Register in Munich: A step-by-step guide

In our 3 step plan we walk you through your city registration in Munich. Let's go!

Bas

4 minute read

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Updated on 5 Aug 2024

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Moving

In order to fully settle in your new home in Munich, you need to complete the Munich residence registration (Amneldung). Thankfully registering your new home is pretty easy. In fact, the Munich Anmeldung can be completed in 3 easy steps. Don’t wait too long, though as you need to register your address in Germany fairly soon after moving. So let’s get it done!

If you’re staying in Munich (and Germany in general) for over 3 months, you’ll need to register your home at the Burgeramt or Bürgerbüro (registration office). You need to register your address with the Munich registration office within 14 days of moving into your new Munich home!

Why do you need to register? Well, the registration makes you an official citizen of Munich! Without official registration in the city, you won’t be able to get other essential documents like your German tax ID. Without these documents, you’ll have a lot of trouble trying to get anything official done, and won't be able to start working in Germany.

Registration Certificate

When you register in Munich you get 2 registration documents: the confirmation of your registration (Anmeldebestätigung) and the proof of official registered residence and personal information (Meldebescheinigung). You get the Anmeldebestätigung when you register at your new address and the Meldebestätigung proves you live at that address and you can request a new one at any time. Keep both documents safe, cause you’ll need it close at hand semi-regularly. You’ll need them for pretty much any service that needs official proof of residence, such as:

• Opening a German bank account.
• Closing your utilities or internet contract(s).
• Getting a German SIM card.
• Your application for a residence permit.

Tax Identification Number

When you first register in Germany, you’ll also be given a Tax Identification Number (Steueridentifikationsnummer). This number makes sure the German tax authorities know who you are and how much they should be taxing you. You’ll need this number when starting your new job, internship or apprenticeship in Germany. If you can’t provide your tax ID number, you’ll be taxed at a higher standard rate.

So now that you’re eager to get your registration started, let’s take a look at the necessary steps to complete your registration in Munich. It starts with arranging an appointment, followed by a hunt for the necessary documents and ends with an actual in-person appointment at the Munich Burgerburo office.

Step 1: Make an appointment at the Munich Burgerämt

The first thing to do is schedule an appointment at the Burgerämt in advance of your move-in date as it can take between 3-6 weeks to get one. It's important to keep this in mind as you have to be registered at your address 2 weeks after moving in. Thankfully, Munich has multiple Bürgerbüro offices, so you don’t necessarily have to register at the one in your Munich neighbourhood.

Since you’re planning an appointment from abroad, the best thing to do is to register for an appointment through the Bürgerbüro website.

• Select Meldeangelegenheiten (registration services).
• Choose An- oder Ummeldung - Einzelperson (or Familie, if you’re also looking to register your entire family).
• Click Weiter (next) at the bottom. Now you get to select which Buergerbuero you’d like to make an appointment at. We suggest using Google Maps to check which of the offices is closest to you, depending on the urgency, which office has the best availability.
• Once an office has been selected, you can use the calendar to book an appointment.

Boom, that was pretty easy, wasn’t it? Don’t forget to put a reminder in your calendar!

Step 2: Gather the required documentation

While your appointment is probably some time away, it's better to gather your documents ahead of time. This's why we made you a little Anmelding document checklist!

• Identification: A valid ID, passport or valid passport replacement documentation for foreign citizens. You’ll need these for everyone relocating to Munich with you.
• Residence permit: Non-EU or EEA citizens will need to bring their current residence documentation.
• Registration Form (Anmeldeform): You’ll need to fill in the registration form and bring it with you to your appointment. Unfortunately, these documents are only available in German and must be filled in in German as well. So, please have a german friend help you with filling it in! If that’s not possible, we recommend you use an online translator like Deepl. Don’t forget to sign it once you’re done!
• Supplement to the registration form (Optional): If you’ve somehow managed to have more than one home in Germany, you will need to fill in a supplemental form, in which you declare which of your homes is your main residence.
• Civil status certificate: On your first registration in Munich, you might need to present some official certificates, like a marriage certificate or birth certificate. If your certificates are in an uncommon language, make sure you also have it officially translated!
• Move-in Confirmation: You’ll need a written and signed move in confirmation, supplied to you by your landlord. It’s a relatively simple document where the landlord confirms and agrees that you’ve moved into their property. The documents list your basic info and the address you’ve moved into and the landlord’s signature. Make sure you bring the original!
• Declaration of consent from an absent guardian (optional): If you’re under 18, you’ll need written consent and a photocopy of the ID of your legal guardian, confirming that they consent to you living alone. This is necessary when you’re for example moving to Munich for an internship.

Step 3: Visit the Burgeramt

Almost done! All that’s left is the actual appointment! It’s likely that you’ll be visiting on of these offices:

• Bürgerbüro Ruppertstrasse
• Bürgerbüro Pasing
• Bürgerbüro Leonrodstrasse
• Bürgerbüro Forstenrieder Allee
• Bürgerbüro Riesenfeldstrasse
• Bürgerbüro Orleansstrasse

Make sure you’re well on time, even if you have a set time slot. After all, punctuality is very much appreciated in Germany! In some cases, you may be assigned a number when you arrive (vorgangsnummer), so pay attention to the numbers called out or shown on screen. If you miss your number, you may need to plan a new appointment! Now that you have made it on time, all you have to do is wait your turn and present your documents to the clerk.

All you have to do now is wait! It will take anywhere from 2-4 weeks for you to receive your documentation by mail. So all you need to do is make sure that your mailbox has a nice, clear sticker with your name on it, so the Deutsche Post knows where to deposit your shiny new tax id number and registration documents!

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