Paperwork: the Anmeldung, forms and appointments
Register your address at the Bürgeramt, fill out a German form field by field, say that you have an appointment and ask for help at any office.
Living in Germany · Start from zero · 20 min · 20 exercises · Start from zero, Living in Germany, College
Germany runs on paper and appointments. In your first two weeks you must register your address, and soon after you will deal with health insurance, a bank and a letter about the Rundfunkbeitrag. None of this is hard once you know the words on the form and three sentences to say at the counter. This lesson gives you both.
Offices and documents
- das Bürgeramtdie Bürgerämtercitizens office (city office for registration)
- das Einwohnermeldeamtresidents registration officeanother name for the same office in many cities
- der Termindie TermineappointmentIch habe einen Termin.
- die Anmeldungaddress registrationwithin 14 days of moving in
- das Formulardie Formulareform
- der Reisepassdie Reisepässepassport
- die Wohnungsgeberbestätigunglandlord's confirmation that you live there
- die Unterschriftdie Unterschriftensignature
- die Krankenversicherunghealth insurancemandatory for everyone in Germany
- das Bankkontodie Bankkontenbank account
- die Steuer-IDtax ID numbersaid Steuer-ie-deh; it arrives by post
- der Rundfunkbeitragfee for public radio and TVone payment per household
- der Beamte, die Beamtinofficial, civil servant
Inside the platform every word is read aloud by a German voice.
At the Bürgeramt
Mariam registers her new address in Köln.
Three sentences for any office
At the counter, start with Ich habe einen Termin um 9:30 Uhr (einen, because Termin is masculine and is the object). Say what you want with Ich möchte mich anmelden (I would like to register) or Ich brauche + the thing: Ich brauche ein Formular. When you are lost, ask Können Sie mir helfen? (Can you help me?) or Können Sie das bitte wiederholen? Officials speak fast; it is normal to ask twice.
The fields of a German form
| Field on the form | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Vorname | first name | Mariam |
| Nachname / Familienname | last name | Haddad |
| Geburtsdatum | date of birth | 14.03.2004 (day.month.year) |
| Geburtsort | place of birth | Chicago |
| Staatsangehörigkeit | nationality | USA |
| Familienstand | marital status | ledig (single), verheiratet (married) |
| Anschrift | address | Rheinstraße 12 |
| Postleitzahl (PLZ) | postal code | 50667 |
| Ort | city, town | Köln |
| Datum | date (today) | 15.10.2026 |
| Unterschrift | signature | your signature, by hand |
Form words and verbs
- der Vornamedie Vornamenfirst name
- der Nachnamedie Nachnamenlast namealso der Familienname
- das Geburtsdatumdate of birth
- der Geburtsortplace of birth
- die Staatsangehörigkeitnationality
- die Anschriftdie Anschriftenaddress (on forms)in speech: die Adresse
- die Postleitzahldie Postleitzahlenpostal codePLZ for short, five digits
- die Hausnummerdie Hausnummernhouse number
- das Datumdateon a form: today's date
- ausfüllento fill outFüllen Sie das Formular aus.
- unterschreibento signUnterschreiben Sie hier, bitte.
- die Kopiedie Kopiencopy
Inside the platform every word is read aloud by a German voice.
The Anmeldung: your first appointment
Within 14 days of moving in, everyone in Germany must register their address: die Anmeldung. You do it at the Bürgeramt or Einwohnermeldeamt (the name changes from city to city, sometimes Bürgerbüro). Book a Termin online as early as you can; free slots are rare. Bring your Reisepass, the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (a form your landlord signs) and the filled-in Anmeldeformular. You leave with a Meldebescheinigung, and a few weeks later your Steuer-ID arrives by post. You need the Anmeldung for a bank account, a phone contract and a job.
Insurance, bank and the Rundfunkbeitrag
Health insurance (die Krankenversicherung) is mandatory for everyone who lives in Germany. Students pay a reduced rate at a public Krankenkasse and get a card to show at the doctor. For rent and salary you need a Bankkonto; bring your passport and the Meldebescheinigung. Every household also pays the Rundfunkbeitrag for public radio and television: around 18 euros a month per Wohnung, whether or not you own a TV. A WG pays once and shares it. The letter comes after the Anmeldung; students with BAföG can apply for an exemption.
German offices write letters. Put your name on the mailbox (der Briefkasten) on the day you move in, or the letter with your Steuer-ID goes back. Keep every letter and a copy (die Kopie) of every form you sign, and write the German date as day.month.year: 15.10.2026.
Der Termin is an appointment, not a term, and it always needs einen after haben: Ich habe einen Termin. On a form, Datum means today's date, not your birthday, and the order is day first: 03.07.2026 is July 3, not March 7. Finally, when you leave Germany for good, you must deregister: die Abmeldung.
The exercises of this lesson
20 corrected exercises in two sessions (discovery, practice), including listening items read aloud by a German voice: multiple choice (4), fill in the gap (5), matching (3), sorting (2), word order (1), translation (3), find the mistake (1), gap text (1). Every answer is corrected immediately, with the rule that applies.