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Apply for a registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung)

Bürgeramt · registration authority

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The registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung) is the official proof of your place of residence in Germany. On application, the competent registration authority – usually the Bürgeramt (citizens’ office) – issues it to you in writing or electronically under § 18 of the Federal Act on Registration (Bundesmeldegesetz, BMG). There are two versions: the simple Meldebescheinigung with the basic data and the extended Meldebescheinigung with additional information. There is a legal entitlement to its issue – § 18 Abs. 1 BMG obliges the registration authority to issue the certificate on application by the person concerned.

This proof of residence is needed, among other things, for getting married at the Standesamt (registry office), for foreign consulates, for insurance companies, courts or when applying for certain documents. Important: the electronic Meldebescheinigung is issued free of charge nationwide under § 18 Abs. 3 BMG, while the version issued in writing is subject to a fee – each local authority sets the exact fee in its administrative fee by-law, ranging from €5 in Bavaria to €16 in Hamburg.

The Meldebescheinigung is not to be confused with the Meldebestätigung (official confirmation of registration) under § 24 Abs. 2 BMG, which you receive free of charge with every Anmeldung (residence registration) or Abmeldung (deregistration), or with information from the population register (Melderegisterauskunft), which third parties use to request data about other persons. On this page, you will find all the documents, the steps, the actual fees in individual cities and the most common mistakes that lead to a refusal.

Last updated24 August 2026
Legal basis§ 18 BMG
VerificationChecked against gesetze-im-internet.de
Written and reviewed byAndrés Sánchez Botta
Independent information website: we are not the Bürgeramt, not an authority and not a paid advice service – we do not submit applications on your behalf. All information comes from official sources and is explained here in plain language; binding information always comes from the competent body. Fees and procedures can vary depending on the federal state (Bundesland) and the local authority. All information is provided without guarantee. We are neither lawyers nor tax consultants: we document official procedures and check the information against the official source – this is information, not legal or tax advice.
Costs€0 to €16Free of charge electronically, €5–€16 in writing depending on the local authority
Processing timeImmediatelyIn person & online; by post 1–2 weeks
MethodIn person, online or in writingOnline in many local authority areas
TypesSimple or extended§ 18 Abs. 1 or Abs. 2 BMG
Required documents

What you need to bring

Valid identity card or passport

A valid identity document of the person applying is essential so that the registration authority can establish your identity beyond doubt. Third-country nationals identify themselves with their electronic residence title; for EU citizens, their national identity card or passport is sufficient. The document must be valid on the day you attend – expired identity documents are not accepted. If your identity document has expired or been lost, first apply for a new one at the Bürgeramt; it usually takes several weeks until it is handed over.

Identity document with online ID function (eID) and PIN (online applications only)

For the digital route, you need the activated online ID function of your identity card, your eID card or your electronic residence title, as well as the six-digit PIN. You also need an NFC-enabled smartphone or a card reader and – depending on the federal state – a user account such as BundID. If you no longer know your PIN, have it reset at the Bürgeramt or request the PIN reset letter; both take time and should be done before you submit the application.

Application stating the type and purpose

At most offices, an oral application at the counter is sufficient; some local authorities use their own form or an online service. State explicitly whether you need the simple certificate under § 18 Abs. 1 BMG or the extended certificate under § 18 Abs. 2 BMG, and what you will use it for. Only then can the registration authority select the correct data fields – if the wrong version is chosen, you must attend again and the fee is charged a second time.

Written power of attorney if someone represents you

If another person wants to apply for the certificate about your data, they need a power of attorney signed by you, stating your name, date of birth and address. In addition, they present their own identity document and your identity document or a copy of it. There is no maximum statutory period for the power of attorney, but many offices require a recent date. By contrast, the stricter rules of the Melderegisterauskunft apply to information about other people.

Proof of legal representation

For minor children, the holders of parental custody apply for the Meldebescheinigung; the birth certificate (Geburtsurkunde) or the family register book (Familienstammbuch) serves as proof, and, where the parents live apart, the court decision on parental custody if applicable. Legal custodians present their custodian’s identity card (Betreuerausweis) or the order of appointment issued by the custodianship court (Betreuungsgericht). Without this proof, the registration authority must not release any data of other persons.

