On this page
This guide covers Bremen’s move-from-abroad process only. The city says online registration is unavailable for this case and every person being registered, including children, must attend.
At a glance
- Deadline
- Within two weeks; Bremen says a timely appointment booking is enough if no slot is available.
- Filing
- A move from abroad is handled in person; there is no online filing or representative option.
- Attendance
- Everyone being registered, including children, must attend.
- Legal basis
- § 17 and § 19 Bundesmeldegesetz
- Deregistering when leaving Germany
- Within two weeks of moving out
Your checklist
First steps
Your checklist stays on this device.
Bremen’s deadline and appointment rule
The city requires registration within two weeks after moving in. If an appointment is not available during that period, Bremen says a timely booking is enough. Keep evidence of when you booked and follow the appointment instructions.
Everyone must appear in person
For a move from abroad, Bremen requires every person being registered, including children, to attend in person. A representative cannot file instead. The online service is not available for this route.
Prepare the household documents
Bring a valid identity document for each person and the housing-provider confirmation. Bremen may request extra documents for a marriage or birth entry and says such civil-status documents must be in German. Confirm current requirements before attending.
What the federal law says
Bremen’s two-week rule follows federal law. Under § 17 of the Bundesmeldegesetz, whoever moves into a home must register with the registration office within two weeks of moving in. If you leave a home without taking up a new one in Germany, you must deregister within two weeks of moving out.
Under § 19 the housing provider must help with the registration and confirm the move-in within that period. The confirmation names the housing provider (and the owner if different), the move-in date, the address of the home and the people who must register.
Common questions
Can I register online after moving to Bremen from abroad?
No. Bremen’s service page says online registration is unavailable for a move from abroad; use the in-person process.
Do children have to attend the Bremen appointment?
Yes. Bremen says every person being registered, including children, must be present. A representative cannot attend instead.
What if there is no appointment within two weeks?
Bremen says booking an appointment within the two-week period is sufficient. Keep the confirmation as proof.
Is the two-week deadline a city rule?
No. It comes from § 17 of the federal Bundesmeldegesetz, so it applies in every German city. Check your city page for the booking process.
Official sources
Read this first
- Bremen service portal: register after moving from abroadBremen-only in-person rule, household attendance, two-week deadline and booking rule
- Bundesmeldegesetz § 17: Anmeldung, AbmeldungTwo-week registration duty and deregistration when leaving
- Bundesmeldegesetz § 19: Mitwirkung des WohnungsgebersLandlord confirmation and its required content
Rules can vary by nationality, work or study status, and city. Confirm your route with the official authority before you act.