Anmeldung: How City Registration in Germany Works

The Anmeldung – registering your address at the local registration office – is the key that unlocks everything in Germany: your tax ID, bank account, health insurance, residence permit. Here is how it works, in English.

The 14-day rule

You must register within two weeks of moving in. In practice, appointment scarcity in big cities makes this tight – book the first available slot and keep evidence of your booking attempts; authorities accept that appointments may fall outside the window if you can show you tried.

What you need

Three things: your passport, the completed registration form (Meldeschein), and the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung – a landlord confirmation that you actually moved in. No landlord confirmation, no registration; a rental contract alone is not enough. Families also bring marriage and birth certificates with certified translations.

Getting an appointment in a big city

Berlin, Hamburg and Munich release appointments in batches – check the portals early in the morning, and remember that in most cities any district office will serve you, not just the one in your neighbourhood; outer districts often have slots weeks earlier. We book, prepare and accompany registrations every week – the appointment itself rarely takes more than 15 minutes.

What happens after

You receive the Anmeldebestätigung (registration certificate) on the spot – guard it well. Your tax ID arrives automatically by post within two to three weeks; your employer needs it for correct payroll. With registration done, you can open a full bank account, finalise health insurance and apply for your residence permit.

One address rule worth knowing

Hotels and short-term platforms usually cannot give you a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung – which is why registerable temporary housing matters. Every apartment and room we provide is registerable from day one.