Means of payment or bank transfer receipt

The certificate issued in writing is subject to a fee and costs between €5 and €16, depending on the local authority. Have an EC card or cash ready, because many Bürgeramt offices now accept card payment only. For an application by post, enclose the bank transfer receipt directly – if it is missing, the matter is put on hold until the authority follows up. The electronic certificate is issued free of charge under § 18 Abs. 3 BMG.

Proof for a possible fee exemption

If the certificate is needed for pension matters or to apply for social benefits, some local authorities waive the fee – Berlin issues it free of charge in these cases. To qualify, present the letter of request from the pension insurance institution or the social welfare authority. Whether and to what extent an exemption is granted depends on the competent authority and its fee by-law (Gebührensatzung).

Step by step

How to proceed

  1. 1

    Clarify the type of certificate

    First ask the requesting body which information is required – ideally in writing, so that you have evidence. Under § 18 Abs. 1 BMG, the simple Meldebescheinigung shows only the family name, given names with the given name in everyday use marked, doctoral degree, date of birth and the current addresses, broken down into principal residence and secondary residence. The extended version under § 18 Abs. 2 BMG can additionally contain the place of birth, gender, nationalities, religious affiliation, marital status with the place and date of marriage, previous names and addresses, information on spouses and minor children, and the tax identification number (Steuer-ID, IdNr.). Standesamt offices and foreign consulates usually require the extended certificate.

  2. 2

    Check the competent registration authority and how to apply

    Only the registration authority at your place of residence is competent – depending on the city, it is called Bürgeramt, Einwohnermeldeamt (residents’ registration office), Kundenzentrum or Bürgerbüro (citizens’ office). Check on your local authority’s service portal which ways of applying are offered at all, because there are considerable differences: Berlin has issued the certificate fully digitally via BundID and the online ID function since November 2023, Cologne explicitly rules out online applications and requires you to attend in person at one of its Kundenzentrum offices, and Hamburg completes the process at the counter in around five minutes. Book an appointment if your local authority does not offer open consultation hours – in Berlin, you can also attend any Bürgeramt without an appointment.

  3. 3

    Gather your documents

    Have your identity document, a power of attorney if applicable and a means of payment ready before you start the application. For the online route, check in advance whether the eID function is activated and whether you know the six-digit PIN; the five-digit transport PIN supplied in the PIN letter must have been changed once beforehand. If you apply in writing, enclose a copy of your identity document, the bank transfer receipt, your full return address and a signature.

  4. 4

    Submit the application and prove your identity

    At the counter, you state what you need, present your identity document and specify the type of certificate you want; the clerk retrieves your data directly from the population register (Melderegister) and prints out the document. Online, you authenticate yourself with your identity document and PIN – § 10 Abs. 3 BMG prescribes a specified level of assurance for submission of the application electronically, which is why a simple login with email and password is not sufficient. Applications in writing should contain your name, date of birth, current address, the version required and the purpose.

  5. 5

    Pay the fee

    The electronic Meldebescheinigung is issued free of charge under § 18 Abs. 3 BMG; this entitlement applies nationwide. For the certificate issued in writing, each local authority sets its own administrative fee: the range extends from €5 in Bavaria through €9 in Cologne and €10 in Berlin to €16 in Hamburg. In Berlin, each additional person with identical registration data on the same certificate costs an extra €5 – for a family of four, that is €25 instead of €40. Ask explicitly about a fee exemption if you need the document for pension or social benefit purposes.

  6. 6

    Receive the certificate and check it immediately

    If you attend in person or use the online procedure, the certificate is usually issued immediately or provided as a PDF. Applications in writing by post usually take one to two weeks. While still at the counter, check the spelling of your name, your date of birth, your address and the marking as principal residence or secondary residence – otherwise errors only come to light at the appointment for which you need the certificate, and cost you another official procedure. You can have incorrect data in the population register corrected under § 12 BMG in conjunction with Article 16 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR, DSGVO).

