Anyone who moves into an apartment in Germany has to register their address with the local registration office. In Berlin that is the Bürgeramt. This guide explains what you need, how long you have and why it matters for almost everything that follows.
Who has to register, and by when
If you move into a flat in Berlin, you must register within two weeks of moving in. This applies to Germans and foreigners alike, including people on temporary stays, as long as they actually live in the apartment.
The documents you need
The landlord confirmation is the document many people struggle to get, because some landlords of temporary rentals do not issue it. Ask for it before you sign.
- Passport or national ID card
- The registration form (Anmeldeformular), available from the city's service portal
- The landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung), signed by the landlord
- For families: documents for each person who moves in
Booking an appointment
Appointments at the Bürgeramt are booked online via the Berlin service portal (service.berlin.de). You can go to any Bürgeramt in the city, not only the one in your district. If no slots are shown, new appointments are often released early in the morning.
What the registration unlocks
After the appointment you receive the registration certificate (Meldebestätigung). Banks ask for it to open an account, employers and health insurers need your address, and your tax ID (Steuer-ID) is sent by post to the registered address a few weeks later.
Anmeldung in the FRITZTOWER apartment
If you rent the FRITZTOWER apartment, you receive the landlord confirmation shortly after you move in, so you can book your Bürgeramt appointment right away.