Obligation to register with the authorities

Obligation to register with the authorities

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Obligation to register with the authorities

Anyone moving into a new residence in Germany is obliged to register with the competent registration authority. The obligation to register begins with the actual occupation of the residence.

See below for detailed information.

COMPETENT AUTHORITY

Citizens' Office

Please contact a Citizens' OfficeInternal Link ("Bürgeramt") in Frankfurt, regardless of where you live in Frankfurt am Main.


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Service description

Anyone moving into a new residence must register with the relevant registration authority ("Meldebehörde").

If you move out of a residence and do not move into a new residence in Germany, you must deregister with the registration authority.

Procedure

The obligation to register begins with the actual occupation of the residence – regardless of the beginning of the rental/purchase contract. Deregistration is only necessary if you move out of a residence and do not move into a new residence in Germany. This is the case, for example, if you give up a secondary residence without replacement or if you move abroad.

 

In the following cases, there is no obligation to register with the authorities:

  • you are registered for a residence in Germany and move into another residence for no longer than six months, or
  • you otherwise live abroad and move into a residence for no longer than three months.

Fees

Registration procedures are free of charge.

Deadlines

Registration procedures must be completed within two weeks of moving/leaving the place of residence. It is possible to deregister one week before moving out.

What else should I know?

  1. The person in whose place of residence the child or young person is moving is responsible for registering or deregistering children and young people up to the age of 16.

  2. Babies who are born in Germany only have to be registered if they are not taken into the parents' shared residence or the mother's residence. The birth is notified to the registration authorities by the Registry Offices ("Standesämter"). The baby will be registered at the parents' main place of residence.