How to Get Anmeldung in Germany in 3 Easy Steps (Includes All Forms Translated to English)

An easy guide for expats on how to get Anmeldung in Germany in 3 simple steps!

So, you’ve just arrived in Germany. Willkommen! You’ve probably joined an expat group and heard the endless stories about how notoriously difficult it is to get Anmeldung.

When we arrived in Germany over 4 years ago, we were in your shoes too. We searched the length and breadth of the internet for answers until we successfully applied for Anmeldung.

But now we’ve completed the Anmeldung process over 4 times since living in Germany. So don’t worry, you’ve come to the right place!

This guide answers all your questions about Anmeldung and provides three easy steps to get Anmeldung in Germany. We’ve also included a free translation of the Anmeldung form in English.

Applying for Anmeldung in Germany has never been this easy!

What is Anmeldung and Why It’s Required in Germany

Before we demystify how to get an Anmeldung, it’s important to understand what it actually means.

In German, the word ‘anmeldung’ simply means registration. So in this context, it means registration of your residential address.

But why do you need it? In Germany, authorities require all residents living in the country to have themselves registered with a district office.

Anmeldung is essentially a record of where to find you should the need ever arise. So don’t go getting up to mischief because Big Brother knows where you live. Jokes aside, you’ll need it for renting a long-term apartment (ironic, we know), applying for jobs, opening a traditional bank account, and even converting a foreign driver’s license to a German driving license.

Now that you get why, let’s jump straight into the three easy steps on how to get Anmeldung in Germany.

Step 1: Gather Your Documents Required for Anmeldung

Authorities require you to get Anmeldung within 2 weeks of moving into an apartment. This also applies every time you move home within Germany.

But if you’re only visiting and are not planning to settle in Germany, you don’t need to get it.

You need the following documents to apply for Anmeldung in Germany:

• Passport
• Completed Registration Form
• Rental Agreement or Letter Confirming Accommodation
• Wohnungsgeberbestätigung signed by the Owner or Landlord
• Children’s Identification Documents or Birth Certificates (for children moving in)
• Residency Permit (for non-EU citizens)
• Marriage Certificate (if applicable)

Save Me For Later

Related Guide: Urgently need to rent an apartment in Berlin with Anmeldung? You’re in luck! Here are 15 apartment hotels in Berlin that allow Anmeldung.

How to Complete the Anmeldung Registration Form

The Registration Form, also referred to as Meldeschein, is only available in German. It is a one page form, which is straight forward and relatively easy to complete.

You need the following information to complete the form:

• Passport Details
• New Address
• Move-in Date
• Particulars of Family Members (if they’re moving in with you)

Not sure how to complete the form? Here’s a Free English Translation of the Anmeldung Registration Form:

The Anmeldung Sorted Berlin website also helps you complete the form online for free. But if you don’t feel comfortable inserting your sensitive personal information online, simply download the registration form and complete it using our FREE English Translation.

And if you’re wondering how much it costs, registering an address is free. You don’t need to pay for Anmeldung.

Bonus Tip: You may have to pay church tax depending on how you complete the form. We recommend you leave the religion section blank if you do not wish to pay church tax.

How to Complete the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung Form

The Wohnungsgeberbestätigung is a confirmation of your residential address and is required for Anmeldung. It’s also referred to as Einzugsbestätigung des Wohnungsgebers and Vermieterbescheinigung. They’re all one and the same.

The wohnungsgeberbestätigung includes the following information:

• Details of the Landlord
• Details of the Owner
• Move-in Date
• Residential Address
• Details of the Tenant

Your landlord will send you a signed wohnungsgeberbestätigung, after you move into your newly leased apartment. If you’re staying with friends or family, simply ask them to complete this form as you’ll need it for Anmeldung.

Ultimately, only the landlord (vermieter), owner (wohnungseigentümer) or main tenant (hauptmieter) can sign this form. Unless other tenants receive permission from the landlord.

Here’s a Free English Translation of the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung Form.

Related Guide: Are you paying too much rent? Make sure you check out our Conny Review to find out how we managed to legally reduce our rent and get over €5,000 back.

How to Get Anmeldung without a Lease Agreement

If you’ve found an apartment, congratulations! Your rental agreement and the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung signed by your landlord will suffice.

But if you haven’t found one, then you’ll be facing the Anmeldung Paradox many people moving to Germany struggle with.

You see, in order to get a rental agreement you need an Anmeldung. It’s kinda like the chicken-or-egg causality dilemma all over again.

So if you don’t have a lease and you’re staying with family or a friend, you’ll need their assistance. A letter confirming your accommodation will suffice and will buy you time while you find that perfect apartment.

The official that processed our application informed us that this letter is not actually required. But we still recommend you get a letter from your friend or family confirming that you’ll be staying with them. Rather be safe than sorry!

Here’s a FREE sample of a letter confirming your accommodation. You can download the editable Word version here.

You’ll submit this letter along with the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung.

Related Guide: Did you know that you can save more than €200 by signing a new electricity contract when moving into a new apartment in Germany? We kid you not! Find out how in our detailed Electricity Providers in Germany guide.

Step 2: Book an Appointment with Your Local Bürgeramt

Once you have all the documents required to get Anmeldung, you can submit them at your local district office by visiting your local Bürgeramt.

