Answer · Anmeldung and address registration
Do I need a rental contract for Anmeldung?
Usually not. The document the law names is the landlord confirmation — a signed statement from whoever provides the home confirming you moved in and when. Many offices accept a rental contract as supporting evidence, but it does not replace the confirmation, and some offices will ask for both.
Last verified: 19 September 2026 · First weeks
At a glance
- Required by law
- Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (§ 19 BMG)
- Who signs it
- The landlord, main tenant or whoever provides the home
- Deadline for the landlord
- Two weeks after the move-in, on request
- Rental contract
- Often accepted as extra evidence, not as a substitute
- Also needed
- Valid passport or ID, and the registration form
What the landlord confirmation must contain
- Name and address of the person providing the home.
- Whether this is a move-in or a move-out.
- The date you moved in.
- The full address of the home.
- The names of everyone registering at that address.
When a rental contract still helps
Offices sometimes ask for the contract when the situation is unusual — a sublet, a shared flat, a temporary arrangement or a landlord who is hard to reach. Having a copy with you avoids a second appointment.
If the person providing the home is not the owner, the office may want to see that subletting is permitted. Bring the written permission if you have it.
Documents you need
- Signed landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung)
- Valid passport or national ID card
- Completed registration form from your municipality
- Rental contract copy, as optional supporting evidence
- Marriage or birth certificates when registering a family together
Common mistakes
- Bringing only the rental contract and being turned away for the missing confirmation.
- Using an unsigned or undated confirmation template.
- Registering an address where you do not actually live.
What happens next
- You register and receive your registration certificate.
- Your tax ID follows by post to the registered address.
- The address becomes the official one for authorities, insurers and your employer.
How Burokrat helps
Workflow support
Reading the answer is the first half. Burokrat turns it into a tracked workflow:
- A personalized step-by-step path for your situation
- A document checklist that shows what is still missing
- Progress tracking across connected tasks
- Reminders for deadlines and appointment dates
- Source-cited guidance, with the official page behind each step
- Trusted partner discovery where a professional is genuinely needed
Burokrat lists exactly which documents your step needs before you go.
Related questions
- What if my landlord refuses to sign?
- Providing the confirmation on request is a legal duty of whoever gives you the home, and refusing it is itself an administrative offence. Ask in writing, and tell your registration office if it is still refused.
- Can the confirmation be digital?
- Many municipalities accept a scan or a printed copy. Check your city's page, because practice differs.
- Do I need a new confirmation for each person in the family?
- One confirmation can list everyone moving into the home, as long as all names appear on it.
Official sources
- § 19 BMG — landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung)
- § 17 BMG — registration and deregistration obligation
- Make it in Germany — registering your place of residence
Last verified: 19 September 2026
This page is general information about a German administrative process. It is not legal, tax or immigration advice and it does not replace a decision by the responsible authority. Rules, fees and processing times change, and practice differs between cities and offices — always check the official source linked above for your own case.
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