If you are going to live in Germany for more than three months, you are required to register your address (anmelden) with your local citizens' office (Bürgeramt).
Meldepflicht, or compulsory registration, is the regulation that requires each citizen, German and international, to register at his/her home address. The registration authority thus registers the persons who stay in their district in order to keep records of population and places of residence.
Receiving your Registration Certificate (Anmeldebescheinigung) and Tax ID
The most important step of moving to Germany is the registration appointment, Anmeldung. At this appointment, you are given your registration certificate (Anmeldebescheinigung) that you will need for any administrative matter in the country: application for a residence permit, opening a bank account, or job hunting.
Your tax ID (steuerliche Identifikationsnummer) will be issued automatically when you register. It is a new, permanent identifying number issued by the Federal Central Tax Office. Your employer will need it in calculating your individual Lohnsteuer (income/paye tax rate). It may also be needed when taking out health insurance or when beginning a pension.
How to register in Germany
By law you need to register within 14 days of moving into your new address in Germany. If you don't yet have a fixed address, registering can be complicated, as one of the documents required to register is a confirmation of residence signed by your landlord. In some towns, this can be done by the landlord of your temporary accommodation, although you are usually not able to register before you have a tenancy agreement. If you are unsure, consult your citizens' registration office.
Booking an appointment to register
It is better to book an appointment to register – in person or by telephone. Also, the most citizens' offices in the larger municipalities provide the option of online appointment bookings, usually only available in German. "Meldeangelegenheiten" is a way to find the registration option when choosing a service. If you phone, request an appointment for "registering an address" (Anmeldung einer Wohnung). The service itself is usually free, though some offices may charge nominal fees. Also be aware that the vast majority of Germany does not accept credit cards as a means of payment.
Note that appointments are subject to availability and it is not always possible to get an appointment within the 2-week cut-off period. However it usually is sufficient that you have booked your appointment within 2 weeks of moving in, even if the appointment itself is after that time. Should you urgently need your registration certificate or Tax ID, you can always come by the Bürgerbüro for a drop-in appointment. Come along as early as possible, take a number ticket, and be prepared for quite a long wait.
The appointment for registration
The actual appointment will take about 10-15 minutes, while the official checks your documents against his, fills in the paperwork, and then hands you a stamped certificate of registration. Your Tax ID will arrive separately in the post within 2-3 weeks.
Staff cannot always be expected to speak English, and so the registration appointment will usually be conducted in German. If possible, take a German speaker along with you. Quite often, you will also be able to print off and fill out the registration form (Anmeldeformular) in advance from the website of your citizens' office. This might help you prepare in advance. It is also possible for someone who speaks German to attend instead of you. They will need a letter signed by you, authorizing them to act on your behalf. They will also need to take your completed registration form and supporting documents with them, as well as their own passport or identity card.
Church tax (Kirchensteuer)
You will be asked at your registration appointment whether you belong to a religious denomination. If you are Protestant (evangelisch) or Catholic (katholisch) you will be liable for a church tax of between eight and nine percent of your annual income tax. You can escape this duty by making sure that you register yourself as "without religion" (ohne Religion).
Citizens' offices (Bürgerämter) contact details
You can find your local citizens' office by selecting "Einwohnermeldeamt" and entering your postcode on the Deutsche Post website. Typically, in every city in Germany, there are a few of them. You do not have to attend the one closest to you, so it might be worth going to one further away if they have an appointment available sooner.
Documents to register
Your citizens' office's website will be clear on which documents you have to take along to the appointment. Normally, these are:
- Valid passport or ID card. This can never be a driving license.
Visa, if necessary.
- Proof of residence certificate. A more detailed description follows below.
Registration form. If somebody comes to the appointment on your behalf, this form should already have been filled out; otherwise, it will be completed by the official when you have your appointment.
- Marriage certificate, if applicable.
Note: wenn Sie gleich mehrere Personen anmelden, z.B. Ihren Ehepartner oder Ihre Kinder, bringen Sie bitte alle Dokumente dieser Personen mit. Eine Bestätigung des Wohnsitzes ist auch für mehrere Personen möglich.
- Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (Proof of residence certificate )
Finally, if you are going to rent a room or an apartment, you also should ask your landlord to provide you with the proof of residence certificate, known as Wohnungsgeberbestätigung. A rental agreement would not suffice.
Since November 2015, the federal government has made it a legal requirement for landlords to contribute to registration by providing proof of residence. Since most of the bureaucracy in Germany depends on possession of a certificate of registration, it would not be advisable for one to rent from a landlord unwilling to issue a residence confirmation.
Penalties for failure to register
Registration is compulsory for all foreigners by law. Non-registration, misinformation, or late registration is not permitted. If you are incompletely registered you risk a fine of up to 1.000 euros.
Temporary registration
Anyway, if you are staying for less than three months but working / studying in Germany, you will need a registration certificate and / or a tax ID, so you will have to register at your local citizens' office.
Changing address
If you change your address in Germany, you will have to do exactly as above, so that you are registered at your new address within 2 weeks. You do not need to de-register from your old address.
De-registering
In case you leave Germany for good, you must deregister this at the citizens' office. You need to do this within two weeks of leaving your place of residence. You are not allowed to deregister more than a week in advance of your move.