1. What is Anmeldun? The video begins by explaining the concept of Anmeldung, which is the German word for registration of your address. It is essentially informing the local authorities (city or town) that you are a new resident.
2. Why Anmeldung is Important: The speakers emphasize the importance of Anmeldung for international expats in Germany, as it serves as a gateway to various essential services. Without it, you cannot:
- Open a bank account
- Get an internet contract
- Change electricity provider
- Obtain a tax ID (essential for employment and avoiding the highest tax rate)
3. Timing of Anmeldung : The legal deadline for registering your address is 14 days after moving in. However, they encourage doing it as soon as possible to avoid potential administrative issues and delays in settling in.
4. Chicken and Egg Situation: Anmeldung creates a classic chicken and egg problem for new arrivals. To secure an apartment, you often need a Schufa report (credit score), which is only available after you are registered. But you cannot register without an apartment. The video acknowledges this problem and advises checking out their past videos on renting apartments, as not every landlord requires a Schufa report.
5. Making an Appointment: To complete the Anmeldung process, you need to make an appointment at the Bürgeramt (citizen office) in your city. The video provides ways to do this:
- Google "Bürgeramt" and your city name
- Use a website from the German postal service (it can be translated to English).
6. Appointment Details: The video stresses the importance of arriving on time for your appointment. You may need to wait for your number to be called and then proceed to the designated booth. It is recommended to bring a German speaker to assist with communication if needed.
7. Required Documents: Bring the following documents to your appointment:
- Passport (with temporary visa or residence permit if applicable)
- National ID or passport (if from the EU)
- Apartment landlord confirmation (a specific form from your landlord confirming you are allowed to live in the apartment – you cannot get this from Airbnb or hotels)
- Pre-completed registration form (each city has a different form)
- Marriage certificate (translated into German if applicable)
- Family documents (if applicable)
8. The Process: The Anmeldung process typically takes around 15 minutes. During the appointment, you will hand over your documents, answer questions (including about your religious status), and receive a confirmation of your registration, called the Meldebescheinigung (also known as the "golden ticket"). It is important to make multiple copies of this document.
9. Services Without Anmeldung: While Anmeldung is essential for most services, some banks (like N26 and Wise) and prepaid SIM card providers allow you to access their services without it.
10. Post-Anmeldung: After your registration, you can expect to receive:
- Your tax ID in the mail
- A letter from the Broadcasting Contribution (German TV license) service (requiring you to register and pay).
11. Moving Again: If you move within Germany, you need to re-register at your new address with a new housing provider confirmation.
12. Leaving Germany: When you leave Germany, you need to deregister from the Bürgeramt (deregistration) as well as any other services where you have registered (like the TV license and Finanzamt).
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