Address registration guide
Anmeldung City Guide
Register your address at the Bürgeramt soon after moving in — within two weeks of moving in — a federal deadline (§17 Bundesmeldegesetz), the same in every city. Find your city's booking link, required documents, and tips below.
What is Anmeldung?
- • It's the mandatory address registration at the local Bürgeramt (citizens' office)
- • Required by German law within two weeks of moving into a registrable dwelling — §17 Bundesmeldegesetz sets this deadline nationwide, it does not vary by city
- • The Anmeldebestätigung you receive unlocks your bank account, health insurance, and tax ID
What to bring, every city
- Valid passport with German student visa
- Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (landlord confirmation form, Formular nach § 19 BMG). This is the key document; rental contract (Mietvertrag) is sometimes also accepted but not universally required
- Completed Anmeldeformular (download from your city portal before visiting)
Bring photocopies of your passport data page and visa page, some offices ask to retain a copy.
Last verified: June 2026, Bürgeramt booking portals change periodically. Always confirm on the official city portal before your appointment.
Select Your City
Walk-in OKWalk-in limitedAppointment only
Other city (general guide)
Applicable to all German cities · Local Bürgeramt / Bürgerbüro
Walk-in limited
Book at Local Bürgeramt / Bürgerbüro
Opens official city portal · Page will be in German · Last verified June 2026
Avg wait: Varies by city, typically 1–4 weeks
Generally Mon–Fri 08:00–16:00 (Thu until 18:00 in many cities)
Every German city has a Bürgeramt. The process is identical everywhere, only the booking system and wait time vary.
Required Documents
- Valid passport with German student visa
- Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (landlord confirmation form, Formular nach § 19 BMG). This is the key document; rental contract (Mietvertrag) is sometimes also accepted but not universally required
- Completed Anmeldeformular (download from your city portal before visiting)
Tips for Other
- 1Search "[your city name] Anmeldung Termin" on Google, the first result is usually the official booking portal.
- 2Book your appointment as soon as you have a confirmed rental address, even before you arrive in Germany.
- 3Each city publishes its own Anmeldeformular (registration form). They ask for the same details, but the layout and even the form name differ, so download the one from your own city's website rather than reusing another city's.
- 4Request your Wohnungsgeberbestätigung from your landlord the day you sign your rental contract.
- 5If your city's appointment portal shows no slots, check for cancellations throughout the day, slots are added on a rolling basis, not in a single nightly batch.
Common Questions
Anmeldung in Germany, Frequently Asked Questions
Anmeldung is the mandatory address registration process in Germany. All residents, including international students, must register at the local Bürgeramt (registration office) within 14 days of moving into a permanent address. Your Anmeldebestätigung (registration confirmation) is required to open a German bank account, receive your Steuer-ID (tax number), and for certain visa-related formalities.
You must register within 14 days of moving into your accommodation in Germany. This is a legal requirement under the Bundesmeldegesetz (BMG §17). Late registration can result in fines of up to €1,000, though first-time violations for students are rarely penalised if you register soon after the deadline.
You need: (1) a completed Anmeldeformular (registration form, available at the Bürgeramt or online), (2) a valid passport or national ID, (3) a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung, a landlord confirmation form signed by your landlord or student accommodation manager confirming you live there. Some cities also request your lease/tenancy agreement. Student dormitory staff normally provide the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung automatically on check-in.
A Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (also called Vermieterbescheinigung) is a form your landlord must complete and sign to confirm you have moved into their property. It is legally required since 2015 (BMG §19). Your landlord must provide it within two weeks of your moving in. For student dormitories, ask the Studierendenwerk or residential services team. They normally issue it at check-in or within a few days.
It depends on the city. Berlin, Munich, and Frankfurt require online appointments (Termine) weeks in advance. Smaller cities like Freiburg, Erlangen, and Kiel often accept walk-ins on weekday mornings. Use this guide to check the walk-in policy for your specific city and book early if appointment booking is required.
You receive an Anmeldebestätigung (registration confirmation document) on the day, usually a one-page print-out stamped by the Bürgeramt. Within 2–4 weeks, the Finanzamt (tax office) automatically mails your Steueridentifikationsnummer (Steuer-ID / Tax ID) to your registered address. Keep your Anmeldebestätigung safe: banks, landlords, and your university may ask for it.
