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Registering your address: Where and how do I register my home?

If you've moved, you must register within two weeks of moving in at the Registration Office (Meldebehörde) of your new city (§ 17 Federal Registration Act, Bundesmeldegesetz). The responsible office is the Citizens' Office (Bürgeramt) – depending on the city, it's also called Bürgerbüro, Kundenzentrum, Einwohnermeldeamt, or BürgerServiceCenter. You need to bring a completed registration form, a valid ID card or passport, and the landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) from your landlord. Registration itself is usually free of charge.

As of: 25.07.2026 · Editorial team HalloAmt · General information, not legal advice (see note at the end).

Form in German, a deadline of only two weeks – and you can't forget the landlord confirmation? HalloAmt walks you through the registration form step by step in over 50 languages and creates the finished PDF you can bring to your appointment. Start now →

I've just moved – where and how do I register?

You register at the Registration Office (Meldebehörde) of your new place of residence. This office is called different things depending on the city:

  • Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt, Nuremberg: Bürgeramt (in Cologne/Frankfurt also "Kundenzentrum")
  • Munich: Bürgerbüro at the Kreisverwaltungsreferat (KVR)
  • Hamburg: Kundenzentrum of the district office
  • Stuttgart: Bürgerbüro
  • Bremen: BürgerServiceCenter

The process is similar everywhere: book an appointment, bring all the documents, hand in the form, show your ID. The staff will enter your new address in the registration register and stamp or print it on your ID card or residence permit. At the end, you'll receive a registration confirmation (Meldebestätigung) – keep this safe, you'll often need it for banks, employers, daycare, or other offices.

Important: In many cities, appointments are scarce and booked out weeks in advance. Book the appointment right after moving in. If you don't get an appointment within the two-week deadline, in practice the booking date usually counts – to be safe, print out or save your appointment confirmation.

Which documents do I need?

For smooth registration, you need:

  1. Completed registration form (in some cities called "Anmeldung bei der Meldebehörde"). It's available at the office or can be downloaded online.
  2. Valid ID card or passport – for every person being registered, including children (child's passport or birth certificate).
  3. Landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) from your landlord.
  4. For multiple people: If you're registering another person along with you (e.g., spouse, children), you often need a power of attorney and that person's ID.

Registration is generally free of charge. Costs only apply if you request something additional, such as an extended registration certificate.

What is the landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) – and who issues it?

The landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) (also called Wohnungsgeberbescheinigung) is a required document. Your landlord or property management company must confirm your move-in in writing – within the two-week deadline after moving in (§ 19 Federal Registration Act, Bundesmeldegesetz). Without this confirmation, the Registration Office can refuse your registration.

The confirmation includes:

  • Name and address of the landlord
  • the move-in date
  • the exact address
  • the names of all people moving in

If you're subletting an apartment, the main tenant issues the confirmation. Request the document early – many registrations fail simply because it's missing.

Within what deadline do I need to register?

You must register within two weeks (14 days) after moving in (§ 17 Federal Registration Act, Bundesmeldegesetz). The deadline starts on the day you actually move in, not when you sign the contract or receive the keys.

Anyone who misses the deadline commits an administrative offense. This can result in a fine of up to 1,000 euros (§ 54 Federal Registration Act, Bundesmeldegesetz). In practice, many offices overlook short delays – but you have no legal right to this. It's better to register a few days late than not at all.

Do I have to register again even though I was already registered somewhere in Germany?

Yes. For every move within Germany, you register your new address within two weeks – for example, if you move from Stuttgart to Cologne. You don't need to separately deregister at your old address: the new Registration Office automatically informs the old one.

A deregistration is only necessary if you move out of an apartment and don't move into a new home in Germany – for example, when moving abroad – or if you give up a secondary residence (§ 17 paragraph 2 Federal Registration Act, Bundesmeldegesetz). So if you simply move within Germany, registering at the new address is enough.

