Anmeldung in Munich: Appointment, Documents and Temporary Housing When You Move

By Daniel Schulz, residir GmbH · Last updated: 13 October 2026

If you move to Munich, you must complete your Anmeldung (address registration) at a Bürgerbüro (citizens’ office) within two weeks of moving in. You need a valid ID card or passport and the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (landlord’s confirmation of residence) from your landlord; the Anmeldung in Munich itself is free of charge. If you start out living in a hotel or boarding house, under the Federal Registration Act (Bundesmeldegesetz) you usually only have to register later; the rules are explained further down.

In Lehel we come across this topic almost every week: new employees, families and project teams arrive in the city, their actual flat has not been found yet, and the question arises of when they need to register. This guide sums up what matters when registering your address in Munich. It is not legal advice; the information from the City of Munich and your Bürgerbüro is binding.

In this article:

• Anmeldung in Munich: deadline and duty to register
• Documents you need to register
• Booking an appointment at a Munich Bürgerbüro
• Registering your address in Munich online
• Registering in a boarding house, hotel or temporary flat
• Main residence, secondary residence and second home tax in Munich
• A quick word on flat hunting
• Moving to Munich: checklist
• Conclusion
• Frequently asked questions

Question	Short answer
Deadline	2 weeks after moving in (Federal Registration Act)
Where	At one of the City of Munich’s Bürgerbüros; book an appointment online in advance
Documents	ID card or passport, Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (landlord’s confirmation)
Cost	Registration is free
Online	Possible for your main residence, with the online ID function
Hotel or boarding house	Registration only required after more than 6 months, or after 3 months if you have no other registered address in Germany
Secondary residence	May trigger second home tax

Anmeldung in Munich: deadline and duty to register

The duty to register is set out in the Federal Registration Act and applies throughout Germany. Anyone who moves into a flat must register with the registration office within two weeks. This applies to people moving to the city from elsewhere just as much as to moves within the city: even if you move from Schwabing to Lehel, you have to update your registered address in Munich.

Important for your planning: the deadline starts when you move in, not when you sign the contract. You cannot register in advance, because you must already be living at the address when you register. If you miss the deadline by a significant margin without good reason, you risk a fine.

If you are moving within Germany, you usually do not need to deregister at your old address. Your registration in Munich replaces it, and the data is passed on between the registration offices. Only people moving abroad have to deregister actively.

Many newcomers arrive on their own first, for example for their probationary period, and bring their partner or family over later. For the first few weeks, accommodation in Munich with a kitchen is often enough, and the Anmeldung follows once you move into your own flat.

Documents you need to register

You need only a few documents for registering at the Bürgerbüro, but they must be complete. If one is missing, you may be sent home again, and the next appointment can take a while.

• A valid ID card or passport for everyone you are registering
• The Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (landlord’s confirmation of residence) from your landlord
• If you are moving from abroad, usually your passport and, depending on your situation, further documents
• If someone registers on your behalf, a written power of attorney and the original ID documents

The Wohnungsgeberbestätigung is a short form in which the landlord confirms that you have moved in, with the address, move-in date and names of the people moving in. Landlords are legally obliged to issue this confirmation. A tenancy agreement on its own is not enough.

It is best to ask for it when you collect the keys. The Wohnungsgeberbestätigung for Munich is no different from that in other cities, but the city provides its own form, which many landlords use. If you still have not received the confirmation after asking, the Bürgerbüro will tell you what to do next.

Booking an appointment at a Munich Bürgerbüro

Registration is handled by the city’s Bürgerbüros, which belong to the Kreisverwaltungsreferat (district administration department). That is why many people search for a “KVR München Termin” (KVR appointment); it means the same thing. The city runs several Bürgerbüros, including those on Ruppertstraße and at Orleansplatz, and you are free to choose any of them.

For your Anmeldung in Munich you generally need an appointment, which you book online via the city’s website. Bürgerbüro appointments are not always available at short notice, so check straight after moving in and feel free to look several times, as cancelled slots become free again. If you cannot manage the two weeks because no appointments are available, keep a record of this and mention it at your appointment.

You must attend the appointment in person or send someone with power of attorney. Registration is free of charge. You will receive a Meldebestätigung (confirmation of registration); a Meldebescheinigung (registration certificate) for employers or authorities can be requested separately from the City of Munich later.

Registering your address in Munich online

You can also register your main residence in Munich online, via the nationwide portal for digital address registration, which the city links to on its website. You generally need an ID card with the online ID function activated, including the PIN, and a smartphone or card reader. You will need the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung for this as well.

You cannot register a secondary residence online; that requires an appointment. If you are moving from abroad, or arranging two residences for children of separated parents, you will usually need to go to the Bürgerbüro too. Which cases can be handled online changes from time to time, so check the City of Munich’s current page on address registration before you start.

Registering in a boarding house, hotel or temporary flat

Many people do not move straight into their own flat but first spend a few weeks or months in temporary accommodation, such as a long-term holiday rental. Whether you have to register then depends on how you are living.

Accommodation establishments: hotel, boarding house, serviced apartment

If you are staying in an accommodation establishment (Beherbergungsstätte), the Federal Registration Act only requires you to register once your stay exceeds six months. This applies if you are already registered at another address in Germany. If you have no registered address in Germany, for example after moving from abroad, the duty to register applies after just three months.

