How Do I Register My Whole Family in Berlin?

You already know that registering your address in Berlin is step one on the list of things to do. But when you try to book online, there’s only space for one name when making an appointment. How are you supposed to register the whole crew?

Red Tape Translation often gets asked how to go about registering a whole family or household (you, your spouse / de facto partner / flatmate, plus any children).

Good news! You don’t need to make consecutive appointments for every member of the household.  One appointment is enough for everyone moving into the flat on the same date.   

While you can’t completely avoid having to go to the Bürgeramt in person, they do have a little flexibility here. Just make sure that:

• At least one person living in the apartment should be present at the appointment
• This person must be authorised to represent the other family members
• This person has all the documentation required registering everyone (including everyone’s passports),

This means the kids don’t have to be dragged along to the Bürgeramt, your partner can still go to her business meeting, and everyone wins!

If you’re registering for an absent person, it’s best to be prepared to the max! Bring

• Passports for everyone being registered (ALL passports, especially if they have more than one)
• Your marriage certificate if applicable
• The birth certificates of any children being registered
• The registration form
• The form from your landlord confirming that you’ve moved in
• A signed authorisation might be necessary in some cases (see below)

It’s a lot of paperwork to bring with you, but it’s very satisfying to be able to whip out the required document immediately when asked.

Having a Vollmacht (a signed authorisation) from any absent parties can also be a good idea, particularly if you have different surnames. Here is a template, just fill it out and take it with you.

The registration form has space for up to two people.  If you are registering more than 2 people at a time, you can print off additional copies of the registration form and present them together.  

For help filling in the registration form in advance, or to take a translator with you on the day, get in touch with Red Tape Translation. You can use our Telephone Time to go through the process over the phone or Skype.