Registering

It is very important that you have a permanent residence in Berlin. That means, you either have a room in a hall of residence or a shared flat, live on your own or are staying with a friend. With this address you are required to register at a Local Registration Office (Bürgeramt) as citizen of Berlin. It is only with this registration that you will be able to matriculate at HU and complete all the necessary paperwork.

Local Registration

Registration should be completed as soon as possible once you have moved into a room or an apartment. The following documents are necessary:

  1. Identity card or passport
  2. Registration form „Anmeldung Wohnung“ (PDF)
    www.berlin.de/formularserver/formular.php?402608
    Fill out the registration form and sign it.
    The sample form with an English translation may help you:
    hu.berlin/orbis-local-registration-sample
  3. Confirmation of arrival from landlord
    Within two weeks of moving into your apartment, you must have a confirmation of arrival (Einzugsbestätigung) signed by your landlord. This document must contain the full name and address of your landlord, your move-in date, the address of the apartment and the full name(s) of the person(s) registering at that address. Important: The rental contract is not a substitute for this form.
    Sample form: www.berlin.de/formularserver/formular.php?402544.
     

For a personal visit to the Local Registration Office, book an appointment in advance online: https://service.berlin.de/terminvereinbarung/termin/day. You can use any of the 40 Local Registration Offices to register, no matter where you live. For addresses and opening hours, see: https://service.berlin.de/standorte/buergeraemter

For comprehensive information, see: https://service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/120686

Please keep your registration form on file, you will need it for several purposes, such as the opening of a bank account. Also, you must deregister (Abmeldung) at the end of your stay in Berlin: https://service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/120335.

Staying in Germany/Free Movement

EU citizens, students from Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein enjoy the right of free movement. They can stay in Germany without further arrangements for the duration of their studies.

Swiss citizens enjoy a similar right of free movement, but need to apply for a residence permit from the Foreigners’ Registration Office (Aufenthaltserlaubnis-Schweiz). Everyone else, so-called Drittstaatler, will also have to apply for a residence permit at the Foreigners’ Registration Office.