When you move in together, the registration deadline for your address (Ummelden) is strict. Under the German Federal Registration Act (Bundesmeldegesetz), every person who takes up a dwelling must register with the registration office within two weeks of moving in. This guide explains who must register and when, how the main residence (Hauptwohnsitz) is determined, and which mistakes are typical when two people move together.
Kurz beantwortet: Anyone who takes up a dwelling must register with the registration office within two weeks of moving in (section 17(1) of the German Federal Registration Act). If you have several dwellings, one of them is your main residence, and a change of main residence must be reported within two weeks (section 21). Last updated: November 2026.
The most important points at a glance
- Registration is the duty of the person moving in. If two people move in, both must register.
- The deadline is two weeks from moving in, regardless of whether the move is already organised.
- Anyone who gives up a dwelling without taking up a new one in Germany must deregister within two weeks.
- Where you have several dwellings, one must be the main residence, which is the dwelling mainly used.
- A change of main residence must be reported within two weeks.
Who must register when moving in together?
The registration duty is linked to moving into a dwelling. Anyone who takes up a dwelling is obliged to register personally. If two people move together into a new flat, the duty applies to both. Registration offices often offer a joint registration for families and couples. Whether and how this is possible for you is a matter for the local office, so ask before you submit documents.
Children under 16 are usually registered by their legal guardians. For couples without children, there is no exception: each person registers separately. Someone who only visits a partner is not automatically obliged to register, as long as no dwelling is taken up.
Which deadlines apply when you change your address?
The deadlines are short, so it is worth looking at the sequence before the move. The table below shows the most common situations and the duty that applies to each.
| Situation | Duty | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Moving into a new dwelling | Registration with the registration office | 2 weeks after moving in (section 17(1)) |
| Moving out without a new dwelling in Germany | Deregistration with the registration office | 2 weeks after moving out (section 17(2)) |
| New dwelling becomes the main residence | Report the change of main residence | 2 weeks (section 21(4)) |
| Every registration or deregistration | State which dwelling is the main residence | each time (section 21(4)) |
Assumption: Anna and Ben move into a shared flat on 1 March. The two-week deadline then ends on 15 March. If Anna keeps a secondary residence in her old flat, she must state the main residence when the new flat becomes her main residence.
What is the main residence, and why does it matter?
If a person has several dwellings in Germany, one of them must be the main residence. The main residence is the dwelling that is mainly used. This is not necessarily the larger or the more expensive flat, but the one where most of everyday life takes place. The designation has practical effects, for example on post, on elections and on official matters where the registered address is requested.
It is important that the main residence is stated at every registration or deregistration. If you keep an old flat only on paper after moving in together, you should state the facts honestly. An incorrect statement can have consequences that go beyond a fine.
How does moving in together work step by step?
Good preparation prevents stress. The checklist below describes the typical sequence. The order matters more than the details, because the two-week deadline starts with the move.
- Before the move, decide which dwelling becomes the main residence and who registers when.
- Ask the landlord for the confirmation of moving in that many registration offices require.
- Register within two weeks of moving in. Use the online procedure if your municipality offers it.
- Deregister the old dwelling or change the main residence if the situation requires it.
- Afterwards tell insurers, your bank, your employer and your place of study the new address.
Registration with the registration office is the central duty. Other bodies usually learn the new address through their own forms or through notifications from the registration office. There is no guarantee that every body is informed automatically.
Which pitfalls arise when moving in together?
The most common mistakes happen when one person handles the move and the other assumes everything is done. Each person is responsible for their own registration. Anyone who is late risks a fine, because breaching the duty to register can be treated as a regulatory offence.
- The deadline runs from the actual move-in, not from the start of the tenancy agreement.
- A move across the turn of the year does not extend the deadline.
- Subletting or temporary letting does not change the duty if a dwelling is taken up.
- Receiving post at an address does not by itself mean you are registered there.
What does registering have to do with money?
At first sight, registration is not a money matter. It does affect many contracts, however, because insurers, banks and authorities compare registered addresses. If you do not update the address everywhere in time, payments may still go to the old address.
Shared households also raise the question of how costs are divided. Before you move in together, agree on rent, electricity and insurance. Our guide on a shared household budget (in German) helps with dividing costs fairly.
Frequently asked questions
Do I still have to register if I only live with my partner?
Anyone who takes up a dwelling must register. If you live permanently in your partner’s flat, you have taken it up and must register. The deadline begins with the move, not with a later decision to stay.
What happens if I miss the deadline?
A late registration can be treated as a regulatory offence. The registration office decides how to proceed. Late registration is generally still possible and should not be postponed.
Do I have to deregister my old flat?
Deregistration is needed if you leave a dwelling and do not take up a new one in Germany. If you move into a new flat, registering there is the main step. Whether the old flat stays as a secondary residence depends on whether you still use it.
What is a landlord confirmation of moving in?
The landlord confirmation certifies the move-in by the landlord. Many registration offices require it for registration. It is best to ask which documents your office needs.
Can two people choose one main residence?
Each person has a main residence of their own. Whether it is the same dwelling depends on where the person mainly lives. For couples with a shared household, this is usually the same flat.
What to do now
- Plan the move date so that you can meet the two-week deadline with certainty.
- Put the registration date in your calendar and prepare the documents.
- Inform all bodies of the new address as soon as the registration is complete.
Related reading
- Family, partnership and money: the overview for young adults
- A shared household budget: dividing costs fairly
- Living together unmarried: rights of couples without a marriage certificate (in German)
- Organising finances as a student: account, emergency fund and deadlines (in German)
Sources: Section 17 Federal Registration Act, registration and deregistration (in German, gesetze-im-internet.de) and Section 21 Federal Registration Act, several dwellings and main residence (in German, gesetze-im-internet.de).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
