Moving to another city in Germany

At a glance

Hard deadline

Register the new address within two weeks of moving in

Blocking document

Landlord confirmation for the new home

Biggest delay risk

Appointment waiting time in the new city

Common double cost

Broadcasting contribution paid for two flats

Residence title

The responsible immigration office can change

Old address

Replaced by the new registration, not deregistered separately

Who this applies to

• You are moving between German municipalities, not leaving the country.
• You may hold a residence permit, a registered car, or an application in progress.
• You want the order of steps rather than an explanation of each process.

In what order

1. Now

   Get the landlord confirmation promised in writing

   The Wohnungsgeberbestätigung for the new home is what the registration depends on. Ask for it when you sign, not after you move — a landlord who hesitates is the one problem that can push you past the deadline.

2. Now

   Book the appointment in the new city

   The office responsible is the one for the new address, and its waiting times are local. Book as soon as the move-in date is fixed, even before you have packed.

3. Now

   Give notice on the old flat correctly

   Check the notice period in your contract and give notice in writing so the dates line up with the new tenancy. Document the handover and meter readings.

4. Next

   Register the new address within two weeks

   Bring passports or IDs for everyone moving, the signed landlord confirmation and your residence permit if you hold one. You will get the registration certificate for the new address.

5. Next

   Report the move to the broadcasting contribution service

   Liability follows the home. Report both the flat you left and the one you moved into, so you are not billed for two homes at once.

6. Next

   Update the vehicle, insurer, bank and employer

   A registered car needs the new address in its papers. Health insurer, bank, employer and any authority currently processing an application for you all need it too — none of them receives it automatically.

7. Later

   Confirm which immigration office is now responsible

   If you hold a residence title, find out which office handles your file at the new address and check whether your title carries any condition tied to a place or employer. Do this well before the next renewal, not during it.

8. Later

   Close the loose ends of the old address

   Set up post forwarding, settle final utility bills, reclaim the old deposit after the landlord's settlement, and keep the old registration certificate with your records.

Documents you need

• Passport or national ID for everyone moving
• Signed landlord confirmation for the new home
• New rental contract, and the termination of the old one
• Residence permit, where you hold one
• Vehicle registration documents, if you own a car
• Registration certificate for the new address, once issued

Common mistakes

• Relying on a verbal promise of the landlord confirmation.
• Booking the registration appointment after the move rather than before.
• Leaving the broadcasting contribution unreported and paying twice.
• Assuming the authorities pass the new address between themselves.

What happens next

• Your registration certificate, tax records and contribution liability all point at the new address.
• Post arrives at the new flat, and the forwarding order covers what was already in transit.
• Your residence title is administered by the office responsible for the new address.

Related questions

Do I have to deregister the old flat first?

No. Registering a new German address replaces the old entry. Deregistration is for giving up a home without taking a new one in Germany.

What if the new registration appointment is more than two weeks away?

Book the earliest slot available and keep the confirmation. Being unable to get an appointment is a different situation from not trying — some offices offer written or online options for moves.

Does the move change my residence permit?

The card stays valid. What can change is the responsible office, and some titles carry conditions tied to a place, so check your own conditions before you move.

Related guides

• Delayed Application

  How to follow up in writing, protect your legal position near expiry, and know when to seek legal advice.

• Renewal

  When to start, which documents to update, and how to protect yourself if the renewal is not decided before expiry.

• After Anmeldung

  The practical sequence of tasks in the weeks after registering an address: certificate, tax ID, bank, insurance, employer, and the broadcasting fee.

Related answers

• Broadcasting fee exemption

  Exemption follows listed benefits or a disability mark — sharing a paid household is the more common fix.

• Ending a rental contract

  Three months in writing for tenants, counted from the third working day of the month.

• Re-registering after a move

  Register the new address within two weeks; the new registration replaces the old one.

Related situations

• Permit expiring soon

  File before the expiry date, appointment or not. How to cover the gap until the decision.

Related compare

• Anmeldung vs residence permit

  One records your address, the other authorises your stay. Different offices, different documents.