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Register your address in Berlin (Anmeldung)

Verified as of 2026-06-12 · Official source

Almost everyone living in Germany must register their home address with the local authority. In Berlin this is the Anmeldung, done at a Bürgeramt. Registration is generally required within 14 days of moving in (§17 Bundesmeldegesetz). You'll need the Anmeldebestätigung (confirmation) it produces for almost everything that follows — opening a bank account, signing a work contract, getting your tax ID, and health insurance.

This guide walks you through booking a slot, what to bring, the appointment itself, and the tax ID that arrives by post afterwards.

  1. Book a Bürgeramt appointment

    Appointments are booked on the Berlin city service portal. Slots for any Bürgeramt in the city are interchangeable for the Anmeldung, so don't limit yourself to the nearest office. New slots and same-day cancellations appear throughout the day — it's worth checking more than once, early in the morning especially.

    If you can't find a slot before the 14-day point, book the earliest you can and keep the booking confirmation. Acting in good faith and on time matters; the official source below explains the rule.

    Typical time: 2–4 weeks for a free slot in busy monthsCost: Free

    Deadline

    Register your address (Anmeldung)

  2. Gather your documents

    The Wohnungsgeberbestätigung is the document people most often forget. Your landlord or main tenant must sign it; there is an official form for it. Bring originals, not copies. The registration form is available on the city portal and at the office.

    Typical time: About a day to collectCost: Free

    Documents to bring

    • Passport or national ID for everyone being registered
    • Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (your landlord's confirmation of move-in)
    • Completed registration form (Anmeldung bei einer Wohnung)
    • Marriage/birth certificates if registering a family

  3. Attend the appointment

    Arrive a few minutes early and wait for your number. The clerk checks your documents and registers your address. You leave with your Anmeldebestätigung — keep it safe and make a scan; you'll be asked for it repeatedly in the coming weeks.

    Typical time: About 10–15 minutes in the officeCost: Free

    First complete: Book a Bürgeramt appointment, Gather your documents

    Documents to bring

    • Your booking confirmation
    • All documents from the previous step

  4. Receive your tax ID (Steuer-ID) by post

    After your first Anmeldung in Germany, the Federal Central Tax Office sends your tax ID (steuerliche Identifikationsnummer) to your registered address automatically. You don't apply for it here. Keep the letter — your employer and the Finanzamt will ask for the number. If it hasn't arrived after a few weeks, you can request it again (see the Steuer-ID guide).

    Typical time: ~2–3 weeks by postCost: Free

    First complete: Attend the appointment

Official sources

Related guides

Change log

  • 2026-06-12 — Initial publication for Berlin.

Information, not legal or tax advice. Always check the official source for your case.