Registering Your Address After Moving In: Deadlines, Costs, and Fines

Alongside rent and the deposit, registering your address (Anmeldung) at the local citizens' office is a mandatory step after moving into your first apartment. Unlike furniture or the deposit, it doesn't cost money, but missing it can get expensive.

The legal deadline

Under Section 17 of the Federal Registration Act (BMG), anyone moving into a new home must register with the responsible registration office within two weeks of moving in. The clock starts on the actual move-in date, not the date you signed the lease.

What registration itself costs

Registration itself is free at most citizens' offices (Bürgeramt). You typically need the completed registration form, your ID card or passport, and a landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung), which your landlord is required to issue. Some municipalities offer paid express appointments, but the standard registration process itself carries no fee.

The fine for registering late

Missing the two-week deadline is an administrative offense. Under Section 54 BMG, a fine of up to €1,000 can be imposed. In practice, a minor delay is rarely penalized at that level, but the legal risk exists regardless.

Follow-on costs that kick in after registration

Registration itself is free, but it triggers other obligations. After registering a new address, the German public broadcasting fee (Rundfunkbeitrag) is typically activated automatically. It currently stands at €18.36 a month per household, regardless of how many people live there. If you're already paying it elsewhere for the same apartment or a second home, it's worth checking with the broadcasting fee service (Beitragsservice) run by ARD, ZDF, and Deutschlandradio to avoid paying twice.

Checklist for your registration appointment

Request the landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) in good time; you need it at the appointment.
Bring the completed registration form; many citizens' offices offer it as a download online.
Bring a valid ID card or passport.
Book your appointment early within the first two weeks after moving in, since Bürgeramt slots in big cities fill up fast.

Our first apartment cost guide covers the other one-time and recurring costs to budget for alongside registration, and our Warmmiete calculator helps if a listing doesn't state Nebenkosten.