Anmeldung in Germany: how to register your address in 2026

The Anmeldung is the first piece of German paperwork most newcomers do, and almost everything else depends on it. Banks, your employer, the immigration office and the tax office all expect to see the certificate it produces.

The 14-day rule

German law requires you to register at the local registration office (Bürgeramt or Einwohnermeldeamt) within two weeks of moving into a flat. The clock starts on the day you actually move in, not the day you sign the contract.

Missing the deadline is an administrative offence. The law allows fines of up to €1,000, although offices usually charge far less, or nothing, if you register late but in good faith. In big cities, appointments can be scarce, so book as soon as you know your move-in date.

What to bring

What is the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung?

It is a short form your landlord (or the main tenant, if you sublet a room in a WG) must give you within two weeks of moving in. It states the landlord's name and address, the date you moved in, the full address of the flat and the names of everyone moving in. Without it, the office cannot register you.

Ask for it when you collect your keys. Short-term rentals and some furnished apartments do not issue it, so check before you book a place for your first months.

Step by step

1. Book an appointment on your city's website as soon as you have an address. Search for "Anmeldung" plus your city name.
2. Get the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung signed by your landlord.
3. Fill in the registration form at home if your city offers it online.
4. Go to the appointment with the documents above. Registration is free and usually takes 10 to 15 minutes.
5. Take your Meldebescheinigung (registration certificate) home. Keep it safe: banks, employers and the Ausländerbehörde will ask for it.
6. Wait for your tax ID (Steuer-ID). The Federal Central Tax Office sends it by post a few weeks after your first registration. Your employer needs it for your payslip.

Can I register online?

Since November 2025, all 16 federal states connect to the electronic registration service (elektronische Wohnsitzanmeldung). You need an ID card with an activated online function, a BundID account, the AusweisApp and a smartphone with NFC.

For most people arriving from outside the EU this does not help with the first registration, because you do not yet have a German card with the online function. Once you hold an electronic residence permit with the eID function switched on, you can usually register later moves online.

What the Anmeldung unlocks

• A bank account. Most banks ask for your registration certificate. See our guide to the best German banks.
• Your tax ID, which your employer needs before your first full payslip.
• Your residence permit appointment at the Ausländerbehörde.
• Blocked account payouts, which start once you link a German current account. See the blocked account guide.
• The Rundfunkbeitrag, which you must register for once you have your own flat. See the broadcasting fee explained.

Questions people ask

Do I need to register if I live in a shared flat (WG)?

Yes. Everyone who moves into a flat must register, including people renting a room in a WG. The main tenant or the landlord gives you the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung.

What happens if I move again?

You register at your new address within 14 days. Within the same city this is called an Ummeldung. When you leave Germany for good, you deregister (Abmeldung).

Is the Anmeldung the same as a residence permit?

No. The Anmeldung records where you live. The residence permit, issued by the Ausländerbehörde, is your right to stay in Germany. You need the first to get the second.

How much does the Anmeldung cost?

Nothing. The registration and the simple registration certificate are free.

Sources

• Wohnsitz anmelden 2026 (amtsdeutschland.de): deadline, documents, fines, electronic registration
• Wohnungsgeberbestätigung, § 19 BMG (amtsdeutschland.de)