Registration at the municipality
Within two weeks of moving into your residence in Germany, you are required to register with the respective regional municipality (Bürgerdienst). Generally, you have two options: either schedule an appointment, with available slots usually offered for the following month, or visit during walk-in hours and wait your turn. More details regarding the schedules of each municipality and how to make an appointment can be found here:
https://www.mannheim.de/de/service-bieten/buergerdienste/buergerservice
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The documents you need to register at the local municipality include
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The documents you need to register at the municipality are:
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1. Personal ID (Lichna karta).
2. Rental contract (Mietvertrag).
3. Confirmation of your move-in (Einzugsnachweis/Wohnungsgeberbestätigung), which is issued by the landlord of your apartment. If you're in a state-owned dormitory, you'll receive this from the property manager (Hausmeister). -
Please make sure that your name and room number are clearly indicated on your mailbox. In Germany, most communication with institutions and banks is done through postal mail, so regularly checking your mailbox is important.
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Additionally, after a successful registration (Anmeldung) with the municipality, you will receive your Steuer ID Nummer by mail. This is your personal identification number in Germany and is required for various purposes, including opening a bank account and entering into employment contracts.
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Radio and Television License Fee (Rundfunkbeitrag)
The Rundfunkbeitrag is mandatory for everyone registered at an address in Germany. This tax is intended to support public media and ensure their independence from private sponsors.
The current rate is 18.36 euros per month in 2023.
After registering at the municipality, you will receive a letter containing your personal identification number associated with this tax and an invitation to pay it.
If you live in a shared housing situation where multiple people share common areas, check with your housemates to see if someone is already paying the fee for the entire residence. In such a case, you can simply be added to the respective household and split the 18.36 euros equally with your fellow residents.
For more information about this tax, you can visit the following website: https://www.rundfunkbeitrag.de/