Anmeldung (address registration) is a legal requirement in Germany. Once you move into a registrable dwelling you must register your address at the local Bürgeramt within two weeks of moving in. §17 of the Bundesmeldegesetz sets this two-week deadline nationwide, so it is the same in every city; what varies is how quickly your city can give you an appointment. The Anmeldebestätigung (registration certificate) you receive is required for opening a bank account, setting up health insurance, enrolling at your university, and getting a tax ID (Steueridentifikationsnummer).
Don't panic. The two-week registration deadline (§17 Bundesmeldegesetz, the same nationwide) is a legal requirement, yet authorities understand that appointment slots can be genuinely hard to get, especially in Berlin and Munich. Book the earliest available slot, attend on that date, and if asked, explain that you registered as soon as a slot was available. Bring a screenshot or booking confirmation showing when you first tried to book. You will not normally be fined if you can demonstrate you tried promptly. Late registration due to appointment scarcity is a well-known and widely accepted situation across Germany.
Yes, and you should, especially for Berlin and Munich where slots fill weeks in advance. You'll need a German address to complete the booking form. If you have a signed rental contract before you travel, use that address to secure your appointment slot, then attend once you arrive. Do not use a temporary or placeholder address, the address on your booking must match where you actually live.
The Wohnungsgeberbestätigung is a form your landlord fills out confirming you live at their property. It is a legal requirement under § 19 BMG. Your landlord is obligated to provide it within 2 weeks of you moving in. If they refuse or delay, you can report them to the Bürgeramt; the landlord can be fined up to €1,000 for non-compliance. Student dorms managed by the Studentenwerk usually provide this automatically.
The process is the same, but who provides the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung differs. In a WG, your landlord (or the primary leaseholder if they sublet to you) fills out the form. In a student dorm (Studentenwohnheim) managed by the Studentenwerk, the Studentenwerk is your landlord, contact their office on your first day and they will issue the form, often within a few days.
Yes, you can register at any address that is your main residence in Germany, including furnished rooms and sublettings. The challenge is that some short-term hosts refuse to provide the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung, not knowing they are legally required to, or because they are subletting without the head landlord's knowledge. The legal obligation applies to all landlords and subletters. If your host refuses, contact the Bürgeramt. They are familiar with this situation and can advise you on your options.
Yes, multiple family members living at the same address can be registered at a single appointment. Bring the passport and visa documents for each person being registered. The Anmeldeformular allows you to list multiple household members; one Wohnungsgeberbestätigung naming all residents is usually sufficient.
A short temporary hotel or hostel stay usually does not require Anmeldung, registration is triggered when you move into a registrable dwelling, and most hotels and hostels do NOT issue a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung. In practice, do your Anmeldung once you move into your permanent address (or a longer-term registrable place), within two weeks of moving in. If you are unsure whether a particular long-stay situation requires earlier registration, ask the local Bürgeramt.
Anmeldung is your first registration at a German address. Ummeldung (change of address registration) is what you do when you move from one German address to another, for example, from temporary accommodation to your permanent flat. Both require the same documents and process at the Bürgeramt. The deadline is the same two weeks from the date you move, set nationwide by §17 Bundesmeldegesetz.
You receive the Anmeldebestätigung (registration certificate) immediately at the office, keep multiple copies. Your Steueridentifikationsnummer (tax ID) is automatically issued and sent by post to your registered address within 2–4 weeks; you do not need to apply for it separately. You'll need the tax ID for any part-time employment and for some banking setups.
Yes. This is called Ummeldung (change of address) and must be done within two weeks of moving. You need the same documents as the initial Anmeldung, plus your new Wohnungsgeberbestätigung from the new landlord. Failing to re-register on time can result in a fine.
When you leave Germany permanently (after graduation or early departure), do an Abmeldung (de-registration) at the Bürgeramt. You can do this up to one week before departure. This closes your German address registration and prevents ongoing Kirchensteuer (church tax) liability. If you had a part-time job, Abmeldung also notifies the tax office of your departure and may trigger a partial tax refund for the months you were present.
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