Exam prep·Europe· 8 min read

Germany Anmeldung: How to Register Your Address After Arriving

A step-by-step guide to Germany's mandatory Anmeldung at the Bürgeramt — the address registration that unlocks your bank account, residence permit and tax ID.

Last updated 24 June 2026

Key facts

Where: Local Bürgeramt / Einwohnermeldeamt (city registration office)
Key document: Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (landlord's move-in confirmation)
You receive: Meldebescheinigung (registration certificate)
Unlocks: Bank account, residence permit, posted tax ID — verify locally

What the Anmeldung is and why it comes first

In Germany, anyone who moves into a residence is required to register that address with the local registration authority. This is the Anmeldung (address registration), and you complete it in person at the local Bürgeramt or Einwohnermeldeamt (the citizens' / residents' registration office) of your town or city district.

The Anmeldung matters because almost everything else downstream depends on the document it produces. Opening a German bank account, applying for or extending your student residence permit, and receiving your tax identification number all typically expect you to have registered your address first. Treat it as one of the first tasks after you arrive and have a fixed place to live.

The exact rules, the time window in which you must register, and the forms differ by city. This is general information, not immigration or legal advice — verify the current requirements for your specific city on its official website before you go.

Booking your Bürgeramt appointment

Most cities require a booked appointment (Termin) rather than walk-ins, and in larger student cities appointments can be in short supply. Book as early as you can — ideally as soon as you know your move-in date — through your city's official online booking portal.

Search for your city's name plus 'Bürgeramt Termin' to find the official municipal portal, or start from the city's own website. Be wary of third-party sites that charge a fee to book a free government appointment; use the official city portal.

Find your city's official Bürgeramt / Einwohnermeldeamt booking page
Select the service for 'Anmeldung' (registering a new residence)
Book the earliest available appointment slot for your district
Note that some small towns still accept walk-ins — check the city site

The Wohnungsgeberbestätigung from your landlord

The single most important document you must bring is the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung — a confirmation, signed by your landlord or whoever provides your housing, that you have actually moved into the address. By law the housing provider must give you this confirmation, and the registration office will not complete your Anmeldung without it.

If you live in a private flat, ask your landlord for it. If you live in a student hall or shared flat (WG), ask the hall administration or the main tenant who is registered as the provider. Make sure the name and address on the confirmation exactly match where you live.

What to bring to the appointment

Bring the originals of your documents. Requirements vary slightly by city, so check your city's official Anmeldung page for its exact checklist, but a typical set looks like the list below.

At the appointment you fill in (or hand over) the registration form (Anmeldeformular), present your documents, and the official records your address.

Valid passport (and your visa / residence permit if already issued)
The completed Anmeldeformular (often downloadable from the city site)
The Wohnungsgeberbestätigung signed by your housing provider
Your rental contract, if your city requests it

The Meldebescheinigung and what unlocks next

When the Anmeldung is done you receive a Meldebescheinigung (registration certificate) confirming your registered address. Keep it safe and make copies — banks, the immigration office and your university may ask for it.

Shortly after you register, the tax office automatically sends your tax identification number (steuerliche Identifikationsnummer) to your registered address by post. You do not apply for it separately; it arrives because you completed the Anmeldung. With your Meldebescheinigung you can then open a bank account and move forward with your residence-permit appointment. Residence-permit rules and timelines are set by the authorities and can change — verify them on your city's official sources.

Keep the Meldebescheinigung and make several copies
Your tax ID is posted to you automatically after registration
Use the certificate to open a German bank account
Re-register (Ummeldung) if you later move to a new address

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to register before I can open a German bank account?

In most cases yes. German banks generally ask for proof of a registered address (the Meldebescheinigung) when you open a standard current account, so the Anmeldung usually comes first. Some banks have alternative onboarding, so check the specific bank's requirements.

What if I'm staying in temporary housing or a hostel at first?

You register the address where you actually live. If you only have temporary accommodation, you typically register once you move into a place whose provider can give you a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung. Some cities have rules for temporary stays — check your city's official Anmeldung page.

Is there a deadline to complete the Anmeldung after I move in?

German cities set a time window within which you must register after moving in, and it can vary by city. Because the exact period and any consequences for missing it are set locally and can change, verify the current deadline on your own city's official website.

Who gives me the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung?

Your housing provider — your landlord for a private flat, or the hall administration or main tenant for a student residence or shared flat (WG). By law they must provide this confirmation, and you cannot complete the Anmeldung without it.

Do I need to register again if I move to another flat in Germany?

Yes. When you change address you complete an Ummeldung (re-registration) at the registration office for your new district, again with a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung. Keep your address registration current for your bank, university and immigration office.

Official sources

This guide explains the process and is for guidance only. Eligibility, dates, fees and rules change every year — always confirm the current details on the official site before you act.

Verified against: Study in Germany (DAAD) — After your arrival; Make it in Germany — Registering your address.

Last verified: 24 June 2026.