Are you planning to stay in Germany longer than 3 months? You’re going to need to apply for a German Residence Permit and one of the first steps is to complete Anmeldung, or your residence registration in Germany with your new city.
In Germany, there is a regulation called Meldepflicht (compulsory registration) which requires everyone, whether German or international, to register at their home address.
This regulation is so that the authorities have the ability to track population changes (like the Ghana Population Census) and keep better statistics on housing availability.
Check out our guide to residence registration in Germany below.
Why you need a Registration Certificate (Anmeldebescheinigung) & Tax ID
Beyond the simple answer of, “because you have to”, there are numerous benefits to completing your residence registration in Germany.
For starters, by completing anmeldung you will receive your registration certificate (Anmeldebescheinigung). This is a critical piece of paperwork in Germany because it is necessary for nearly all legal or “formal” aspects of life, including applying for a German residence permit or opening a bank account.
In addition, by registering to live in Germany you will automatically receive your tax ID (steuerliche Identifikationsnummer). This is a separate document that will be mailed to you within 2-3 weeks after your registration completion from the Federal Central Tax Office.
How to Register in Germany – 3 Simple Steps
Anmeldung in Germany is relatively simple once you understand the process. See below the 3 simple steps you need to follow to register your address in Germany (Germany Anmeldung.)
#1 – Set up an Appointment at the Bürgerämt (Citizen’s Office)
To make an appointment to complete your residence registration (‘Anmeldung einer Wohnung’ or ‘Anmeldung Ihres Wohnsitzes’) in Germany, simply contact your local citizen’s office (Bürgerämt). The most major cities in Germany offer online appointment tools through their websites. However, you are also welcome to make an appointment by phone or to “walk-in” and wait for the next available person. To help the process, here are some ‘Anmeldung einer Wohnung’ links to get you started for most of the major cities:
Berlin
When setting up the appointment or selecting a service, be on the lookout for phrases such as “Meldeangelegenheiten,” “Anmeldung einer Wohnung” and “Anmeldung Ihres Wohnsitzes’” to register your address.
The service of registering your new address and applying for a new tax-ID is usually free – however, some offices may charge a small fee. In this case, it is always best to have cash on hand and ask for a receipt when you have completed the transaction.
If you urgently need your registration certificate or Tax ID, you can always go to the Bürgeramt for a drop-in appointment. We highly recommend coming right as they open in order to get a number ticket to shorten your wait time in the reception room. In major cities, it can be common that the appointments are quite far out.
From our experience, Monday mornings, or mornings right after holidays when the Bürgeramt is closed tend to have the highest number of individuals seeking walk-in appointments.
Keep in mind, the Bürgerbüros are not reserved for their respective neighborhoods only, you can visit any of them. Look at all in your town to setup an appointment if necessary.
#2 – Prepare your Documents Required for Anmledung in Germany
Your citizens’ office’s (Bürgerbüro) website will list exactly which documents you need to bring with you to the appointment. Also, if you are married and/or have children, only one person needs to attend. The required documents are usually:
- Valid passport (not a driving license).
- Visa (if applicable).
- Proof of Residence Certificate (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung – provided to you by the owner/landlord of your apartment). Read more below.
- Completed Registration Form (Anmeldeformular), printed from your local citizen’s office website.
- Marriage Certificate (if applicable)
- Family member documents (If applicable) If you’re moving to Germany as a family or registering your family in your German home, only one of you needs to go to the anmeldung appointment. You will need to bring valid passports, original birth certificates and possibly translated birth certificates. In our experience, the original birth certificate has been sufficient.
#3 – Bürgerämt Appointment for Anmeldung
It’s time for your appointment at the Bürgeramt! Do not be late. Double check you have all of your documents, otherwise you will need to do all of this again. Once you arrive in the building, you will stay in a waiting area until your appointment is called. When you registered for the appointment, you received a number. This number will be called when it’s time for your appointment.
Your caseworker will take your documents and you will receive a Meldebescheinigung. The Meldebescheinigung is a registration certificate of you living in your residence. The appointment is generally pretty quick and will be over with in about 10 minutes. It is important to point out here that the case workers are required to speak German. So, if you are still a little bit shaky with your German speaking skills, ask a friend to join you.
German Church Tax – Anmeldung Form
As foreigners, we first didn’t fully understand at first the tax implications of religious affiliation. In the United States, there is separation of church and state in regards to taxes. However, that line gets a bit fuzzier when it comes to Germany.
During your residence registration appointment you will be asked if you belong to a religious denomination. If you answer “yes”, identifying as Protestant (evangelisch), Catholic (katholisch) or Jewish (jüdisch) you will be automatically expected to pay church tax (Kirchensteuer).
The amount of applicable church tax varies depending on which German state you are residing in. The percentage of income tax paid varies depending on the German state. In Bayern and Baden-Württemberg the percentage is 8%, whereas all other Bundesländer have to pay 9%.
If you are employed and receive a regular salary, the German Church Tax is collected in the same way as the standard income tax model. You will notice a separate line item on your monthly payslip.
If you’re a religious person and you would like to remain a member, you should mark your religious affiliation on the anmeldung form. This will allow you to use their facilities for activities like a marriage.
If you are not part of a religious affiliation, be sure to register yourself as “without religion” (ohne Religion).
In all, anticipate your appointment lasting about 15-20 minutes. The city official will check your document, complete your paperwork and give you a stamped certificate of registration. Once more, your Tax ID will arrive separately in the mail within 2-3 weeks.
