Munich Address Registration (Anmeldung): The Family Guide

The Official Rule

Whenever you move to Munich, whether from abroad or from elsewhere in the city, you must register your address (Anmeldung) within 14 days of moving in. This applies even if you’re only moving across town. Miss the deadline and you risk a fine of up to €1,000, though in practice enforcement varies.

It’s free. There’s no fee for the registration itself.

Where: either online (for your main residence only) or in person at one of Munich’s Bürgerbüros (also called the KVR, Kreisverwaltungsreferat). Online registration currently works for German nationals and EU citizens with an eID card; third-country nationals still need to register in person, since the electronic option for them is described as “still in planning” by the city.

As a family, only one parent needs to show up in person, or an authorized person can go on your behalf. Minor children are registered automatically with the registering parent, no personal appearance needed for kids.

If parents are separated: the child registers with whichever parent they actually live with, no consent from the other parent required. If the child genuinely splits time between both parents, the “main residence” is wherever the child’s life is centered (school, kindergarten, sports club) and the other address is registered as a secondary residence.

You cannot register before you’ve actually moved in. A future move-in date isn’t accepted. And you don’t need to separately deregister your old address; that happens automatically once you register the new one.

What You’ll Need

• Valid ID or passport for everyone who needs to register.
• Residence permit, if you’re a non-EU citizen.
• The completed registration form (Anmeldeformular), downloadable in advance, including an English version.
• An original, signed Wohnungsgeberbestätigung: a landlord confirmation stating your move-in date and address. Without this document, your registration will be rejected.
• A Power of Attorney if someone else is registering on your behalf.

What Real People Say

The most common frustration people report is finding an available appointment slot, not the registration process itself. Munich residents consistently mention that new slots tend to appear at specific times of day, around 7am, 10am, and 1pm, and that refreshing the booking page right around those windows often turns up same-day or next-day openings that weren’t there minutes earlier.

Some people report waiting up to 8 weeks for an appointment when they didn’t know this trick, while others managed to book a same-day slot by checking early in the morning.

A recurring pitfall people mention: showing up without the signed Wohnungsgeberbestätigung, or with an incomplete registration form, and being turned away on the spot. Filling out the form correctly in advance saves a wasted trip.

Step by Step

1. Move in first. You can only register after your actual move-in date, not before.
2. Download and fill out the Anmeldeformular ahead of time (an English version is available), so your appointment isn’t wasted on paperwork.
3. Get your Wohnungsgeberbestätigung signed by your landlord or the property owner. This is the document that trips people up most often.
4. Book your appointment early, and if slots look fully booked, check again around 7am, 10am, or 1pm, when new ones tend to open up.
5. Bring ID for the registering parent (and residence permit, if applicable). Children don’t need to attend.
6. Keep your Meldebescheinigung (registration certificate) safe once you get it. You’ll need it again soon, for opening a bank account, signing an internet contract, or enrolling in school.