Whether a property counts as an accommodation establishment depends on the specific offer and contract, not on its name. Hotels and many serviced apartments in Munich work with an accommodation contract. What makes a boarding house is explained in our guide What is a boarding house? If in doubt, check your case with the Bürgerbüro in advance.

Renting a flat temporarily with a tenancy agreement

If you rent a flat for a limited period and sign a regular tenancy agreement, you are legally moving into a dwelling. In principle, the normal two-week deadline then applies, and the landlord issues a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung. The law makes an exception for people who are already registered in Germany and use the additional flat for no more than six months.

A tenancy agreement for a furnished flat is often fixed-term and includes a flat rate for furniture and utilities. Check the term, the notice rules and whether electricity and internet are included. A furnished flat for a limited period costs more than an unfurnished one, but saves on removal costs and buying furniture in the early phase.

Main residence, secondary residence and second home tax in Munich

If you have several homes, you register one as your main residence (Hauptwohnsitz) and the others as secondary residences (Nebenwohnsitz). Your main residence is the home you mainly use; for married people it is usually the family home. So if, for example, you work in Munich during the week and go home at weekends, you will often have to register your Munich address as a secondary residence.

The city levies a second home tax (Zweitwohnungssteuer) on secondary residences. It is based on the annual net rent excluding utilities, and according to the City of Munich the rate is currently 18 per cent (as of October 2026). Check the current rate with the city, as it has been changed in the past. There are exemptions in certain cases, for example on application for people on a low income.

In some cases you have to declare the second home tax in Munich yourself, even if no form arrives. The city treasury (Stadtkämmerei) can tell you which accommodation is affected and which exemptions apply to you. For a tax assessment of your individual case, your tax adviser is the right person to ask.

A quick word on flat hunting

Munich is one of the most expensive rental markets in Germany. The city’s Munich rent index for 2025 shows an average net rent excluding utilities of 15.38 euros per square metre (source: Mietspiegel für München 2025, City of Munich). This figure reflects both existing and new tenancies from recent years.

If you rent a flat today, you will usually pay considerably more than this average rent in Munich, especially in central locations and for small flats. Rents also vary widely between Munich neighbourhoods. When you rent an apartment in Munich, allow weeks to months for the search and expect plenty of competition at each viewing.

The city is divided into 25 districts. Lehel belongs to the Altstadt-Lehel district and is expensive, but you can walk into the city centre. Many newcomers to Munich first look for furnished apartments in Munich and get to know the neighbourhoods from there before committing to an open-ended tenancy.

If you are looking for a flat to rent in Munich, you need a complete application folder. Landlords almost always want to see: payslips from recent months, a Schufa credit report, a copy of your ID and often a Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung (confirmation from your previous landlord that you have no rent arrears). If you prepare this folder before you move, you can say yes straight away at viewings. For a flatshare in Munich, less is often enough.

Moving to Munich: checklist

A simple sequence helps when moving to Munich. This moving checklist focuses on the points related to housing and registering your address:

1. Sort out a temporary solution: hotel, boarding house or short-term flat for the first few weeks, and plan your journey from Munich Airport to the city centre or your arrival at the central station
2. Gather the documents for your flat search and plan viewings
3. Check the tenancy agreement and collect the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung when you move in
4. Book your registration appointment or register online immediately after moving in
5. Update your address with your employer, bank, health insurer and other insurers
6. Update your broadcasting licence fee (Rundfunkbeitrag) and, if applicable, your vehicle documents
7. If you have a secondary residence, remember to declare the second home tax

Registering your address in Munich costs nothing; the costs lie more in the move itself and in paying double rent during the transition. Companies often cover the first few weeks in an apartment for new employees, so ask about this before booking yourself.

Conclusion: plan early, book your appointment straight away

Three things matter for your Anmeldung in Munich: the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung when you move in, a quickly booked appointment at the Bürgerbüro, and whether you are living in an accommodation establishment or in a flat. If you bridge the first few months in a boarding house in Munich, you gain time for your flat search and register as soon as you have moved into your own home.

Frequently asked questions about the Anmeldung in Munich

How long do I have to register my address in Munich?

You must register within two weeks of moving in, as required by the Federal Registration Act. You cannot register before moving in.

Which documents do I need for my Anmeldung in Munich?

You need a valid ID card or passport and the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (landlord’s confirmation of residence) from your landlord. If someone registers on your behalf, they also need a power of attorney and the original ID documents.

Can I register my address in Munich online?

Yes, you can register your main residence online via the digital address registration service, usually with the online ID function and PIN. A secondary residence, however, has to be registered with an appointment at the Bürgerbüro.

How much does the Anmeldung in Munich cost?

Registering your address is free of charge. Fees may apply for other services, such as changing vehicle documents.

Do I have to register if I am staying in a hotel or boarding house?

In an accommodation establishment, the duty to register only applies after more than six months if you are already registered at another address in Germany. If you have no registered address in Germany, it applies after just three months.

Where can I get an appointment to register in Munich?

You book appointments for the City of Munich’s Bürgerbüros online via the city’s website. You are free to choose which Bürgerbüro you go to.

When is second home tax payable in Munich?

Second home tax is generally payable if you have a secondary residence in Munich. It is based on the annual net rent excluding utilities; the City of Munich publishes the current rate and any exemptions.

What happens if I register late?

If you miss the deadline without good reason, you risk a fine. So register as quickly as possible and book your appointment straight after moving in.