Free tool · Verified 14 June 2026

Anmeldung Deadline Calculator

In Germany you must register your address (Anmeldung) within 14 days (two weeks) of moving into your home — the deadline is set by §17(1) of the Federal Registration Act (Bundesmeldegesetz, BMG), and missing it is an administrative offence that can be fined up to €1,000 under §54 BMG.

Work out your deadline

Enter the day you move (or moved) into your home. The deadline is 14 days later.

The Anmeldung deadline rule

Anyone who moves into a home in Germany must register their address (Anmeldung) at the local registration office (Bürgeramt / Einwohnermeldeamt). The deadline and the penalty are set by federal law and apply to everyone — German citizens, EU citizens, and non-EU nationals alike.

Deadline14 days (two weeks) after the day you move in
When the clock starts Your move-in date (Einzug) — not the lease-signing date. Calendar days; weekends count.
Penalty if late Administrative offence (Ordnungswidrigkeit); fine up to €1,000
Legal basis §17(1) BMG (deadline) · §54(2)–(3) BMG (fine)
Who it applies to Everyone moving into a home in Germany, including EU citizens

Worked examples

  • If you move into your home on 3 March 2026, your Anmeldung deadline is 17 March 2026 (14 days later).
  • If you move into your home on 20 August 2026, your Anmeldung deadline is 3 September 2026 (14 days later).

Why the deadline matters: what Anmeldung unlocks

Anmeldung is the first domino in your move. Until it is done, most of the rest of German bureaucracy is blocked:

  • Your tax ID (Steuer-Identifikationsnummer) — Posted to your registered address within a few weeks — your employer needs it to pay you correctly.
  • A German bank account — Most banks require a registered address (Meldebescheinigung) before they will fully open an account.
  • Your salary — Without a tax ID and bank account, payroll cannot run cleanly — Anmeldung is the first domino.
  • Your residence permit application — The Ausländerbehörde expects a registered address before processing most residence-permit applications.

How to register within the deadline

  1. Note your move-in date. Your 14-day deadline starts on the day you move in (Einzugsdatum), not the day you sign the lease.
  2. Get the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung. Ask your landlord or housing provider for the confirmation of move-in (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) — you cannot register without it.
  3. Book a Bürgeramt appointment within the deadline. Book an Anmeldung appointment online where available. If slots are scarce, book the earliest one and keep the confirmation.
  4. Bring your documents. Take your passport or ID, the signed Wohnungsgeberbestätigung, and the completed Anmeldung form to the appointment.
  5. Register and keep the Meldebescheinigung. Register your address and keep the registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung) — banks, employers, and insurers will ask for it.

Frequently asked questions

How many days do I have to do my Anmeldung in Germany?

You have 14 days — two weeks — from the day you move into your home. This deadline is set by §17(1) of the Federal Registration Act (Bundesmeldegesetz, BMG): "Anyone who moves into a residence is required to register with the registration authority within two weeks of moving in."

What happens if I miss the Anmeldung deadline or register late?

Registering late (or not at all, or incorrectly) is an administrative offence (Ordnungswidrigkeit) under §54(2) BMG and can be fined up to €1,000 under §54(3) BMG. In practice, first-time late registrations are rarely fined if you booked an appointment as soon as you could and keep the booking confirmation — but until you register you cannot get your tax ID, open most bank accounts, or apply for a residence permit.

Does the 14 days start when I sign the lease or when I move in?

From the day you physically move in (Einzug) — not the day you sign the rental contract. The count is in calendar days, so weekends and public holidays are included.

What if I can't get a Bürgeramt appointment within 14 days?

In larger cities, appointment slots are often booked out beyond 14 days. Book the earliest available slot and keep proof of the booking; registration offices generally accept that you met the deadline by booking within it. Booking needs no documents and can be done before you move in — only the appointment date must fall on or after your move-in date.

Do EU citizens also have to register within 14 days?

Yes. §17 BMG is citizenship-neutral, so EU citizens must register on the same 14-day deadline as everyone else. The old EU registration certificate (Freizügigkeitsbescheinigung) was abolished in 2013, so the Anmeldung is the only address registration EU free-movers need.

Sources

Verified against the primary German source on .

Turn this into a dated plan

Want the full walkthrough first? Read the Anmeldung guide for documents and appointment tips. Then build a personalised plan that places Anmeldung — and every task it unlocks — on your own timeline.