What is the Residence Registration / “Anmeldung”?
Anmeldung means registration in German and is the most important first step when moving to (or within) Berlin or anywhere in Germany. Anyone intending to stay in Germany for a longer period of time is required to register their residency. You are required to get registered within 14 days from the moment you officially move into your residence by law (see more details here: Bundesmeldegesetz (BMG) § 17 Abmeldung).
Why do I need to register my residence and what happens if I don’t?
Generally, registration is crucial for being able to settle in Berlin. You need the registration to open a bank account, obtain health insurance etc. If you fail to comply to the the 14 day deadline, there can be fines. But, due to the pandemic and a lack of appointments, the current chances of being fined is relatevily low.
Can I be represented at the official registration appointment?
If you have been registered in Germany before, you can be represented by somebody if you provide a procuration. Find a template here.
If you have never been registered before, it is highly reccommended to go yourself, because the likehood that the officials will not proceed your registration if you are represented is high (especially when registering a married couple or a family).
This is why it is common to have a German speaking person accompanying you, especially if you don´t speak German yet or like to reduce the hassle of figuring out the process youself.
In case you are thinking about assitance for your registration, you might consider one of our residence registration service options. Check options here:
Documents required to register a residence in Berlin Germany
Before making an appointment for you registration, make sure you have all your documents ready.
Here is what you will need to bring:
- Passport Bring your valid passport or identification card.
- Anmeldeformular (registration form) Don’t forget your completed registration form (Anmeldeformular). This can be found here.
- Landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) By law, your landlord has to provide you with a confirmation of your residency within 14 days of signing your rental contract. If you are the owner yourself, you need to provide the corresponding pages from the “Grundbuch” (land register) that prove that you are the owner.
- Possibly: Marriage Certificate Only if you have one and your partner registers with you; also bring children’s birth certificates if they register with you. Please make sure that a German speaking offical understands the details on the certificate.
Where do I bring all the paperwork for my residence registration?
Once you have all required documents ready, you will need to take them to a local registration office called Einwohnermeldeamt or Bürgeramt. Unfortunately there is no option to register your residency online. It is advisable to make an appointment before you go in order to avoid long waiting times or worse, being denied service and sent home.
How to find the right Bürgeramt/location
There are several locations you can visit. We recommend you to research for the nearest location before you make an appointment to avoid long travel time.
Update June 2020
– Due to the Corona pandemic, it is mendatory to book an appointment
– Because there are so few appointments available at the moment, simply take any appointment at any administration office you can find
How do I get an appointment at the registration office?
Booking an appointment
You have the option to attend without an appointment, however we strongly advise you to book an appointment, since waiting times are usually very long and some offices will reserve the right to de
In Berlin you can make appointments online (see this website). See instructions below.
Update June 2020: Due to the Corona pandemic and some other reasons, the administration offers only a hand full of appointments per day. It seems that they have more appointments available in the morning. Check the website more often. Other options of booking an appointment:
- Call +49115 (offical citizen hotline)
- Call the administration office responsible for your district directly . Find a list of all offices here
You have the option to attend without an appointment, however we strongly advise you to book an appointment, since waiting times are usually very long and some offices will reserve the right to decline service without an appointment. You will find the adresses of some of the bigger offices below.
Corona Update: You can´t go without an appointment
How do I make an appointment online to register in Berlin?
- To book an online appointment go to Berlin Bürgeramt Service
- Click on your preferred Bürgeramt location – you can either choose from the map or scroll down through the list of locations
- On the next page, scroll down again to Angebotene Dienstleistungen (“offered services”) and select Anmeldung einer Wohnung (“Residency registration”)
- On the next page you should find a button that says Termin hier buchen (“Book appointment here”)
Note: It is very common in Berlin that appointments for Anmeldung at the Bürgeramt are booked out for several weeks or months in advance. If the location you want is booked, remember that you can go to any Bürgeramt, so in case you urgently need one, you can choose any free appointment, regardless of the location. If neither is possible for you, reach out to us at Amtio, we are experienced experts in the field of residency registration in Berlin, we will try to help you or personally get your residency registration done as quickly as possible. Click button below for more info:
What do I get at the end of the residence registration?
The official registration document
You will get a proof of residency registration in Berlin, Germans call Meldeschein or Anmeldebestätigung. Keep this document safe, since you are most likely going to need it for many official matters such as a German bank account , health insurance, library card and more.
