On this page
This is a sequencing guide for Berlin. Individual banks, employers and the Bürgeramt can add their own requirements, so check the live pages for your case.
At a glance
- Deadline
- Register within 14 days after moving in.
- Housing proof
- Wohnungsgeberbestätigung from the landlord; a rental contract does not replace it.
- Tax ID
- Assigned by the Federal Central Tax Office after first registration and mailed to your address.
Your checklist
First steps
Your checklist stays on this device.
Why Anmeldung usually comes first
The registration certificate is the document that most follow-up steps ask for: banks, employers, the tax ID and many service providers. It also starts the 14-day clock, so booking the appointment is the most time-sensitive task.
Berlin does not require registration if you live abroad and stay in Berlin for up to three months, or if you are already registered in Germany and stay up to six months. A move from abroad to a Berlin address is the normal case this guide covers.
The rental contract is not the landlord confirmation
Berlin’s service page lists the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung as a required document. It is a separate form that the landlord, or the main tenant if you sublet, completes and signs. A rental contract alone does not replace it.
If you are subletting or staying with a friend, ask the main tenant to complete the form before you attend. Appointments are scarce, and a missing form means a repeat visit.
The tax ID is assigned, not applied for
The Federal Central Tax Office assigns the tax ID when you register for the first time. It is posted to your registered address, so the Anmeldung must be correct and the letter box labelled. The Finanzamt only steps in when you are tax-liable without being registered.
If the letter has not arrived three months after your first registration, you can send your details to the Federal Central Tax Office through its online form. The service is free.
Bank account: what to ask
There is no single rule that every bank applies. Some ask for the registration certificate, others open an account on identity documents and collect the address later. Ask for the bank’s list of accepted documents before booking a branch visit.
Germany also has a legal right to a basic account (Basiskonto). Consumer advice describes the main requirements as proof of identity and the official application form, and says a bank can refuse only in narrow cases. A refusal can be brought to the financial regulator BaFin.
Common questions
Should I do Anmeldung or open a bank account first?
Register your address first in most cases. The certificate is what many banks, employers and the tax ID process rely on. If you need an account earlier, ask the bank what it accepts, and remember the basic-account right.
How do I get my tax ID in Germany?
You do not apply. When you register for the first time, your data is sent to the Federal Central Tax Office, which posts the tax ID to your registered address. If it has not arrived after three months, contact the office.
Can I use my rental contract instead of the landlord confirmation?
No. Berlin lists the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung as a required document, and a rental contract does not replace it.
Do I have to register for a short stay in Berlin?
Berlin’s page exempts people who live abroad and stay up to three months, and people already registered in Germany who stay up to six months. Check your own case on the live page.
Official sources
Read this first
- Berlin service portal: register an apartmentDeadline, appointment and online options, documents and exemptions for Berlin registration
- Berlin service portal: tax ID assignmentWho assigns the tax ID, how it reaches you and how to request a copy
- Federal Central Tax Office: tax identification numberWhat the tax ID is, when it is sent and what to do if it is missing
- Consumer advice: the right to a basic accountThe legal right to a basic bank account, accepted documents and how to challenge a refusal
Rules can vary by nationality, work or study status, and city. Confirm your route with the official authority before you act.