Moving within Germany: the internal relocation checklist

The internal move stack: 2-week Ummeldung, which contracts transfer vs terminate (internet's special right!), forwarding mail and the double-rent bridge math.

Last updated: July 13, 2026

What must you do when moving cities in Germany?

Ummeldung (re-registration) at the NEW city's Bürgeramt within 2 weeks - same documents as Anmeldung. Contracts split three ways: internet gets a special termination right if the provider can't serve the new address, energy terminates with 2-week notice OR transfers, and everything else (insurance, bank, Rundfunkbeitrag) just needs the address update.

What this guide covers

The contract triage (the money layer)The execution stack City-switch extras

The contract triage (the money layer)

Contract	Action	Note
Internet	Provider-serviceable at new address? Transfers (often with re-promo negotiation leverage). Not serviceable? SONDERKÜNDIGUNG with 1 month notice - the law's gift (guide)	The switch-vs-transfer decision is a fresh-promo opportunity either way
Energy	New meter = new contract world: terminate old (move-out special right/2 weeks Grundversorgung logic) + sign new for the new address) - meter photos both ends!	The bonus-hunting reset
Krankenkasse, bank, insurances	Address update only (apps, minutes)	Hausrat: notify BEFORE the move (coverage transition clauses - contents guide)
Rundfunkbeitrag	Address update (the fee follows)	Guide
Rent old flat	Your 3-month notice ran already, right? (rental guide's timing)	The double-rent bridge month is normal - budget it
Amt-side	Ummeldung handles the registers; cars need re-registration at the new district (plates optionally keepable now!) ⚠️ Kfz rules	Kita/school transfers are their own campaign (guides)

The execution stack

Nachsendeauftrag (Post forwarding, ~€30/year - the safety net for everything forgotten), the Umzugsmitteilung services that mass-notify ⚠️ privacy trade, van routes: Sirelo-class quotes), and the Übergabeprotokoll BOTH ends (deposit defense old flat, baseline new - rental guide).

City-switch extras

New city = new Bürgeramt appointment game (the city guides' tactics), possibly new state = subtly different rules (Kita costs! holidays! school systems - the federalism tour), Hausarzt/dentist re-recruitment (doctors guide's playbook), and the social restart the integration guides frame honestly: the Verein method works in every postcode.

Frequently asked questions

Ummeldung online?

Same story as Anmeldung - pilots exist, in-person remains the default ⚠️ per-city.

Keep my old Krankenkasse/bank nationwide?

Yes - both are federal; only regional AOKs technically re-map (switching guide's moment?).

Landlord reference for the new application?

The Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung request goes out with your notice letter (hunting guide's folder).

Moving costs tax-deductible?

Job-related moves: the Umzugskostenpauschale + actuals (tax guide) - another receipt-folder argument.

Related guides

Keep going: these guides continue where this one ends.