Apartment - registration as main residence

When you move into an apartment—whether you are moving from another location or within your current place of residence—you must register with the registration office.

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

If you have multiple residences in Germany, one of these residences is your primary residence.

The primary residence is:

• If you are married or in a civil partnership: the residence primarily used by the family or the civil partnership. This also applies if you are living separately from your family or civil partner only temporarily.
• If you are married or in a civil partnership and live permanently apart: the residence you use most frequently.
• If you are a minor: the residence primarily used by your parents or foster parents. If they live separately, your primary residence is the residence where you primarily live.
• Only if the residence used primarily cannot be determined beyond a doubt should the focus be on the center of your life. Indicators of this include, for example, the type of residence, personal ties, social and local political activities, as well as membership in clubs and other organizations.

Whenever you register, you must inform the registration office whether you have any other residences in Germany and, if so, which ones, as well as which of these is your primary residence.
When registering, you must submit written confirmation from your landlord or a person authorized by the landlord to the registration office (landlord’s confirmation). Your landlord or a person authorized by the landlord may also confirm your move-in directly to the registration office.

The landlord’s confirmation must include the following information:

1. Name and address of the landlord and, if the landlord is not the owner, the name of the owner,
2. Move-in date,
3. the address of the residence, and
4. the names of the persons required to register under Section 17(1) of the Federal Registration Act (BMG).

For the registration, you will be presented with a completed registration form, the information on which you must verify.

To register online, you will need:

• An ID card with an online ID function and a set-up user account (BundID).
• Confirmation from your landlord or corresponding identification code

To register in person at your local registration office, you will need:

• An ID card and/or passport as proof of identity and to update your residential information
• Confirmation from your landlord or corresponding identification code
The following information or documents are also required from
• People moving from abroad: your last residential address in Germany (registration confirmation, dates of moving in and out)
• Persons under guardianship: written power of attorney or guardian ID
• Individuals who cannot appear in person: written power of attorney and identification documents of the person to be registered

• There are no fees.

You are required to register with the registration office in your new place of residence within two weeks of moving in.
Late registrations may result in a fine.