Registering your home (Anmeldung einer Wohnung) is the first and most important administrative step after arriving in Germany. Your tax ID, many banking services and later dealings with authorities depend on it, and employers, banks and other organisations often ask for the registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung).

The statutory two-week deadline (Section 17 BMG)

The Federal Registration Act requires you to register within two weeks of moving in. In large cities, there are often no free appointments for weeks. Book the earliest available appointment, keep the confirmation and check on your office's website how it handles registrations made after the two-week period.

Documents for your appointment at the Bürgeramt

Usually you will need: valid passports of all family members being registered, with their visas or residence permits; marriage and children's birth certificates where required (foreign certificates often need a translation); and the landlord's confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung under Section 19 BMG). A tenancy agreement does not replace it. The exact list is on your office's website.

Filling in the registration form correctly

The form asks for personal details, your previous address abroad, the move-in date and your religious affiliation. If you state that you belong to the Catholic or Protestant church, your employer will deduct church tax (Kirchensteuer): 8 to 9% of your income tax, depending on the federal state. If you do not belong to such a religious community, this is recorded accordingly.

The registration certificate and your tax ID

The Bürgeramt enters your details in the population register and usually issues a registration confirmation straight away. The information is passed to the Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt), which sends your permanent tax identification number (Steuer-ID) by post.

What to check

  • Book an appointment at a Bürgeramt in your city as soon as your arrival date is confirmed.
  • Get the signed Wohnungsgeberbestätigung from your landlord.
  • Find out whether your marriage and birth certificates need translations and an apostille, and prepare them in advance.
  • Keep your registration certificate: many organisations will ask for it.

Example situation

A family visits the Bürgeramt in Charlottenburg, Berlin, completes the registration in 15 minutes with the landlord's confirmation and receives registration certificates to give to the employer.

Next step

Registration sets the rest of German bureaucracy in motion; book your appointment early and check how names are spelled on the certificate.

Official information on this topic

Checklists and examples are organisational recommendations. Requirements depend on the procedure, the city and your situation; check them with the relevant office before you act. Please discuss legal and tax questions with an authorised professional.

This article was prepared with the help of AI. The example illustrates the approach and does not describe a client case.