Anmeldung in Hamburg: Hamburg Service vor Ort and the €16 fee

Where to go

Hamburg's registration offices are called Hamburg Service vor Ort. The German label for this service is Einwohnerangelegenheiten (resident matters). There are offices across all districts, from City and Altona to Harburg, Bergedorf and Wandsbek.

If you move to Hamburg from abroad, there is no special office for foreigners. You use one of the regular registration locations.

How to book

• Online: use the online appointment booking linked from Hamburg's service pages.
• By phone: call 115.

Hamburg's pages describe registration as an appointment-based service. The appointment itself is short: the city gives 15 to 20 minutes for a move from abroad.

Hamburg charges a fee

This is the main local difference from the national guide:

The fee is based on Hamburg's own fee regulation for registration matters (MeldeGebO). Bring a way to pay.

Arriving from abroad: everyone attends

For a move to Hamburg from abroad, you and every person moving in with you must appear in person at the appointment. Make sure your booking covers everyone who is moving in.

Hamburg's list of documents for arrivals from abroad also includes original civil status documents (birth and marriage certificates) where relevant. Documents in a foreign language need a certified translation. If you move into a home you own, bring the purchase contract or a land register extract.

Online registration

The free online service (through the federal eWA portal) is only for people who hold a German ID card or an eID card with online function and are moving within Germany. People arriving from abroad must register in person, as described above.

Hamburg at a glance