The Steuer-ID is your permanent 11-digit tax number. It's issued automatically after Anmeldung and arrives by post within 2–4 weeks. You cannot apply for it separately; it is generated and sent by the Bundeszentralamt für Steuern.

Your employer needs this number to pay you correctly. Without it, they are required to withhold tax at the highest rate (Steuerklasse 6). Tell your employer you've registered and that the Steuer-ID is on the way. Most are understanding.

If your Steuer-ID hasn't arrived after 4 weeks, you can request it at bzst.de.

Moving again within Germany: Ummeldung

If you move to a new address within Germany, you need to re-register (Ummeldung) within 14 days. The process is identical to the initial Anmeldung: same form, same landlord letter, same Bürgeramt appointment. Your Steuer-ID stays the same. Your Steuernummer may change if you move to a different city.

Leaving Germany: Abmeldung

When you leave Germany permanently, you must deregister (Abmeldung), ideally within 2 weeks of leaving, but you can do it up to a week before your departure date. You'll need:

• Your passport
• The Abmeldeformular (deregistration form), available on the same city websites
• No landlord letter required for deregistration

Abmeldung matters for:

• Cancelling the Rundfunkbeitrag (GEZ fee)
• Avoiding ongoing tax obligations in Germany
• Formally ending your residency for insurance and pension purposes

You receive an Abmeldebescheinigung, so keep it. Some countries require proof that you've left Germany for tax treaty purposes.