What happens after you complete Anmeldung in Germany?

Who this guide is for

• Anyone who has just received their Meldebescheinigung and wants to know what to do next.
• Newcomers organising their first weeks of admin: bank, insurance, employer, tax ID.
• People wondering whether the household broadcasting fee is connected to registering an address.

What you need

• Your Meldebescheinigung, kept both as the original and a scan.
• Patience for the tax ID letter, which is sent by post rather than issued on the spot — see the German tax ID guide for details.
• Your registered address details for your bank, employer and health insurer.
• Awareness that the broadcasting contribution is a separate registration, not automatic.

Step-by-step process

1. 01

   Secure the Meldebescheinigung

   This certificate confirms your registered address and is the document you will be asked for repeatedly over the coming weeks. Scan it immediately and keep the original somewhere safe — a replacement usually means another visit to the registration office.

2. 02

   Wait for your tax ID to arrive by post

   The Bundeszentralamt für Steuern issues a personal tax identification number (Steuer-ID) based on your registration and sends it to your registered address by letter. It is not handed to you at the registration office. If it does not arrive within a reasonable time, the tax ID guide covers what to do.

3. 03

   Update your bank account

   Most banks want proof of your registered address before opening or fully activating a current account, and some ask you to update your address on file once you have it. Bring the Meldebescheinigung to the bank if you opened an account provisionally before registering.

4. 04

   Confirm your health insurance records

   Give your health insurer your registered address and tax ID once available. If you are still choosing or setting up cover, see health insurance for newcomers for how registration fits into that process.

5. 05

   Pass your details to your employer

   Your employer needs your tax ID and health insurance details to run payroll correctly, and your registered address for their own records. Delays in registration or in the tax ID arriving can delay correct payroll processing, so send these details as soon as you have them.

6. 06

   Continue any residence permit steps

   If you are applying for or extending a residence permit, the Ausländerbehörde generally expects you to already be registered at your current address. See residence permit steps after arrival for what typically follows registration in that process.

7. 07

   Register for the broadcasting contribution

   The Rundfunkbeitrag is owed once per household, regardless of how many people live there or how many devices they own, and registering it is a separate step from Anmeldung — the two are not automatically linked. Check the contribution service (Rundfunkbeitrag) for how to register your household.

Documents checklist

• Meldebescheinigung (original and a scan)
• Tax ID letter, once it arrives by post
• Bank account details to update with your new address
• Health insurance card or membership details
• Employer's payroll or HR contact details
• Rundfunkbeitrag household registration details

Common mistakes

• Expecting the tax ID to be issued on the spot at the registration office instead of arriving by post later.
• Losing the Meldebescheinigung and needing a costly, time-consuming replacement.
• Forgetting to update the bank with the new registered address after opening an account provisionally.
• Assuming the Rundfunkbeitrag is registered automatically alongside Anmeldung.
• Delaying handing the tax ID to an employer, which can hold up correct payroll processing.
• Not checking whether a residence permit step assumes registration has already happened.

What happens next

• Once your tax ID arrives, share it with your employer and, if relevant, your health insurer.
• Confirm your bank account is fully active with your registered address on file.
• Continue with any pending residence permit or visa steps that depend on registration.
• Register or confirm your household's Rundfunkbeitrag status.
• Keep the Meldebescheinigung accessible — you will likely need it again within your first months in Germany.

How Burokrat helps

Frequently asked questions

How soon after Anmeldung does the tax ID arrive?

It is sent by post to your registered address after your registration is processed; timing is not fixed nationally, so see the tax ID guide for what to do if it takes longer than expected.

Do I need to register separately for the Rundfunkbeitrag?

Yes, unless your household is already registered by someone else living there. It is billed per household, not automatically linked to your Anmeldung.

Can I open a bank account before I have my tax ID?

Many banks will open an account with just the Meldebescheinigung and passport, but may ask for the tax ID afterwards for tax reporting purposes. Confirm directly with your bank.

Does my employer need to see the Meldebescheinigung itself?

Employers typically need your tax ID and address details rather than the certificate itself, but some ask to see it as proof, particularly for the first payroll cycle.

What if I move again shortly after receiving my Meldebescheinigung?

You register the new address within the standard deadline described in Anmeldung in Germany; your tax ID stays the same, but update your bank, insurer and employer with the new address.

Does registering my address automatically update my residence permit?

No — registration and residence permit steps are handled by different offices. See residence permit steps after arrival for what to do once you are registered.

Official sources

• Bundeszentralamt für Steuern: tax identification number (Steuer-ID)
• Rundfunkbeitrag: official contribution service
• Bundesportal: register a residence (Wohnsitz anmelden)

Related guides

Browse every guide in the bureaucracy guide hub, or go back to the Burokrat homepage.