Fee information

Costs and payment

Fees

Electronic certificate (nationwide)Free of charge – § 18 Abs. 3 BMG
Meldebestätigung for Anmeldung/AbmeldungFree of charge – § 24 Abs. 2 BMG
Bavaria (certificate issued in writing)€5.00
Cologne (simple and extended)€9.00
Berlin (in person or by post)€10.00 per person
Berlin – each additional person€5.00 if registration data are identical
Hamburg (per certificate)€16.00
Means of paymentEC card, cash or bank transfer (depending on the office)

There is no uniform nationwide fee: each local authority sets the amount itself in its administrative fee by-law, which is why the same certificate costs between around €5 and €16, depending on your place of residence. The only binding rule under federal law is § 18 Abs. 3 BMG – the electronic Meldebescheinigung is issued free of charge. Where a local authority such as Cologne does not offer a digital way of applying, this exemption is of no practical use, because only the certificate issued in writing, which is subject to a fee, is then available. In Berlin, the fee is also waived if you need the certificate for certain pension and social benefit matters; whether your local authority has a comparable exemption depends on the competent authority. Also note that with every Anmeldung, Ummeldung (change of address) or Abmeldung, you already receive a Meldebestätigung free of charge under § 24 Abs. 2 BMG – first check whether this is sufficient. The current fee by-law of your registration authority is always decisive.

Good to know

Important notes

First check the confirmation that is free of charge. With every Anmeldung, Ummeldung or Abmeldung, you receive a Meldebestätigung free of charge under § 24 Abs. 2 BMG, showing your name, date of birth, date of moving in or out, date of registration, address and status of the residence. For many bodies such as banks, employers or insurance companies, this document is already sufficient – ask before you order a certificate that is subject to a fee.

The extended version contains sensitive data. Under § 18 Abs. 2 BMG, it can show, among other things, the tax identification number under § 139b of the Fiscal Code (Abgabenordnung, AO) and legal membership of a religious society under public law. Only apply for it if the requesting body expressly asks for this information – for example the Standesamt for the marriage or a foreign consulate.

Proof of life via the Meldebescheinigung. On application, the extended certificate under § 18 Abs. 2 BMG can also show that no date of death is stored in the population register. This information is often required as proof of life for pension payments from abroad, for life insurance policies or for professional pension schemes.

Electronic is always free of charge. § 18 Abs. 3 BMG applies nationwide. If your local authority offers an online service and you can use the online ID function, you save the administrative fee of up to €16. However, the online route is not available everywhere: Cologne explicitly rules it out, while Berlin has offered it fully digitally since November 2023.

No statutory period of validity. The Federal Act on Registration does not provide for an expiry period; the certificate remains correct in content as long as your registration data do not change. In practice, however, many receiving bodies only accept documents that are no more than three to six months old – so apply for it shortly before the appointment.

Information blocks limit the content. If an information block (Auskunftssperre) under § 51 BMG or a conditional blocking notice (bedingter Sperrvermerk) under § 52 BMG is stored for your legal representative, spouse, civil partner or minor children, this information is not included in the certificate under § 18 Abs. 4 in conjunction with § 11 Abs. 2 Nr. 3 BMG. The same applies in adoption cases under § 1758 of the German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch, BGB).

Special case: foreign nationals. Third-country nationals identify themselves with their electronic residence title, whose eID function also enables online applications. If you were born abroad, the extended certificate lists the country of birth as well as the place of birth under § 3 Abs. 1 BMG. For submission to foreign authorities, a certification or apostille can be required – this depends on the competent authority and the destination country.

After a move, register first. The certificate reflects only the current state of the population register. If you have missed the Anmeldung, you receive a document with your old address. So first register within the two-week deadline under § 17 Abs. 1 BMG – only then is a usable certificate possible.

Avoid these mistakes

Common mistakes

Confusing the Meldebestätigung with the Meldebescheinigung. If you present the wrong document, the Standesamt, bank or consulate will return it to you and you must make a second appointment at the Bürgeramt. In cities where appointments are scarce, this can quickly cost several weeks and delay the actual process, such as giving notice of marriage.

Ordering the extended version without need. It discloses additional data such as your tax identification number, religious affiliation, marital status and previous addresses, which you thereby pass on to third parties unnecessarily. In some local authority areas, it is also more expensive than the simple certificate – and once the data have been passed on, this cannot be undone.

Attending with an expired identity document. Without a valid identity document, the registration authority is not permitted to establish your identity and refuses to issue the certificate. You must then first apply for a new identity card or passport, which usually takes several weeks to produce – and the appointment for which you needed the certificate falls through.

Sending an incomplete application by post. If the copy of your identity document, the bank transfer receipt or the signature is missing, the matter is put on hold until the authority follows up in writing. The usual one to two weeks of processing time can thus quickly become four – only choose this route if you have enough time.

