Registering your residence at the residents’ registration office is the first and most important step after entry. Without a registration confirmation there is no tax ID, no regular bank account, no health insurance registration and no residence permit. Everything else depends on it – and the deadline is 14 days from moving in.
Step by step
Five steps from entry to registration confirmation. The order is mandatory - irreversible.
Appointments can be booked online via the respective city portal. An appointment is absolutely necessary in Berlin, Munich and Hamburg – No entry without an appointment. Book an appointment as early as possible, ideally before entry, as soon as the exact residential address is known. In Berlin, waiting times of 4-10 weeks are normal. If you only book after entry, you risk the 14-day deadline.
The most common problem at the counter: the landlord's confirmation is missing. It is required by law (Section 19 BMG) and cannot be replaced by other documents. The landlord, main tenant or the dormitory management must do so sign – without exception. Landlords are legally obliged to display it.
The registration form (registration with the registration authority) is available as a PDF can be downloaded from the website of the respective citizens' office. Bring it with you completely filled out and signed. In some cities it is also available at the counter – but that takes time and involves the risk of losing important information not to have at hand. A form must also be filled out for children.
Registration takes place personal at the residents’ registration office – not by mail, not online, not through a representative (exceptions for persons unable to travel possible). Show up on time; many citizens' offices have strict time windows. Bring all documents in order: Passport or ID card, registration form, accommodation provider confirmation.
→ No appointment + no entry = new appointment necessary, deadline continuesThe Registration confirmation (certificate of registration) will be handed out directly on the day of the appointment. Make multiple copies – it is used for immigration authorities, Bank account, health insurance and other administrative procedures required. The tax ID comes automatically by letter 2-4 weeks after registration to the registered address.
The mandatory document
WGBThe landlord’s confirmation – without it nothing works
The housing provider confirmation is the only document which proves to the citizen's office that you are actually at the specified location address lives. Without it, registration is not possible – no replacement, no exception. It is prescribed in Section 19 of the Federal Registration Act.
There is no nationwide mandatory form. Most citizens' offices provide their own forms that can be downloaded can be. Free text on a normal sheet is also valid, as long as all of the above information is included. It is recommended to use the form provided by the respective citizens' office – it contains all mandatory fields and is accepted without any problems.
Date availability 2025 · Cities
All information is a guideline. Seasonal peaks (September-October at the start of the semester) can increase waiting times by 30-50%.
Always check current appointment availability directly on the respective city portal. In Berlin and Munich, cancellations are released daily at 8:00 a.m. - it's worth checking several times a day.
What comes next
Confirmation of registration is not the goal - it is the key to all further steps. These four are directly dependent on it.
Immigration Office – Residence permit
Appear at the immigration authorities with the registration confirmation and apply for a residence permit. Book an appointment immediately – 6-12 week waiting time in large cities. The appointment must take place before the entry visa expires.
Tax ID by mail
Comes automatically from the Federal Central Tax Office to the registered address. No application necessary. Without tax ID: highest tax bracket for salary and no bank account.
Open a German bank account
German banks require confirmation of registration as proof of residence. Go straight to the bank with the confirmation. Current accounts at TK, Commerzbank, N26 – many open online with video verification.
Register for health insurance
GKV registration requires confirmation of registration and residence permit. Employee: Employer logs in automatically. Students, self-employed people, family members: take care of yourself – immediately after entry.
What goes wrong
These mistakes happen again and again - and all of them can be avoided with a little advance notice.
Appointment only booked after entry
In Berlin and Munich, appointments are fully booked 4-10 weeks in advance. If you only book after you have entered the country, you may not be able to meet the 14-day deadline – and risks a fine of up to €1,000. Book the appointment as soon as the address is known, ideally before entry.
Accommodation confirmation is missing at the counter
This is the most common reason for rejection. Without confirmation of accommodation from the landlord or main tenant: no registration. Before the appointment, find out whether the landlord will issue the form and bring it with you. Digital scan via email is not enough – original with signature.
Waited for the tax ID instead of the other way around
The tax ID comes automatically after registration - but not before. If you wait until the tax ID is there, you reverse the order. No step other than registration is necessary - after that everything takes care of itself.
Flatmates not registered individually
In shared apartments, each person must register individually. Not just the main tenant – every resident needs your own registration confirmation. The main tenant issues a separate housing confirmation for each roommate.
Forgot to re-register after moving
Every time you move within Germany, you must re-register at the new residents' registration office - also within 14 days. A separate de-registration at the old office is not necessary – re-registration is sufficient. Forgetting to re-register is also an administrative offense.
You are in Germany.
Let us clarify what really applies in the first 14 days.
Free · No obligation · 30-45 minutes
As of: May 2026. Lalmano checks content editorially and is based on official information, including from Foreign Office, BAMF and Make it in Germany. The content does not replace individual legal advice.