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If you move into an apartment, you must register with the relevant registration authority (municipality, town or administrative community) within two weeks of moving in.
This form can be submitted electronically (e.g. via a secure contact form using your user account with login via the electronic ID function or the ELSTER certificate) or handwritten and signed in paper form to the responsible authority.
If you move into an apartment, you are obliged to register with the relevant registration authority (municipality, town or administrative community) within two weeks of moving in. This also applies if you move within your municipality or town.
Spouses, life partners and family members with the same previous and future residences should use a joint registration form; it is sufficient for one of the persons required to register to do so.
Persons under the age of 16 must be registered by the person whose home the persons under the age of 16 are moving into. If a minor has several residences in Germany, the main residence is the residence primarily used by the person(s) with custody.
Newborns born in Germany only need to be registered if they are taken into a home other than that of their parents or mother.
If a carer or guardian has been appointed for an adult person who can determine their place of residence, they are responsible for registration.
If you do not register within two weeks of moving in, you are acting in breach of the regulations. In this case, you can be fined up to 1,000 euros.
Information on submitting the landlord's confirmation of residence, applying for an information block or transmission block and applying for a change of address and place of residence on the ID card, passport and eID card can be found in the service descriptions under "Related topics".
Actual occupation of the new apartment (this apartment is used permanently or at least with a certain regularity, primarily for living or sleeping).
You must register with the relevant registration authority (municipality, town or administrative community). You can register in person at the registration office or electronically via the Internet:
To register in person, you must fill in and sign a registration form and present it to the registration authority together with your identity card, recognized and valid passport or passport replacement document and confirmation from your landlord or the corresponding assignment feature on site. If the registration register is kept automatically, you do not need to fill in the registration form if you confirm the accuracy and completeness of the data collected by the registration authority by signing a printout. You can also be represented by a person when registering by submitting the necessary documents (registration documents and power of attorney).
Note: Registration is currently possible for German nationals and EU citizens with an eID card; the registration of third-country nationals with an electronic residence permit is still being planned.
After completing the electronic registration, you will still need to update your ID card and (if available) passport or eID card with the new address or place of residence. This also applies to the ID cards and (if available) passports or eID cards of the family members registered during the electronic registration process.
If the procedure is interrupted for technical reasons during electronic registration or the subsequent updating of the ID documents, or if the registration authority cancels the electronic registration during the verification process, you will receive a notification of this. Please then visit your new municipality in person to complete the registration and update your documents (ID card, passport or eID card).
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Registration must take place within two weeks of moving in.
Personal registration: immediately
Electronic registration: about one week
Foreigners staying in an accommodation facility, e.g. hotel or guesthouse, must sign a special registration form for accommodation facilities on the day of their arrival.
If you are moving to an inland waterway vessel, you must register. As the owner of an ocean-going vessel, you must register and deregister the captain and crew members.
If you move, you are obliged to have your ID card, passport or eID card (for EU nationals) updated.
When you move out of your home, you are obliged to deregister with the relevant registration authority (municipality or city) within two weeks, unless you move into a new home in Germany.
If you are admitted to a hospital, nursing home or other facility for the care of people in need of care or disabled people or for home education, you do not have to register as long as you are registered for a residence in Germany.
If you have and live in several apartments in Germany, one apartment is your main residence and all other apartments are secondary residences. You must inform the registration office which apartments you have and which of them is your main or secondary residence.
If you move into a new apartment, you will need confirmation from your landlord that you have moved in. You must present this to the registration office each time you register.