City guideBerlin

Moving to Berlin: Anmeldung, residence permit and first steps

Most people arriving in Berlin deal with the same handful of things in their first weeks: a place to live, registering that address, health insurance, a bank account, and — if you are not an EU citizen — a residence permit.

This page gathers what RechtX holds on the two offices behind those steps, with the official links and the date each entry was last checked. For the wider process, the guides and the personal plan walk through the order step by step.

Your personal plan Related guides

Anmeldung in Berlin

Registering your address at a Bürgeramt.

Authority

Bürgeramt Berlin

Official Berlin sources

Open official page
service.berlin.de
Book an appointment
service.berlin.de

Last checked: 18 August 2026

Documents to bring

Valid passport or national ID
Wohnungsgeberbestätigung signed by landlord
Completed Anmeldung form (Anmeldung bei einer Meldebehörde)
Marriage/birth certificates if registering family members

Fees

First issue:: Free of charge

Good to know

Registration must be completed within 14 days of moving in. Appointments at any Bürgeramt across Berlin districts are valid — not restricted to your home district. Online appointment slots are released throughout the day; check repeatedly if none appear.

Immigration authority in Berlin

Residence permits and appointments.

Authority

Landesamt für Einwanderung Berlin (LEA)

Official Berlin sources

Open official page
service.berlin.de
Book an appointment
otv.verwalt-berlin.de
Apply online
www.berlin.de
More official information
www.berlin.de

Last checked: 25 August 2026

How appointments work

You apply first, then the authority assigns an appointment

You cannot book the appointment yourself.

How to apply

Submit the relevant residence-permit application online. If an in-person appointment is required, the LEA contacts you and gives you an appointment.

What happens next

The LEA reviews the application and contacts you. If the application is successful and an in-person interview is needed, you receive an appointment.

If the authority does not respond

Use the LEA contact route for the relevant service. Do not wait for a public appointment calendar: the normal residence-permit application is not booked through one.

Address of the authority

Friedrich-Krause-Ufer 24, 13353 Berlin

Documents to bring

Valid passport
Biometric photo (35x45mm)
Proof of registered address (Meldebestätigung)
Proof of health insurance
Proof of financial means or employment contract
Purpose-specific documents (enrollment, work contract, family certificates)

Fees

First issue:: €100 (initial issuance, standard adult rate)
Renewal:: €96 (renewal/extension, standard adult rate)

Work rights

Work rights depend on the specific residence title issued. Check the Nebenbestimmungen (additional conditions) printed on your permit.

Good to know

Demand far exceeds available appointment slots. The LEA online portal (OTV) releases new slots at irregular times. If your current permit expires before a new appointment, request a Fiktionsbescheinigung via the contact form to bridge legal status.