Dortmund · Anmeldung

Register your address (Anmeldung) in Dortmund

Your Anmeldung — also called address registration, city registration or town hall registration in English — is the first official step after moving to Dortmund: you register your home address at the Bürgeramt and walk out with a registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung). You're legally meant to do it within 14 days of moving in, and almost everything that follows — tax ID, bank account, residence permit, even a phone contract — depends on it.

Free. The appointment itself takes ~10 minutes; the wait to get one is the hard part.

What you need to bring

Passport or national IDRequired
📋 Bring the original, not a copy
How to get it: Issued by your home country. Renew at your country's embassy or consulate in Germany — appointments can take weeks, so check the expiry early.
Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (landlord move-in confirmation)Required
📋 Bring the original, not a copy
Ask your landlord — they must provide it
How to get it: Your landlord (or main tenant if you sublet) must fill and sign it — they are legally required to. Most city websites offer the form as a PDF; bring the signed original.
Completed registration form (Anmeldeformular)Required
How to get it: Download from your city's website (search '<city> Anmeldung Formular') or pick it up at the Bürgeramt. Fill it in before the appointment to save time.
Marriage certificate (if registering a spouse)If applicable
📋 Bring the original, not a copy
How to get it: From the registry office (Standesamt) where you married, or your home country's authority. Foreign certificates often need a certified translation or apostille.
Birth certificates (if registering children)If applicable
📋 Bring the original, not a copy
How to get it: For a child born in Germany: the Standesamt of the birthplace issues it (the hospital sends the paperwork). For Elterngeld, ask for the special 'für Elterngeld' copy. Foreign certificates may need a certified translation.

Can you do it online?

Anmeldung is done in person — but you book the slot online. We've linked your city's Bürgeramt booking page below; book early, slots go fast in big cities.

What usually comes next

Good to know

You can only register once you've physically moved in — you need a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (move-in confirmation) signed by your landlord, who is legally obliged to provide it.
Fill in the registration form (Anmeldeformular / Anmeldung bei der Meldebehörde) before you go — most cities let you download and pre-fill it, which speeds up the counter visit. Amtly generates the right one for you.
No fixed address yet? Some people register at a temporary or friend's address first, but only with that person's signed confirmation — never invent one, it's a punishable offence.
Book the appointment the moment you have a move-in date; in the busiest cities the next free slot can be weeks away. Check the booking portal early in the morning when cancellations appear.
Bring the original Wohnungsgeberbestätigung and every family member's passport — clerks routinely turn people away for a missing document.

Frequently asked questions

Is Anmeldung the same as city registration or town hall registration in Dortmund?

Yes. 'Anmeldung' is the German word for registering your home address with the local authority (Bürgeramt / Einwohnermeldeamt) in Dortmund. English speakers often call it address registration, city registration or town hall registration — it's all the same process, and it produces your Meldebescheinigung.

Where do I get the Anmeldeformular (registration form) for Dortmund?

Most Dortmund Bürgerämter publish the Anmeldeformular as a PDF on the city's website, and many let you fill it in online before your appointment. You can also fill it on the spot, but pre-filling it speeds things up — the Amtly app produces the correct form and document checklist for you.

What happens if I miss the 14-day Anmeldung deadline in Dortmund?

You should still register as soon as possible. The 14-day rule is the legal target and late registration can in theory be fined, but in practice Dortmund offices rarely penalise a short delay caused by appointment scarcity — the bigger problem is that you can't get your tax ID, finish opening a bank account or extend a residence permit until the Anmeldung is done.

What do I need for Anmeldung in Dortmund?

You'll need 3 key documents: Passport or national ID, Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (landlord move-in confirmation), Completed registration form (Anmeldeformular). Dortmund and the wider Ruhr area share many North Rhine-Westphalia state portals, and appointments are usually quicker than in Cologne or Düsseldorf.

Can I do Anmeldung online in Dortmund?