Income-tax card called Steuer-ID
If you are eligible, you will also receive an income-tax card with your tax ID (Steuer-ID). The federal tax office (Finanzamt) will automatically send it to your newly registered German address within a few weeks. Let your employer know your tax ID so they can use it to deduct applicable taxes regarding your income and social security.
Note: Do not confuse the tax ID (Steuer-ID) with the tax number (Steuernummer), which is a tax number necessary for freelancers only. (The tax number has to be requested from the tax office separately – Read “Getting A Freelance Steuernummer” from Finanzamt in Berlin.)
Extra Info: What is Kirchensteuer and do I have to pay it?
On your registration form, you will be requested to state your religion, a field you can also just leave blank. Nevertheless, if you want to be officially registered as Catholic, Protestant or any other Christian religion, you are required to pay a religious tax on their annual income tax bill called church tax (“Kirchensteuer”) which is normally around 9 percent of the annual income tax.
Note: If choosing not to pay church tax in Germany you will not be eligible to receive communion, confession or get married in a German church.
Click to view all Bürgeramt locations in Berlin
Click to view Meldegesetz (German Registration Law in German)
Main Addresses for Bürgeramt Locations in Berlin
Bezirksamt Charlottenburg/Wilmersdorf
Bürgeramt Halemweg (Außenstelle)
Halemweg 18 13627 Berlin
Tel.: (030) 9029-25222
Fax: (030) 9029-2522
Bezirksamt Friedrichshain – Kreuzberg I
Bürgeramt 1 (Kreuzberg), Yorckstr.
Yorckstraße 4-11 10965 Berlin
Tel.: (030) 115
Fax: (030) 90298 – 3165
Bezirksamt Friedrichshain – Kreuzberg II
Bürgeramt 3 (Friedrichshain), Frankfurter Allee
Frankfurter Allee 35/37 10247 Berlin
Tel.: (030) 115
Fax: (030) 90298 – 4690
Bezirksamt Lichtenberg
Bürgeramt 1 (Neu- Hohenschönhausen) Egon-Erwin-Kisch-Straße
Egon-Erwin-Kisch-Straße 106 13059 Berlin
Tel.: (030) 115
Fax: (030) 90296-777819
Bezirksamt Marzahn – Hellersdorf
Bürgeramt Biesdorf – Center
Elsterwerdaer Platz 3 12683 Berlin
Postanschrift
Bürgeramt
12591 Berlin
Tel.: (030) 115
Fax: (030) 90293-5515
Bezirksamt Mitte
Bürgeramt Rathaus Mitte
Karl-Marx-Allee 31 10178 Berlin
Tel.: (030) 115
Fax: (030)9018 23060
Bezirksamt Neukölln
Bürgeramt Blaschkoallee, Neukölln
Blaschkoallee 32 12359 Berlin
Postanschrift
Karl-Marx-Str. 83
12040 Berlin
Tel.: 115
Fax: (030) 90239-1369
Bezirksamt Pankow I
Bürgeramt Pankow
Breite Str. 24A – 26 13187 Berlin
Tel.: (030) 115
Fax: (030) 90295-2576
Bezirksamt Pankow II
Bürgeramt Prenzlauer Berg
Fröbelstr. 17 10405 Berlin
Tel.: (030) 115
Fax: (030) 90295-6888
Bezirksamt Reinickendorf
Bürgeramt Rathaus Reinickendorf
Eichborndamm 215 13437 Berlin
Tel.: (030) 115
Fax: (030) 90294-2994
Bezirksamt Spandau
Bürgeramt Spandau – Bürgeramt Rathaus Spandau
Carl-Schurz-Str. 2/6 13597 Berlin
Tel.: 115
Fax: (030) 90279-2828
Bezirksamt Steglitz – Zehlendorf
Bürgeramt Steglitz
Schloßstraße 37 12163 Berlin
Tel.: (030) 115
Fax: (030) 90299-3370
Bezirksamt Tempelhof – Schöneberg
Bürgeramt Schöneberg
John-F.-Kennedy-Platz – 10825 Berlin
Tel.: 115
Fax: (030) 90277-7021
Bezirksamt Treptow – Könighof
Bürgeramt I in Köpenick
Alt-Köpenick 21 12555 Berlin
Tel.: 115
Fax: (030) 90297-2845