How to Complete Your Anmeldung in Munich

The Anmeldung is the process of registering your home address with the city of Munich. In Germany, this is not optional and it is not just a formality. It is a legal requirement that must be completed within two weeks of moving into a permanent address.

The Anmeldung unlocks a cascade of other things you will need in your daily life. Without it, you cannot open a German bank account, you cannot apply for your residence permit, you will face difficulties getting a mobile phone contract, and your employer needs it for your tax record setup. It truly is the first domino in settling into Munich life properly.

Once you register, you receive a document called the Meldebescheinigung. This is a printed confirmation of your registered address and it is one of the most requested documents throughout your time in Germany. Keep several copies of it.

You must register within 14 days of moving into your permanent Munich address. This is the legal deadline. In practice, many people register as soon as possible to avoid delays with their other administrative tasks.

If you arrive in Munich and are initially staying in a hotel, hostel, or temporary accommodation that is not your permanent address, the clock does not start yet. The 14 days begin from the day you move into your actual place of residence.

One important nuance: you can only register at an address where you actually live and where the landlord or property owner gives permission. Your landlord needs to sign a document called the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (confirmation from the accommodation provider) for your registration to go through. Ask for this document when you sign your rental contract or when you first move in.

Bring the following documents to your appointment and have both originals and copies ready:

Your passport or national ID card. This is required for identification.

Wohnungsgeberbestätigung. The form signed by your landlord confirming your address. You can download the form from the Munich KVR website and ask your landlord to fill it in and sign it before your appointment.

The Anmeldung form. This is the actual registration form, available on the KVR website or at the office. Fill it in before you arrive to save time. If you share a flat, each person registers separately.

Biometric-style photo. Not always required, but worth having with you in case they need it for your tax file.

Everything should be in order and ready to present. Being organised will help the appointment go smoothly and quickly.

Appointments for the Anmeldung are made through the Munich KVR's online booking system at muenchen.de. The city has multiple citizen service offices (Bürgerbüros) spread across different districts. Going to one closer to your neighbourhood is often faster than the main city centre office.

Slots can fill up quickly, especially during university intake periods in October and April. If you cannot get an appointment within your 14-day window, book the earliest available slot and keep checking daily for cancellations. In some cases, Bürgerbüros also offer walk-in slots for urgent cases.

The appointment itself is usually brief, around 10 to 15 minutes. An officer will review your documents, process the registration, and give you your Meldebescheinigung on the spot. Keep this document safe as you will need it many times.

The process is conducted in German, but the forms and instructions are increasingly available in English on the KVR website. Staff are generally helpful even if your German is limited.

Once registered, you will receive your Meldebescheinigung immediately. Shortly afterwards, the city will also send your Steueridentifikationsnummer (tax ID number) to your registered address by post. This takes about two to four weeks and arrives in a plain white envelope, so watch your mailbox carefully and do not throw it away by mistake.

Your tax ID is a permanent number assigned to you in Germany. Your employer needs it before your first payslip, so if you are starting a job soon after arrival, let your employer know they may need to wait a couple of weeks or that you will provide it as soon as the letter arrives.

If you move to a new address within Munich, you will need to update your registration (an Ummeldung) within 14 days of the move. The process is the same as the initial registration.