Registration and residence
Meldebescheinigung
Registration certificate
Last updated: September 28, 2026
What does Meldebescheinigung mean?
A Meldebescheinigung (also Anmeldebestätigung) is the official certificate proving where you are registered. You get it at your Anmeldung. Banks, employers, the Ausländerbehörde and many contracts ask for it. If you lose it, the Bürgeramt issues a new one, sometimes for a small fee.
Key facts
| Issued at | Your Anmeldung at the Bürgeramt |
| Also called | Anmeldebestätigung, Meldebestätigung |
| Needed for | Bank account, residence permit, many contracts |
| Different document with the same name | Your employer's social insurance Meldebescheinigung |
What to do
- Keep the original from your Anmeldung safe and scan it.
- Need a fresh one? Request an 'erweiterte' or 'einfache Meldebescheinigung' at any Bürgeramt of your city, or online where offered.
- Check the names and dates carefully: errors cause trouble later with the tax office or residence permit.
Worth knowing
Confusingly, your employer also sends you a 'Meldebescheinigung zur Sozialversicherung' each year. That one shows your social insurance number and earnings, not your address.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a new Meldebescheinigung?
At any Bürgeramt of your city, or online in cities that offer it. Bring your ID. Some cities charge a small fee for a new copy.
Is the Meldebescheinigung the same as the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung?
No. The Wohnungsgeberbestätigung is the landlord's confirmation you bring to the Anmeldung; the Meldebescheinigung is what the Bürgeramt gives you afterwards.
Read next
Sources
More German terms: registration and residence
Plain-English explanations of the words on your letters and forms.