Germany generally requires people moving into a dwelling to register within two weeks. Online options and document details vary locally; check the responsible municipality.
Your checklist
First steps
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What the Anmeldung does
The Anmeldung records your residential address with the local registration authority. It is separate from a visa or residence permit and does not grant permission to live or work in Germany.
Online registration is not universal
Germany offers an online residence-registration service, but access depends on the municipality and the required identity features. Use the portal only if your municipality and personal documents meet its conditions.
City rules can add practical details
The federal deadline is a useful starting point, while appointment systems and accepted documents are local. A Bavarian service page and the federal online portal are examples of official instructions, not a substitute for the authority responsible for your address.
Prepare for the appointment and follow-up
Before booking, confirm which municipality handles your new address, whether an appointment is required, and which documents it currently accepts. Ask the housing provider for a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung; a rental contract may not replace this confirmation. If several adults are moving, check who must sign or confirm the request.
After registering, check the spelling of your name and the move-in date on the confirmation, keep the receipt, and make sure your name is visible on the mailbox. A first German tax ID is sent separately by post, so keep watching for official mail.
If you are leaving Germany
If you move out of a dwelling and do not move into another dwelling in Germany, §17 of the Federal Registration Act requires you to deregister within two weeks after moving out. You may deregister no earlier than one week before departure. Ask your registration office how it accepts the Abmeldung.
Common questions
Is Anmeldung a residence permit?
No. It registers an address. Immigration permission is a separate process where required.
Can I use a hotel or temporary address?
The answer depends on the type and length of accommodation and applicable exceptions. Ask the local registration office before relying on a temporary address.
Can I register online?
Only if the electronic service is available for your municipality and your identity document and eID meet its requirements. Otherwise follow the local in-person procedure. Check your municipality’s current instructions.
Is a rental contract enough for Anmeldung?
Do not assume so. Registration offices commonly ask for a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung from the housing provider. Use the form or confirmation accepted by the office responsible for your address.
Do I need to deregister when I move abroad from Germany?
If you leave a dwelling and do not take up another dwelling in Germany, §17 BMG sets a two-week deadline after moving out; the earliest filing is one week before departure. Confirm the accepted channel with your local registration office.
Official sources
Read this first
- German federal online residence-registration serviceFederal service information
- Bavaria service portal: registering a residenceBavaria example; local requirements vary
- Federal Registration Act (BMG), §17Federal law: two-week arrival registration and deregistration when leaving without taking up another home in Germany.
Rules can vary by nationality, work or study status, and city. Confirm your route with the official authority before you act.