By law, you must register your address within two weeks at the "Einwohnermeldeamt" or "Bürgeramt." You need to register in person with a prior appointment. If your new address is in Saarbrücken, go to the Bürgeramt (Bürgeramt City, Gerberstraße 4). If you live outside Saarbrücken, check which office is responsible for your area.
Typically, German is the main language in these offices and on the websites. If you are fluent in German, book an appointment at the Bürgeramt in Saarbrücken on https://terminvergabe.saarbruecken.de/. Select "Meldeangelegenheiten" and then "Wohnsitz-Anmeldung Zuzug aus dem Ausland" if this is your first flat after arriving from your home country. Every morning, new slots will be made available. Take the following documents to the appointment:
- ID or passport
- Visa (if applicable)
- Rental contract and the "Wohnungsgeberbescheinigung" signed by your landlord
- Marriage certificate or birth certificates of children if relevant. Ensure these certificates are displayed in at least one main European language (German, French, English, Spanish).
Walk-in without prior appointment is possible on Wednesdays between 7:30 and 11.30h. For students who are not profiecent in German, our student tutors will offer appointments and assist them in filling the forms beforehand. You will receive more details in the informational session/Welcome during the first week of the intensive German course.
Please note: registering your address is a prerequisite of opening a bank account and getting the residence permit (students with visa issues).
What is the Tax ID Number and what is it for?
After your first registration at the Residents’ Registration Office, a notification is sent to the Federal Central Tax Office. Your German Tax ID Number is then issued and sent via standard post to your registered address within approximately two weeks. The Tax ID Number is essential when opening a German bank account or working alongside your studies. Also, provide this number to your German health insurance.
Note: The Tax ID Number is different from the Tax Number ("Steuernummer"). When you submit a tax return in Germany, you will be issued a Tax Number by the local tax office ("Finanzamt") in your area.