Starting an online application without an activated eID. If the online ID function is not activated or you do not know the six-digit PIN, the procedure stops at the authentication stage. A reset using the PIN reset letter takes several working days and cannot be arranged at short notice; you then have to fall back on the route via the office, which is subject to a fee.

Not registering a move. The certificate then shows your old address and is rejected by the requesting body. In addition, a late Anmeldung is a regulatory offence (Ordnungswidrigkeit) under § 54 Abs. 2 BMG and can be punished with a regulatory fine (Geldbuße) of up to €1,000. The deadline is two weeks after moving in.

Ignoring how recent the certificate is. Banks, courts and consulates often reject certificates that are more than three to six months old. As there is no statutory period of validity, this depends solely on the requirements of the receiving body – if your certificate is rejected, you pay the fee again with the second application.

Frequently asked questions

Questions and answers

What is the difference between the Meldebestätigung and the Meldebescheinigung?

You receive the Meldebestätigung under § 24 Abs. 2 BMG free of charge with every Anmeldung or Abmeldung; it contains only your name, date of birth, date of moving in or out, date of registration, address and the type of residence. The Meldebescheinigung under § 18 BMG, by contrast, is a separate document that you can apply for at any time and that, if issued in writing, is subject to a fee depending on the local authority. For many purposes, the confirmation that is free of charge is already sufficient – so ask the requesting body beforehand.

How much does a Meldebescheinigung cost?

The electronic Meldebescheinigung is issued free of charge nationwide under § 18 Abs. 3 BMG. Each local authority sets the fee for the certificate issued in writing itself in its administrative fee by-law: in Bavaria it is €5, in Cologne €9 for both the simple and the extended certificate, in Berlin €10 per person plus €5 for each additional person with identical registration data, and in Hamburg €16 per certificate. You should therefore expect a range of about €5 to €16.

What is the difference between the simple and the extended Meldebescheinigung?

Under § 18 Abs. 1 BMG, the simple Meldebescheinigung contains only the family name, given names with the given name in everyday use marked, doctoral degree, date of birth and the current addresses, marked as principal residence or secondary residence. Under § 18 Abs. 2 BMG, the extended Meldebescheinigung can additionally show data under § 3 Abs. 1 BMG, such as previous names, place of birth, gender, nationalities, marital status with the date and place of marriage, previous addresses, information on spouses and minor children, and the tax identification number. Only apply for the extended version if the requesting body really needs this additional data.

How long is a Meldebescheinigung valid?

The Federal Act on Registration does not prescribe a period of validity – the certificate remains correct in content as long as your registration data do not change. In practice, however, banks, courts, insurance companies and foreign consulates often require a document that is no more than three to six months old. Clarify in advance how recent it needs to be, and only apply for the certificate shortly before the appointment at which you must present it.

Can I apply for the Meldebescheinigung online?

That depends on your local authority. Berlin has offered the Meldebescheinigung fully digitally since November 2023: you authenticate yourself with BundID and the online ID function and receive the document free of charge. Cologne explicitly does not issue the Meldebescheinigung online; there, attendance in person or representation by an authorised person is required. The requirements for any online application are an activated eID function, the six-digit PIN and an NFC-enabled smartphone or a card reader.

Can someone else apply for the Meldebescheinigung on my behalf?

Yes. An authorised person can apply for the certificate about your data with a power of attorney in writing signed by you, and presents their own identity document as well as your identity document or a copy of it. For minor children, the holders of parental custody apply for the certificate; legal custodians identify themselves with their custodian’s identity card (Betreuerausweis). Information about other people, by contrast, is not a Meldebescheinigung but a Melderegisterauskunft, which has its own, stricter requirements.

Do I need the extended Meldebescheinigung for getting married or for the consulate?

To give notice of marriage at the Standesamt and for many foreign consulates, the extended Meldebescheinigung is usually required, because it shows marital status, nationality and place of birth. Ideally, ask the requesting body beforehand in writing exactly what information it needs. For use with foreign authorities, a certification or apostille can also be necessary – this depends on the competent authority and the destination country.

What should I do if the data on the Meldebescheinigung are incorrect?

Report the error to the registration authority without delay and present proof, such as the marriage certificate, the Geburtsurkunde or the tenancy agreement. Under § 12 BMG in conjunction with Article 16 GDPR (DSGVO), you have an entitlement to have incorrect data in the population register corrected and incomplete data completed; the certificate is then reissued. If only the address is out of date because you did not report a move, you must first register under § 17 Abs. 1 BMG.

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