Buying a registration address in Germany

People arriving in Germany usually need to register their address for everyday administration. Housing shortages, temporary accommodation and appointment delays can make this difficult. Some people respond by offering a paid address and a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (landlord confirmation), even though the customer will not live there.

This is not a safe shortcut. Registration in Germany is based on actually moving into a home. A document saying you moved into a place you did not move into can cause legal problems.

The seller may advertise an "Anmeldung address", a "registration package" or a "Wohnungsgeberbestätigung" in a student group or messaging channel. They may promise that you can register at a flat, office or shared address without living there. Some ask for payment before sending a document; others claim the arrangement is routine and will not be checked.

The key question is not whether the document looks real. It is whether the stated move-in is real, and whether the person issuing the confirmation is entitled to do so.

Under § 19 BMG, the housing provider (Wohnungsgeber) or a person they authorise confirms your move-in. Only they may issue this confirmation.

§ 19(6) BMG prohibits offering or providing a residential address for registration when the other person neither actually moves in nor intends to. Under § 54 BMG, offering or providing such an address is an administrative offence with a fine of up to €50,000. This maximum applies to the person who offers or provides the address. It is not an automatic €50,000 penalty for everyone who answers such an offer.