Approaching the Anmeldung in Munich is a little bit confusing, if you don’t know any German. This is the point of this short guide. At the end of this post, you will know what to do, where to go and why it’s so important for your life in Munich.
The Anmeldung is probably the most important administrative step for anyone who has just moved to Germany. It involves registering your address with the local government, and will allow you begin other official processes such as opening a bank account, signing up for German health insurance, applying for a residency permit, enrolling in university, obtaining a tax ID and even something as simple as getting a mobile phone number.
In Munich, you have to do your Anmeldung at your local citizens office called the Bürgerbüro, a branch of the Department of Public Order, or Kreisverwaltungsreferat (KVR). If you can’t find an appointment at the Bürgerbüro closest to you, you can try make an appointment at any of the six branches in Munich.
Once you’ve arrived in Munich and moved into your new residence, you have about two weeks to register your address. On paper it’s possible that you could get fined for taking too long to register, but this rule isn’t strictly enforced – especially as Anmeldung appointments are sometimes backed up for between three to six months. That being said, it’s probably better to be safe than sorry.
Once you’ve finished your Anmeldung, the local authorities will issue you with a residence registration certificate called a Meldebescheinigung. This A4 piece of paper might look unimportant, but this document that will unlock the rest of everyday life in Germany for you.
Compared to a visa application, doing your Anmeldung is pretty painless and straightforward, but it can still be an anxious experience if you’ve never had to deal with German bureaucracy before. This English Anmeldung for Munich guide will walk you through the residence registration process and demystify the whole experience even further.
Like any other bureaucratic process in Germany, your residence registration in Munich requires a long list of documents that you have to bring with you to the registration office. So before you leave your house, make sure you print out the following documents and have them with you on the day of your appointment:
This form contains all of your personal details, address information, document data, and more. You can use Appmeldung to fill in the residence registration form for Munich in English to avoid making mistakes. Use this link to register 1 person in Munich and this other link to register 2 persons.
If you are married, you might also be asked to show your marriage certificate during your residence registration in Munich. If your certificate is in a foreign language you might also have to get it translated into German.
In the following cases you might also be asked for additional documents:
It’s possible to get an appointment simply by showing up at a Bürgerbüro, but you’ll likely wait for a few hours (or even half a day), to see someone. An easier and more convenient option is to book an appointment online by following this link, then following these steps:
In Munich and many other larger cities in Germany, it’s not always possible to get a timely Anmeldung appointment, even if you urgently need one. A good way of getting around this is to check the online booking system early in the morning. Since many people cancel their appointments at the last minute, you can often find open slots by continually refreshing the page.
On the day of your Anmeldung, arrive at the Bürgerbüro on time with all the required documents. Your waiting number will be displayed on a screen in a waiting hall, and it will be called when it’s your turn. Make sure you don’t miss your number or you’ll need to make a new appointment.
A few things to keep in mind:
Always. While you can book an appointment online, you have to be physically present (unless you give someone power of attorney to do it on your behalf) to do your Anmeldung.
This isn’t a strict requirement but it couldn’t hurt. As long as you have your landlord confirmation form (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) though, you should be fine.
It’s always a good idea to arrive 10 or 15 minutes before your residence registration in Munich.If you’re attending without an appointment, then consider showing up an hour before the department opens.
Hope this small guide was useful to you. Feel free to reach out for more info.