Anmeldung in Germany: How to Register Your Address

Anmeldung in Germany is the official process of registering your residential address with the local authorities. It is one of the first administrative tasks you need to complete after moving into a new home.

You normally have two weeks from your actual move-in date to complete the registration. You will usually need your passport, a registration form and a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung from your landlord or housing provider.

This guide explains the complete process, including what to do if you cannot find an appointment or your landlord refuses to provide the required confirmation.

What Is Anmeldung?

Anmeldung is the official registration of your residential address in Germany.

You usually complete it at your local:

Bürgeramt
Bürgerbüro
Einwohnermeldeamt
Rathaus

After registration, you receive a confirmation called a Meldebescheinigung or Anmeldebestätigung. Keep this document safe, as you may need it for your bank, employer, insurance, or residence permit.

Who Needs to Register?

You generally need to register when you:

move to Germany from another country;
move to a different city in Germany;
change your address within the same city;
move into a rented apartment, shared flat, or your own property.

You normally have to complete the Anmeldung within two weeks of moving in.

Can you register at a hotel, Airbnb or temporary address?

Anmeldung is only possible if the accommodation is your actual residence and the housing provider is willing and legally able to issue a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung.

A booking confirmation from a hotel, hostel or holiday apartment is not automatically sufficient. Before booking long-term temporary accommodation, ask explicitly:

“Can you provide a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung for Anmeldung?”

Do not assume that an address is registrable simply because you can receive mail there. Never register at an address where you do not actually live.

`Documents You Need for Anmeldung in Germany`

The exact requirements may differ slightly between cities. Most people need:

a valid passport or identity card;
a completed registration form;
a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung;
birth or marriage certificates, if requested;
documents for family members who are also registering.

The Wohnungsgeberbestätigung confirms that you actually moved into the property. It is usually issued by your landlord, property manager, or main tenant.

What if your landlord refuses to provide the confirmation?

Your landlord or housing provider is legally required to cooperate with the registration process. If they refuse to provide the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung or you cannot obtain it on time, contact the responsible registration authority immediately and explain the situation.

Keep written evidence showing that you requested the document. Do not create or sign the landlord’s confirmation yourself unless you are the owner of the property.

A rental contract normally does not replace the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung.

How to Book an Appointment

Search online for:

“Anmeldung + your city”

or:

“Wohnsitz anmelden + your city”

Use the official website of your city or municipality. Depending on where you live, you may be able to register:

with an appointment;
during walk-in hours;
online.

Book your appointment as early as possible. If no appointment is available within two weeks, keep your booking confirmation as proof that you tried to register on time.

What if no appointment is available within two weeks?

Book the earliest appointment you can find and keep the confirmation email or a screenshot showing that you tried to register on time.

The two-week registration deadline still applies, but local authorities are generally aware that appointments may not always be available immediately. Do not wait for a convenient date if an earlier appointment is available.

Check the booking system regularly because cancelled appointments may become available during the day. Some cities also allow you to visit a different Bürgeramt within the same municipality.

Can you complete the Anmeldung online?

Online registration is available in some German cities, but the eligibility requirements vary.

For example, an online service may require a German identity card or an EU eID card with the online identification function activated. People arriving in Germany for the first time or using a non-EU passport may still need to attend an appointment in person.

Check your municipality’s official website to see whether online registration is available for your situation. Avoid unofficial websites that charge a fee merely to book an appointment.

Can someone register on your behalf?

Some registration authorities allow another person to complete the Anmeldung for you with written authorisation. The representative may need:

the completed and signed registration form;
your original identity documents or other accepted identification;
the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung;
a signed power of attorney;
their own identity document.

The rules differ between municipalities, so confirm the requirements with your local registration authority before sending someone on your behalf.

What Happens at the Appointment?

The appointment is usually short.

An employee checks your documents, registers your new address, and gives you a registration confirmation.

Before leaving, check that your name, address, and move-in date are correct.

The registration of a main residence is generally free.

Anmeldung Is Not a Residence Permit

Anmeldung and a residence permit are two different things.

Anmeldung registers the address where you live. It does not give you permission to enter, live or work in Germany.

A visa or residence permit determines your immigration status and whether you are allowed to work. However, you may need your registration confirmation when applying for or extending a residence permit.

If you are a non-EU citizen, check the conditions of your visa and contact the responsible immigration authority separately.

What Happens After Anmeldung?

After your first Anmeldung in Germany:

your German tax identification number is normally sent by post;
you may receive a letter about the broadcasting fee;
you can use your registration confirmation as proof of address.

Make sure your name is clearly visible on your mailbox.

You should also update your address with your:

employer;
health insurance provider;
bank;
utility and internet providers;
immigration authority, if necessary.

Useful German Sentences

When asking your landlord for the required document:

Könnten Sie mir bitte die Wohnungsgeberbestätigung für meine Anmeldung ausstellen?
Could you please issue the landlord’s confirmation for my address registration?

When contacting the registration authority:

Ich habe innerhalb der Frist keinen Termin bekommen. Was soll ich tun?
I could not get an appointment within the deadline. What should I do?

If the landlord has not provided the document:

Mein Vermieter hat mir noch keine Wohnungsgeberbestätigung ausgestellt.
My landlord has not yet issued the required confirmation.

When checking temporary accommodation:

Ist eine Anmeldung unter dieser Adresse möglich?
Is address registration possible at this address?

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these common problems:

waiting too long to book an appointment;
forgetting the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung;
bringing only the rental contract;
entering the wrong move-in date;
forgetting documents for family members;
registering an address where you do not actually live.

Quick Checklist

Before your appointment, take:

passport or identity card;
registration form;
Wohnungsgeberbestätigung;
family documents, if required;
appointment confirmation.

Final Tip

The general Anmeldung rules apply throughout Germany, but each municipality organises the process differently. Always check your city’s official website before your appointment to confirm the required documents and booking procedure.

Official Sources

Published: 7 August 2026
Last updated: 30 August 2026