North Rhine-Westphalia
New in Cologne (Köln)
Cologne's nine Kundenzentren take walk-ins on Mondays and Wednesdays and need an appointment on other days. At the Ausländeramt, district offices handle study, humanitarian and most settlement permits, while a central office on Dillenburger Straße handles the rest.
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Local instructions for Cologne
- Anmeldung in Cologne: Kundenzentren, walk-in days and bookingRegistering in Cologne (Köln): the nine Kundenzentren, walk-ins on Monday and Wednesday, booking for other days and why arrivals from abroad must attend.
- Residence permits in Cologne: Ausländeramt and district officesHow Cologne's Ausländeramt works: digital applications, bookable appointments at district offices since April 2026, the walk-in Infopoint and the work team.
Key offices
| Address registration | Kundenzentrum — Customer service centre — one in each of Cologne's nine districts Book an appointment ↗ |
|---|---|
| Online registration | Partly — only in some cases |
| Immigration office | Ausländeramt der Stadt Köln ↗ |
| Public transport | KVB (VRS network) ↗ |
- Walk in on Monday or Wednesday (expect to wait). On Tuesday, Thursday and Friday you need an appointment.
- You can use any Kundenzentrum in Cologne, whatever part of the city you live in.
- If you move from abroad, you must register in person. People moving within Germany can send someone with a power of attorney.
- Since 20 April 2026 you can book your own appointment at the district immigration offices (Bezirksausländerämter).
- The Infopoint at Dillenburger Straße 56 is an open service point you can visit without an appointment.
- Work-related permits and Blue Card matters go to the Arbeitsmigration team through the online contact form.
The national essentials
- Bank account · Girokonto (current account)How to open a bank account in Germany: online vs branch banks, opening without Anmeldung, ID checks, your right to a Basiskonto and why any EU IBAN must be accepted.
- Health insurance · Krankenversicherung (Krankenkasse)Health insurance is mandatory for everyone living in Germany. How public and private cover work, what employees pay in 2026, family cover and visa insurance.
- Tax ID (Steuer-ID) · Steuerliche Identifikationsnummer (IdNr, Steuer-ID)Your German tax ID is an 11-digit number sent by post after your first Anmeldung. When it arrives, how to request it again, and how it differs from the Steuernummer.
- Rundfunkbeitrag (GEZ) · Rundfunkbeitrag (formerly GEZ-Gebühr)Every household in Germany pays the Rundfunkbeitrag broadcasting fee: one fee per flat, not per person. Amount, registration, flat shares, exemptions, leaving.
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Official Cologne sources
Rules can change. These are the pages we checked — they have the final word. How we check facts