On this page
This follows the City of Cologne’s own pages. Appointment days and office lists can change, so check the city page before you go.
At a glance
- Deadline
- 14 days after move-in
- Walk-in days
- Monday and Wednesday
- Appointment days
- Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
- Fee
- Free
Your checklist
First steps
Your checklist stays on this device.
Why the landlord form is the first thing to sort
Cologne says the Wohnungsgeberbescheinigung must be issued by the landlord within two weeks of move-in and cannot be a future-dated certificate. The city’s page says it cannot be submitted later.
Because a rental contract alone does not count, ask for the form when you collect the keys and check that it shows the owner and the correct move-in date.
Appointment days and offices
Monday and Wednesday are walk-in days. Because other days need booking, plan the earliest appointment around the move-in date on your form.
The nine Kundenzentren are in Chorweiler, Ehrenfeld, Innenstadt, Kalk, Lindenthal, Mülheim, Nippes, Porz and Rodenkirchen. You can choose any of them.
Online registration and arrivals from abroad
The city’s page mentions online registration through the Serviceportal Gemeinsam-Online, with the address sticker for your ID sent by post. The same page says that when you move from abroad you must always attend in person, so plan for the visit.
An expired ID does not stop registration; a new ID is requested separately. Lost documents are handled case by case at a Kundenzentrum.
After you register
Your registration is what the next German steps build on. See the tax ID guide for the number you receive by post and the Berlin move-order guide for the general sequence of first steps.
Common questions
How long do I have to register in Cologne?
Within 14 days after moving in.
Do I need an appointment?
Not on Mondays and Wednesdays. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays you do, booked via termine.stadt-koeln.de.
Can someone register for me if I move from abroad?
No. Cologne says you must always attend yourself when you move from abroad.
Is a rental contract enough as housing proof?
No. Cologne requires the Wohnungsgeberbescheinigung from the landlord or main tenant.
Does it cost anything?
No, registration is free.
Official sources
Read this first
- City of Cologne: Anmeldung Ihres WohnsitzesDeadline, documents, appointment days, offices, personal attendance and fee
- City of Cologne: WohnungsgeberbescheinigungWhat the landlord form is, who issues it and why a rental contract is not enough
Rules can vary by nationality, work or study status, and city. Confirm your route with the official authority before you act.