Registering your address in Germany as an EU citizen

The Anmeldung, the tax ID and the other things that start once you move in.

Based on official German sources, last checked October 2026.

Steps

1. 1

   Step 1 – Know the rule and the deadline

   Under the German registration law (§ 17 Bundesmeldegesetz), anyone who moves into a home has to register at the registration office within two weeks after moving in. Not registering, not registering correctly or not registering on time can be an administrative offence with a fine of up to EUR 1,000 (§ 54 BMG).

   • EU citizens have a right of residence in Germany, for example as workers, self-employed people or job-seekers (§ 2 FreizügG/EU). Job-seekers can stay for up to six months, and longer only if they can show they are still looking and have a real chance of finding a job. Other rules apply if you do not work, so check your situation with the official sources below.
2. 2

   Step 2 – Ask your landlord for the move-in confirmation

   Your landlord (or a person they authorise) has to confirm your move-in in writing, within the same two-week period. This is called the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (§ 19 BMG). It must state:

   • the landlord's name and address (and the owner's name, if the landlord is not the owner),
   • your move-in date,
   • the address of the home,
   • the names of everyone who has to register.

   If the landlord refuses, or the confirmation does not arrive in time, tell the registration office without delay.

3. 3

   Step 3 – Gather your documents

   • Your identity document. Bring all identity documents you have, for everyone who moves with you. Check on your office's website which documents it accepts.
   • The registration form (Anmeldeformular). One form is enough for a couple or a two-person household; with more than two people you need an additional form. You can print it from your registration office's website or request it at the office.
   • The landlord's move-in confirmation. A rental contract alone is not enough.
   • Civil-status documents (for example marriage or birth certificates). You may be asked for them, especially when you register for the first time. Bring any you have to be safe.
   • For anyone under 18: written consent of a parent, with a copy of the parent's ID.
4. 4

   Step 4 – Go to the registration office

   Register in person at the registration office of your city or municipality (Bürgeramt, Einwohnermeldeamt or Bürgerbüro). Your first registration in Germany always has to be in person. Some federal states offer online registration for later moves, but only if the online function of your German ID card is activated, and you should ask your office first.

   Can't get an appointment in time? In big cities it is often hard to get a slot within two weeks. Handbook Germany says that if you cannot register in time because no appointment is available, it is enough to book an appointment. Keep your booking confirmation.

5. 5

   Step 5 – Keep your registration certificate

   You receive an official registration certificate (Meldebestätigung). Keep it safe: with it you can prove that you are registered in a German city or municipality, even without your ID. It can be required, for example, when you apply for an ID card or passport, open a bank account, rent a home, apply for benefits such as Kindergeld, or when an employer, school or authority asks for proof of address.

6. 6

   Step 6 – Your tax ID arrives by post

   Germany's Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt) assigns your tax identification number (Steuer-ID) once the registration office has sent your data. No fixed delivery time is published. If you have not received it three months after registering, send a copy of your ID and your registration certificate to the BZSt.

7. 7

   Step 7 – Give your tax ID to your employer

   Tell your employer your Steuer-ID and date of birth as soon as you have them. If you do not, your employer may have to apply tax class VI, which withholds the most tax. If the missing number is not your fault, the employer can use expected tax data for up to three months. After that, tax class VI applies retroactively, and once your data is available the months are recalculated (§ 39c Einkommensteuergesetz).

8. 8

   Step 8 – Register for the broadcasting fee

   Anyone who has a home in Germany has to report it to the broadcasting service (Rundfunkbeitrag) without delay. Not reporting within one month can be an administrative offence (§ 8 and § 12 Rundfunkbeitragsstaatsvertrag). The fee is currently EUR 18.36 per month per home, not per person (rundfunkbeitrag.de).