Apartment - registration as main residence

If you move into an apartment, regardless of whether you are moving in from another place of residence or moving within the previous place of residence, you must register with the registration office.

Persons under the age of 16 must be registered by the person whose home you are moving into. Newborns born in Germany only need to be registered if they move into a home other than that of their parents or mother. If you are of legal age and a guardian or caretaker has been appointed for you who can determine your place of residence, this person is responsible for registration.

If you have several residences in Germany, one of these residences is your main residence.

The main residence is

• if you are married or living in a civil partnership: the home primarily used by the family or civil partnership. This also applies if you are only temporarily separated from your family or partner.
• if you are married or in a civil partnership and live apart permanently: Your predominantly used home.
• if you are a minor: the home mainly used by your parents or foster parents. If they live separately, the main residence is the home in which you mainly live.
• Only if the predominantly used home cannot be determined beyond doubt should the focus of the living relationships be taken into account. Indications for this are, for example, the type of home, personal ties, social and local political activities as well as membership in clubs and other organizations.

Each time you register, you must inform the registration authority whether you have any other homes in Germany and, if so, which of these homes is your main home.
When registering with the registration authority, you must submit written confirmation from your landlord or a person authorized by him/her (landlord confirmation). Your landlord or a person authorized by him/her can also confirm your move-in directly to the registration authority.

The confirmation from the landlord must contain the following data:

1. Name and address of the landlord and, if the landlord is not the owner, also the name of the owner,
2. date of moving in,
3. address of the apartment and
4. the names of the persons required to register in accordance with § 17 Paragraph 1 of the Federal Registration Act (BMG).

For the registration you will be presented with a completed registration form, the data of which you must check.

To register online, you need:

- ID card with online ID function and an established user account (BundID).
- Confirmation from your landlord or corresponding allocation feature

To register on site at your local registration office, you will need

- Identity card and/or passport as proof of identity and to change the apartment details
- Landlord's confirmation of residence or corresponding allocation feature
The following data or documents are also required for
- persons who have moved from abroad: the last residential address in Germany (registration confirmation, date of moving in and out)
- Persons under guardianship: written power of attorney or guardian's identity card
- Persons who cannot appear in person: written power of attorney and identification documents of the person to be registered

• There are no fees.

You are obliged to register with the registration office at your new place of residence within two weeks of moving in.
Late registrations can be punished with a fine.