Registration (Anmeldung) in Germany — Address Registration Step-by-Step

Q: How long do I have to register my address in Germany?

The law sets a target of 14 days (two weeks) from your move-in date, per § 17 Abs. 1 of the Federal Act on Registration (BMG). A late registration can technically carry a fine of up to €1,000 (§ 54 Abs. 2 Nr. 1 BMG), but this is rarely applied — appointment scarcity is a widely accepted reason for registering late. If you cannot get an appointment within 14 days, book the earliest available slot and keep evidence of your attempts; a delay you could not avoid is normally not penalised.

Q: What is a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (WGB)?

The Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (landlord confirmation) is a signed form from your landlord confirming that you have moved into their property. It is mandatory for Anmeldung — without it, you cannot register. The landlord is legally required to provide it within 2 weeks of your move-in.

Q: What documents do I need for Anmeldung?

You need: (1) a valid passport or ID card, (2) the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung signed by your landlord, (3) the Anmeldeformular (registration form), and (4) marriage or birth certificates if registering family members. Originals are required — photocopies are typically rejected.

Q: What happens after I complete Anmeldung?

After Anmeldung you receive an Anmeldebestätigung (registration certificate). Within 2-3 weeks, the Finanzamt automatically sends your Steuer-ID (tax ID) by post. You will also receive a Rundfunkbeitrag letter requiring registration for the broadcasting fee (€18.36/month in 2026).

Q: Do I need to deregister (Abmeldung) when I move?

It depends on where you move. If you move within Germany, no separate Abmeldung is needed — registering at your new municipality automatically overwrites the old registration. If you move abroad permanently and have no other German residence, you must deregister at your current Bürgeramt within the window from 7 days before to 14 days after your move-out date (§ 17 Abs. 2 BMG).

Q: How do I book an Anmeldung appointment?

Most German cities use online booking systems through their local Bürgeramt or Bürgeramt portal. In major cities (Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Köln), appointments can be hard to find — book as soon as you have your move-in date. Some cities allow walk-in registration without appointments (especially smaller municipalities).

A practical guide to registering your address in Germany — the 14-day rule, what to bring, and what happens next.

Last updated: August 2026

Anmeldung is the legally required process of registering your residential address with the local registration authority (Meldebehörde). Every person living in Germany — citizens, residents, students, expats — should do it within about 14 days of moving in (a legal target; see below if appointment scarcity makes that impossible). It triggers your tax ID, broadcasting fee account, and (for non-EU citizens) is a prerequisite for your residence permit.

What is Anmeldung?

Anmeldung is the formal registration of your address (Wohnsitz) with the Bürgeramt (citizens' office), Bürgerbüro, or KVR (in Munich) of your local municipality. The legal basis is the Bundesmeldegesetz (BMG) — the Federal Act on Registration.

Every person living in Germany is required to be registered. This applies regardless of citizenship: Germans, EU citizens, and non-EU residents alike. There is no minimum stay requirement — if you have a residence in Germany, you must register.

The 14-day rule — and what if you're late

The law asks you to register within 14 days (two weeks) of moving in (§ 17 Abs. 1 BMG). Treat this as a target to aim for, not a hard deadline. A late registration is technically an administrative offence that can carry a fine of up to €1,000 (§ 54 Abs. 2 Nr. 1 BMG) — but that is a legal ceiling, rarely applied, not a penalty you should expect.

In practice, fines are very rare for people who register as soon as they reasonably can. Appointment scarcity is a widely accepted reason for registering late — in many cities it is simply impossible to get a slot within 14 days, and the authorities know it. If the earliest available appointment falls after day 14, book it anyway and keep a screenshot of the booking page; a delay you could not avoid is normally not penalised. The date recorded is your actual move-in date regardless of when you attend, so registering “late” for this reason does not usually cause problems.

The real cost of delay is downstream, not the fine: without an Anmeldebestätigung you can't open a German bank account, get a residence permit appointment, or sign most rental contracts — so book the earliest slot you can and don't stress about the exact day count.

The 14-day clock starts on your Einzugsdatum (move-in date), not your arrival in Germany. If you stayed in a hotel for 3 weeks before moving into your flat, the clock starts when you actually moved in.

Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (WGB)

The Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (literally "housing-provider confirmation," sometimes called Wohnungsgeberbescheinigung) is the most important document for Anmeldung. Without it, you cannot register.

It is a signed form from your Wohnungsgeber (the person providing the dwelling — your landlord, the main tenant if you sublet, or the owner if you own the property) confirming that you have moved in.

The WGB must contain:

Name and address of the Wohnungsgeber
Type of action (move-in / move-out)
Move-in date
Address of the property
Names of all people moving in
Signature and date

The Wohnungsgeber is legally required to provide the WGB within 2 weeks of your move-in (§ 19 BMG). Refusal is itself an administrative offense.

Documents you need for Anmeldung

Bring all of the following in original to your appointment. Photocopies and scans are typically rejected.

Valid ID

Passport or national ID card (EU citizens). Children need their own passport or ID. Non-EU citizens may also be asked to present their visa/residence permit.

Wohnungsgeberbestätigung

Original signed form from your landlord (see section above).

Anmeldeformular

The registration form itself. Most cities provide a downloadable PDF on their Bürgeramt website — fill it out before your appointment to save time. Some cities also have it available at the office.

Family certificates (if applicable)

If registering with a spouse or children: marriage certificate, birth certificates. Documents not in German must usually have an official German translation (or international form Apostille). Check with your specific Bürgeramt.

