Change of main residence

  • Short text

    • Change in the status of the flat
    • Any change to your main residence (for example, if your previous secondary residence is now used as your main residence and your previous main residence is now used as a secondary residence) must be reported to the relevant registration authority.
    • The registration office for your new main residence is responsible for this.

  • Full text

    If you own several properties in Germany and the status of one of your properties has changed (your main residence is now being used as a secondary residence, or a secondary residence is now being used as your main residence, without you having moved into a new property or out of a previous one), then you are obliged to notify the relevant registration authority of this.

    The main residence is:

    • If you are married or in a civil partnership: the main home of the family or civil partnership. This also applies if you are living apart from your family or civil partner only temporarily.
    • If you are married or in a civil partnership and live permanently apart: your main residence.
    • If you are a minor: the main residence of your parents or foster parents. If they live apart, your main residence is the home where you live most of the time.
    • Only where it is not possible to determine beyond doubt which flat is the main one used should the focus be on the centre of one’s social life. Indicators of this include, for example, the type of flat, personal ties, social and local political activities, and membership of clubs and other organisations.

    At the same time, you are required to inform the registration authority of any other dwellings (secondary residences) you own in Germany, in addition to your main residence.

    A secondary residence is any additional property within the country. You may therefore have one main residence and several secondary residences.

  • Legal basis(s)

  • Required documents

    Please bring a form of identification (such as an identity card or passport, to prove your identity and to update your address details).

  • Prerequisites

    They own several flats in Germany.

    You will use your previous main residence as a secondary residence, or your previous secondary residence as your main residence.

  • Costs (fees, expenses, etc.)

    none

  • Procedure

    You are required to appear in person at the relevant registration office.

  • Processing time

    None (the change of status is entered directly into the register of residents at the registration office)

  • Deadlines

    You are required to notify the relevant registration authority of any change in the status of your flat within two weeks.

    The period begins on the day on which the move from the previous home took place.

  • Forms/written form requirement

    Some registration authorities provide forms online.

    • Online procedure possible: generally no
    • Written form required: possible
    • Personal attendance required: generally yes

    If the registration office in your place of residence has set up an online portal for registration matters, you may submit the required information via this portal using a qualified electronic signature in accordance with the Electronic Signatures Act.

  • Further information

  • Author

    Forwarding service: Deep link to the source portal Forwarding service: Deep link to the source portal

  • Responsible office

    The registration authority of the independent city/municipality/administrative district within whose local jurisdiction the new main residence is situated


Responsible departments

Responsible employees