I've newly arrived from abroad – what applies to me?

The registration requirement applies to everyone, regardless of nationality. Even if you've newly arrived from abroad and are moving to, say, Munich or Hamburg, you must register within two weeks. Registration in the register is independent of your residence status – it's not a check of your residence, but simply a record of your address.

In addition to the form and landlord confirmation, you should bring – depending on your status:

  • EU/EEA citizens and Swiss citizens: a valid ID card or passport.
  • People with a residence permit / settlement permit / EU Blue Card: passport and your residence title (the card). Your new address will be noted on the card.
  • People in an ongoing procedure: passport with a fiction certificate (Fiktionsbescheinigung) or visa, if the actual title hasn't been issued yet.
  • Refugees / asylum seekers: arrival certificate (Ankunftsnachweis) or permission to reside (Aufenthaltsgestattung) or a Duldung (toleration status). People living in a reception center or shared accommodation are often registered through the facility – ask there whether registration has already been done.

Important: The Registration Office is not the Immigration Office (Ausländerbehörde). For your residence permit, extension, or an address change on your title, a separate appointment at the Immigration Office (Ausländerbehörde) may still be necessary. The registration confirmation you receive at registration is often needed to open a bank account, start a job, or apply for benefits like Citizen's Allowance (Bürgergeld) or Housing Benefit (Wohngeld).

I don't speak German well yet – how do I register step by step?

Here's how to proceed, even with limited German skills:

  1. Book an appointment – online on your city's website (search term: "Termin Bürgeramt/Kundenzentrum + city name") or by phone via the public service number 115.
  2. Get the landlord confirmation – request it from your landlord or property management.
  3. Fill out the registration form – you can fill it out calmly at home beforehand.
  4. Have ID cards/passports ready – for everyone being registered.
  5. Go to your appointment and hand in all the documents.
  6. Take your registration confirmation with you and keep it safe.

If you're unsure, you may bring someone with you to translate. Some offices have multilingual forms.

Frequently asked questions

Within what deadline do I need to register my address?

You must register with the Registration Office (Meldebehörde) within two weeks of moving in (§ 17 Federal Registration Act, Bundesmeldegesetz). The deadline starts on the day you move in, not the day you sign the contract.

Where do I register my address?

At the Registration Office (Meldebehörde) of your new city – depending on the location, called Citizens' Office (Bürgeramt), Bürgerbüro, Kundenzentrum, Einwohnermeldeamt, or BürgerServiceCenter. In most cities, you need an appointment beforehand.

Which documents do I need for registration?

A completed registration form, a valid ID card or passport for every person being registered, and the landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) from your landlord.

What is a landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung)?

A written confirmation from your landlord that you have moved in (§ 19 Federal Registration Act, Bundesmeldegesetz). Without this document, the Registration Office can refuse your registration.

Do I have to register again if I was already registered somewhere in Germany?

Yes. For every move within Germany, you register your new address within two weeks. You don't need to separately deregister at your old address – the new office informs the old Registration Office.

What happens if I miss the deadline?

A late registration is an administrative offense and can result in a fine of up to 1,000 euros (§ 54 Federal Registration Act, Bundesmeldegesetz). Many offices are lenient about short delays, but you have no legal right to this leniency.

Fill out your address registration application now

You don't have to fill out the registration form alone in German. HalloAmt walks you through the questions in your language and creates the finished PDF for your appointment at the Citizens' Office (Bürgeramt). Fill out your address registration with HalloAmt →

This is general, carefully researched information (as of 25.07.2026) and does not replace legal or official advice. Amounts, deadlines, and procedures may change and may vary in individual cities; in individual cases, the responsible Registration Office (Meldebehörde, i.e., Bürgeramt or Einwohnermeldeamt) makes the final decision. For binding information, please contact your city's responsible Registration Office, a migration counseling service, or a lawyer. We cannot guarantee completeness or accuracy.

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