But first, you’ll need an appointment for Anmeldung einer Wohnung. You can arrange an appointment with your local Bürgeramt by phone, in person or online.

If your Deutsch is limited to ‘guten tag’, ‘hallo’ and ‘danke’, we strongly suggest you set-up an appointment online. It’s also a great option if you’re pressed for time.

Here’s a list of service portal websites for the main cities in Germany where you can book an Anmeldung appointment:

• Berlin.de: You can book an appointment here.
• Dortmund.de: You can book an appointment here.
• Dresden.de: You can book an appointment here.
• Duesseldorf.de: You can book an appointment here.
• Frankfurt.de: You can book an appointment here.
• Hamburg.de: You can book an appointment here.
• Muenchen.de: You can book an appointment here.
• Stuttgart.de: You can book an appointment here.

Your city not listed? No problem! Let us know via WhatsApp or Messenger and we’ll find the link for you. We’ll be happy to help.

Bonus Tip: You need two appointments if you want to get Anmeldung for two people. If you are married, you only need one appointment to get Anmeldung.

Book Anmeldung Appointment Online

To set-up an appoint for Anmeldung einer Wohnung, simply visit your city’s service portal and follow the instructions online.

Simply select your district, pick a date, choose a suitable time slot, fill in your personal information, and submit. And voila!

You should receive an appointment confirmation if you’ve successfully arranged an appointment. You’ll need the confirmation details later, so keep them safe.

Bear in mind that time slots can sometimes be fully booked several days, if not weeks, in advance.

Bonus Tip: Each city’s service portal is unique and has its own way of scheduling appointments. So the above steps may not apply to you in the same order. Just follow the same logic and you’ll also be able to book an appointment with your local Bürgeramt.

How to get a Bürgeramt Appointment on the Same Day

If queuing at a Bürgeramt early in the morning is not for you, follow these steps to get an appointment.

Visit your city’s service portal and search for appointments in more than one district. Sometimes selecting a Bürgeramt on the outskirts of the city may do the trick.

Search each chosen Bürgeramt for available time slots. If all the time slots are fully booked, try refreshing the time slot page several times to reveal any cancellations. This is most effective in the early mornings especially between 7am and 9am.

If you’re in luck, the results will be updated with cancelled appointments. Then simply select your desired time slot and you’ll be able to confirm your appointment at your local Bürgeramt.

Important: Don’t forget to cancel your appointment if you can’t attend it for any reason. It will free up your time slot and maybe someone else can get lucky and use it.

Bonus Tip: If you’re in Berlin, check out the Find and Book an Appointment Anywhere in Berlin page to search for a Bürgeramt appointment slots on the same day. Don’t forget to refresh the page every 15 minutes or so to reveal open slots.

Step 3: Attend Your Bürgeramt Appointment

Once you have an appointment with your local Bürgeramt, attending your appointment to complete the Anmeldung process is a breeze.

Simply arrive at your local Bürgeramt at least 15 minutes before your appointment. Remember to take your appointment confirmation with you or simply make a note of the confirmation number.

Take a seat in the waiting area and patiently wait for your confirmation number to be called. This may take anything from 5 minutes to an hour, depending on how busy they are.

During the registration process, the Bürgeramt official will ask you several questions and take your documents for copying. This process will take about 10 minutes. At the end, you’ll receive a certificate of registration (Meldebescheinigung or Anmeldebestätigung) along with your documents back.

And, that’s it! You’ll now have your Meldebescheinigung which confirms your address, the date you moved in and any persons you live with.

Keep this document safe! You’ll need it to open a bank account, request utility services and arrange internet access for your new home.

Can Someone Else do Anmeldung for Me

Yes. If you are unable to attend your Bürgeramt appointment for any reason, someone else can do Anmeldung on your behalf. Which is helpful if you’re simply too busy and don’t have time to do Anmeldung. Or you’re married and your spouse cannot attend the Bürgeramt appointment with you.

All you need to do is complete and sign a power of attorney letter which is know as Vollmacht. You can use this power of attorney template. And here’s the Free English Translation of the Vollmacht letter.

The person that will do Anmeldung on your behalf will require the signed power of attorney letter (Vollmacht) including all the original documents (including passports, residency permits and marriage certificates). Just make sure the signature on the passport matches the Vollmacht and you’re good to go.

Useful Tip: Besides getting your ‘Anmeldung done’, make sure you redirect your mail from your old to new address in Germany. It’s the easiest way to let the banks, insurance companies, and other essential service providers know that you’ve moved. Our Mail Forwarding in Germany guide will show you how you can do this for FREE in under 5 minutes.

Can You Get Anmeldung Later

The short answer is yes. It is possible to get Anmeldung later even after 2 weeks. But unless you have a good reason not to get Anmeldung (like the Coronavirus pandemic), we do not recommend you register your address late.

Is there a Fine for Late Registration

The good news is that you will not get fined if you don’t register your address and get Anmeldung within 2 weeks.

Once, we registered our address 10 months after moving in. And although we did not get a fine when we attended our appointment to get Anmeldung, we did get a look of disappointment from the Bürgeramt official after we explained (and apologised) that we simply forgot. Not sure which one is worse, so don’t try this at home.

Open a German Bank Account Without Anmeldung

Need a bank account urgently and can’t wait to get Anmeldung? Follow our guide to open a bank account without Anmeldung and get access to your account in 5 minutes flat.