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Anmeldung in Germany: register your address in 14 days

Checked 6 October 2026 2 min readBy Guruprasad, student in Germany
On this page
  1. Step by step
  2. No appointment within two weeks?
  3. What happens next
  4. Anmeldung in your city
  5. Common questions
  6. Sources

Short answer: everyone who moves into a flat in Germany must register the address at the local citizens' office (Bürgeramt or Bürgerbüro) within two weeks of moving in. Bring your passport and the landlord confirmation. It's free, and you get the registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung) on the spot. Your bank, university and immigration office will ask for it.

Step by step

  1. Get the landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) on move-in day.
  2. Book an appointment online at your city's citizens' office. In big cities, book before you arrive and check early mornings for cancellations.
  3. Fill in the registration form (most cities have it online) or complete it at the office.
  4. Go in person with your passport (with visa) and the landlord confirmation.
  5. Take your Meldebescheinigung and keep copies.

Online registration exists in many cities, but it needs a German ID card with an online function, so new non-EU students almost always register in person.

No appointment within two weeks?

Book the earliest slot anyway, and email the office asking for an earlier one or whether walk-ins are possible; keep that email as proof you tried in time. Copy our German email. Some cities release same-day slots early in the morning (Aachen around 7:45, Leipzig releases new slots daily at 5 p.m.).

What happens next

  • Your tax ID arrives by post a few weeks later.
  • A letter about the broadcasting fee follows.
  • You can now open a bank account, activate blocked-account payouts and apply for your residence permit.
  • Moving within Germany? Register again at the new address within two weeks. Leaving Germany for good? Deregister (Abmeldung).

Anmeldung in your city

Offices, booking systems and tricks differ: Berlin · Munich · Hamburg · Cologne · Frankfurt · Stuttgart · Aachen · Leipzig · Dresden.

Common questions

How long do I have for Anmeldung?

Two weeks after moving in.

Does Anmeldung cost anything?

No, registering your address is free.

Can I register online as a new international student?

Usually not: online registration needs a German ID card with an online function.

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Checked 6 October 2026.