If you want to live in one place in Germany for more than three months, you must register your place of residence. This also applies to holders of the Chancenkarte. With a simple step-by-step guide, we will show you how you can easily register in Germany and what legal obligations are involved.
Important: As soon as you arrive in Germany, every Chancenkarte holder must give immediate residence notification to the Immigration Office. This process validates your Chancenkarte and finalises your residence permit!
Registration in Germany: Legal obligations and advantages for Chancenkarte holders
Are you planning to live in one place in Germany for longer than three months with your Chancenkarte? Then you must register your place of residence. In addition to a valid residential address, this also requires a confirmation of registration from the residents’ registration office. You will need the registration confirmation, for example, to open a bank account, take out a mobile phone contract or apply for health insurance.
“Step-by-step guide” to registering in Germany
1. Find residence
On common property portals, Chancenkarte holders can easily search online for a rental flat in Germany. Your future employer or a local advice centre can help you with this.
2. Visit the registration office
Once you have successfully found a flat, you must apply for an appointment with the responsible municipality. This can often be done online, but also by telephone. The residents’ registration office in your town is responsible for official registration. Important: You must appear in person at the residents’ registration office to submit your documents.
3. Have documents ready
Bring important documents to the residents’ registration office:
- Valid passport or identity card that can be used to verify your identity (Proof of the Chancenkarte is in your passport and should be shown at the registration office)
- Landlord’s confirmation of residence (this is often issued by the landlord or owner. You can either download the relevant form online from your municipality’s website and print it out or take it with you to your local authority). The document should contain the name and address of the landlord as well as details of the flat and the date of moving in.
4. Keep confirmation of registration in a safe place
Once you have presented all the necessary documents, the employees will check your details. If everything has been entered and submitted correctly, you will receive an official confirmation of registration from the authorities. You must keep this carefully, as it can be important as proof of residence for future contracts.
What happens when I have received the registration confirmation?
Once you have received your registration confirmation from the Residents’ Registration Office, you will automatically be assigned a tax ID and sent it by post. The tax ID is important for your future employment. Without registration you can get a tax ID at the federal central office for taxation:
Conclusion
Registration in Germany is a legal requirement for migrants and Chancenkarte holders if they wish to stay in one place for longer than three months. It is therefore advisable to look for accommodation and register with the relevant local authority or residents’ registration office as soon as you receive your Chancenkarte. After the two-week deadline, you may be fined. Have the most important documents for the registration process ready and keep the confirmation of registration in a safe place for further matters, such as applying for a bank account or health insurance.
Frequently asked questions
No, you must first register in Germany with a permanent residence and the intention to stay in one place for more than three months. However, you have to get your residence permit confirmed immediately after entering the country.
The most important documents are a valid identity document, a confirmation of residence from your landlord, the registration form from the Residents’ Registration Office and your proof of Chancenkarte or residence permit.
You can prove that you have officially moved into a flat with a confirmation of residence from the residents’ registration office. You can find the document either online to print out or locally at your local authority. Important: Your landlord must sign the landlord’s confirmation of residence.
In some municipalities, it is possible to submit the necessary documents for registration in Germany online. Normally, however, you must present yourself in person at the residents’ registration office to obtain the registration certificate.
If you can’t find a flat at first, you can also rent temporary accommodation or stay with friends in Germany. Shared flats can also be an option. You do not have to register for the time being, as long as you do not stay longer than three months.
If you move within Germany, you must register your new place of residence with the relevant residents’ registration office again. For example, if you move from Berlin to Hamburg, you must register with the residents’ registration office in Hamburg two weeks after your move. You will then be automatically deregistered from your old place of residence.
If you miss the legal deadline for registering in Germany, you may be fined up to 1,000 euros. In some cases, late registration can also affect your residence permit.
If you leave Germany and move abroad, you must deregister your residence in the country at the residents’ registration office.
Useful tips for migrants registering in Germany
Many cities have their own websites (e.g. Berlin.de, München.de) with detailed instructions on the local registration process. Appointments can often be made online. Active support for migrants is also available from the “Deutsche Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit” (GIZ). There are also groups on social networks such as Facebook or WhatsApp that migrants can join.
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