Finally you found your place to stay in Germany. The next step is the famous Anmeldung – registration of your address with the city.
To register your address is mandatory in Germany. It is independent of the length of your stay. Is doesn’t matter, if you stay for 3 months or 3 years.
HOW TO REGISTER?
To register the address is obligatory. It doesn’t matter if your are German or an expat, if you a work or study. To get this done, you need to get an appointment at your local Rathaus or Bürgerzentrum which is your local city hall. To register you need your ID card or passport and a “Wohnungsgeberbestätigung” or “Vermieterbescheinigung” which is a document that you receive from land lord. If you have a car, you need to take the papers of your with you, so they can change the address.
NOT TO REGISTER IS ILLEGAL!
Be aware that renting an apartment without this document is illegal. You will be fined by the authproties with up to 1.000€. You need to register within the first two weeks. So your land lord has to provide you with the document that states that you live in the apartment. The only exception of this law is, if you are already registered and you will live for a short term less then 6 months in an apartment.
To register the address in Germany is important, other wise you can’t open a bank account, make contracts or receive letters. In Germany all official communication is by postal cards. So please, don’t forget to write your name on your mail box.
Unfortunately the housing situation is difficult in Germany. This leads to a lot of scams, especially with foreigners and expats that are new in Germany and don’t know the rules. If your land lord doesn’t offer you the “Wohnungsgebergestätigung”, you can’t register. Be aware that this is illegal and can have consequences for both parties – your land lord and you.
Any questions left for your first steps in Germany? Please write me a comment with you doubt and your own experience!
