Can you complete Anmeldung without permanent accommodation?

Who this guide is for

• Newcomers who arrived in Germany without a signed long-term lease yet.
• People staying in temporary or serviced accommodation while flat-hunting.
• Anyone tempted to use a friend's or relative's address just to get a registration certificate faster.

What you need

• A place where you genuinely sleep and keep your belongings, even if the stay is short.
• A person or provider willing to confirm your move-in truthfully, in writing.
• Awareness of the two-week deadline described in Anmeldung in Germany, which starts from your real move-in date.
• A plan for what to do if your accommodation situation changes again shortly after registering.

Step-by-step process

1. 01

   Separate 'no lease yet' from 'no home'

   Anmeldung law does not require a long-term rental contract — it requires that you actually live somewhere and that the person providing the accommodation confirms it. If you are staying in a room, a shared flat, or temporary housing and genuinely sleeping there, that can be registrable, even without a multi-year lease.

2. 02

   Check whether your accommodation type can issue a confirmation

   Hotels, short holiday lets and most Airbnb-style bookings are generally not treated as a home for registration purposes, because they are designed for transient stays and the operator is not acting as a Wohnungsgeber in the sense the law intends. Some providers of longer-term temporary or serviced accommodation, and initial reception or shared accommodation for newcomers, can issue a confirmation — ask the provider directly whether they do this.

3. 03

   Never use an address you do not live at

   Registering at a relative's, friend's or employer's address while actually living elsewhere — including using it purely as a c/o postal address — is a Scheinanmeldung. This is an administrative offence under the Bundesmeldegesetz, and it can also cause problems later if the mismatch is discovered during a residence permit or other official check.

4. 04

   If you move again quickly, register the new address too

   There is no rule that lets you skip registering a short stay if it is where you actually live. If you move from temporary accommodation into a permanent flat shortly after, you register the new address as a change of registration, not as a correction of a mistake.

5. 05

   Keep evidence of your genuine accommodation

   Keep booking confirmations, correspondence with the accommodation provider, and the signed move-in confirmation. If an office later questions your address history, this evidence shows the registration reflected where you actually lived at the time.

6. 06

   Ask the registration office when your situation is unusual

   If you are unsure whether your specific accommodation qualifies — a long-stay serviced apartment, a hostel with an extended booking, a room provided by an employer — contact the registration office before your deadline and describe the situation honestly. Practice on borderline cases is decided locally, and offices can tell you what evidence they need.

Documents checklist

• Confirmation of move-in from the accommodation provider, however temporary the stay
• Booking or agreement documents showing the accommodation is genuinely yours to live in
• Passport or ID for every person registering
• Any correspondence confirming the provider agreed to issue a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung
• Evidence of the actual move-in date, for your own records

Common mistakes

• Registering at a friend's or relative's address while actually living elsewhere.
• Assuming a hotel or Airbnb booking will be accepted as a home address.
• Using a c/o address as a substitute for registering where you actually sleep.
• Delaying registration entirely while waiting for a 'proper' long-term flat, and missing the two-week deadline from your real move-in.
• Not asking a temporary or serviced accommodation provider directly whether they issue a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung.
• Failing to keep evidence of a genuine but short-term stay.

What happens next

• Once a genuine provider confirms your move-in, follow the standard Anmeldung process.
• If you move into permanent housing soon after, register the new address as a normal change, not a correction.
• Keep both the old and new move-in confirmations in your records.
• If you are unsure whether your situation qualifies, ask the registration office before the deadline rather than guessing.

How Burokrat helps

Frequently asked questions

Can I register using a hotel address while I look for a flat?

Generally no — hotels are set up for transient stays, and the operator is typically not acting as a Wohnungsgeber. If you have no other accommodation yet, ask your registration office what it expects in your specific situation.

Is registering at a friend's address illegal if I plan to move in properly later?

It is only legitimate if you actually live there from the confirmed move-in date. Registering there while still living somewhere else, purely to get a certificate, is a Scheinanmeldung.

Does a long-term Airbnb booking count as a home for Anmeldung?

This depends on whether the host is willing and able to confirm a genuine move-in as a Wohnungsgeber, which many short-let hosts are not set up to do. Ask the host directly and confirm with your registration office if it is a long booking.

What if my employer provides temporary housing while I settle in?

If you genuinely live there, the employer or the housing provider can typically issue the confirmation. Check with them and, if in doubt, with the registration office.

Can I register with a c/o address if I have no fixed home yet?

A c/o address for receiving post is not the same as registering where you live, and using one as a substitute is not permitted. If you genuinely have no stable accommodation, contact the registration office about your options.

What are the consequences of a Scheinanmeldung if it's discovered?

It is an administrative offence under the Bundesmeldegesetz for both the person registering and anyone who knowingly confirms a false move-in, and it can complicate later applications that rely on your registration history.

Official sources

• Bundesmeldegesetz (Federal Registration Act), full text
• Bundesmeldegesetz § 19 (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung), full text

Related guides

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