Religious affiliation (optional but consequential)

You will be asked your religion. If you declare a religion (Catholic, Protestant, Jewish), you become liable for Kirchensteuer (church tax, ~8-9% of your income tax). Many expats declare "konfessionslos" (no denomination) to avoid this. You can change it later.

Booking the appointment

Most German cities require you to book online through the local Bürgeramt or Bürgerservice portal. Walk-ins are increasingly rare, especially in major cities.

Wait times by city (approximate)

Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Köln: 4-12 weeks wait, varies wildly by district
Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf: 2-6 weeks
Smaller cities: often 1-2 weeks, sometimes walk-in possible

Tips for finding appointments

Refresh constantly. Cancellations open up daily. Some expats use browser tools to auto-refresh.
Try other districts. In big cities, you can usually register at any district's Bürgeramt — not just the one closest to you.
Early morning slots at 7:00 or 7:30 are released on a daily/weekly cycle.
Berlin specifically: the official Berlin Service portal posts new slots; persistence pays off.
Document your attempts. Screenshots of "no appointments available" can demonstrate good-faith effort if you exceed the 14-day deadline.

For your specific city, see the linked Bürgeramt URL on each city roadmap page — the directory has direct booking links for 128+ German cities.

What happens after Anmeldung

Within 30 minutes you walk out with an Anmeldebestätigung (registration certificate). Keep this safe — you'll need it for almost every next step. Several things happen automatically over the next few weeks:

1. Steuer-ID arrives by post (2-4 weeks)

The Steuer-ID (steuerliche Identifikationsnummer / tax ID) is an 11-digit number assigned automatically by the Bundeszentralamt für Steuern. You will receive it by post within 2-4 weeks. Your employer needs it to set up your salary and tax withholding correctly. If you don't receive it in time, request a copy via the BZSt online form.

2. Rundfunkbeitrag letter (broadcasting fee)

Within 4-6 weeks you'll receive a letter requiring you to register for the Rundfunkbeitrag: €18.36/month in 2026 (€55.08/quarter, €220.32/year). This is per-household, not per-person. Ignoring the letter does not make it go away — just register. Exemptions exist for Bürgergeld/BAföG recipients and certain disabilities.

3. Ausländerbehörde (ABH) appointment for non-EU citizens

If you're non-EU and entered on a national visa, you must convert your visa to a residence permit at the Ausländerbehörde (foreigners' office). Book this appointment immediately after Anmeldung — wait times in major cities can be 3-6 months, sometimes longer than your visa is valid.

4. Bank account

With your Anmeldebestätigung you can open a German Girokonto. Most expats use N26, DKB, ING, or a Sparkasse. A German account is needed for SEPA direct debits (rent, Rundfunkbeitrag, utilities, gym memberships).

Abmeldung — when you leave

Most expats get this wrong because the rule depends on where you're going.

Moving within Germany: No separate Abmeldung needed. Just register your new address (Anmeldung) at the new municipality within 14 days — this automatically overwrites your old registration.

Moving abroad permanently (no other German residence): You must deregister at your current Bürgeramt. Window: from 7 days before to 14 days after your move-out date (§ 17 Abs. 2 BMG).

Why Abmeldung matters

Without Abmeldung when leaving Germany:

You remain liable for Rundfunkbeitrag
You may continue to be billed for utilities and other contracts that require an active address
You stay on the German tax rolls and may be considered tax-resident
The Abmeldebestätigung certificate is required to cancel many German contracts (insurance, mobile, gym memberships)

Many cities offer Abmeldung by post or via the federal BundID portal — useful if you've already left the country.

Vehicle registration (Umkennzeichnung)

If you own a car and move to a different German registration area (different city), you may need to update your vehicle registration at the local Zulassungsstelle. Since 2015, you can often keep your existing license plate when moving (under the "Mitnahme des Wunschkennzeichens" reform), saving a registration fee. The Halterabfrage (owner data) still gets updated to your new address.

Check with your new city's Zulassungsstelle for the specific procedure and required documents (vehicle registration certificate, eVB number for insurance, ID).

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to register my address in Germany?

Aim for 14 days (two weeks) from moving in, per § 17 Abs. 1 BMG. It's a legal target rather than a strict cut-off: a fine of up to €1,000 is technically possible (§ 54 Abs. 2 Nr. 1 BMG) but rarely applied. If you can't get an appointment in time, book the earliest available slot and keep a screenshot — a delay you couldn't avoid is normally not penalised.

What is a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (WGB)?

A signed form from your landlord confirming you've moved in. Mandatory for Anmeldung. The landlord must provide it within 2 weeks of your move-in (§ 19 BMG).

What documents do I need for Anmeldung?

(1) Valid passport or ID, (2) Wohnungsgeberbestätigung, (3) Anmeldeformular, (4) marriage/birth certificates if registering family. Originals only.

What happens after I complete Anmeldung?

Steuer-ID by post in 2-4 weeks. Rundfunkbeitrag letter in 4-6 weeks (€18.36/month in 2026). Non-EU residents need an ABH appointment for the residence permit.

Do I need to deregister (Abmeldung) when I move?

Within Germany: no — new Anmeldung overwrites the old. Abroad: yes, mandatory if no other German residence. Window: 7 days before to 14 days after move-out (§ 17 Abs. 2 BMG).

How do I book an Anmeldung appointment?

Through your local Bürgeramt website. In big cities, wait times are 4-12 weeks — book ASAP and refresh for cancellations.

City-specific Anmeldung links

This guide covers the federal rules. For your specific city's Bürgeramt booking link, address, and quirks, see the city directory with 128+ German cities.