The Ausländerbehörde in Berlin is a special place. Among other special nicknames, it has been described as “the most miserable place in Berlin”, “the place of shattered dreams” and “inefficient government bureaucracy at its finest”. Above all, though, getting acquainted with its tightly-closed-up windows, flashing neon boards and slightly-off key announcement bells is inevitable. So embrace it and do it right. Here’s how to save time, avoid stress and leave with a shiny new visa or permit.
Tag Archive: appointment booking berlin
Tips for Booking Appointments Online in Berlin
Great news from the Bürgeramt! 2017 has brought with it a wave of days marked in blue on the online calendar – that means you can even get same-day appointments at registration offices across Berlin! Get clicking!
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).
Relief is in Sight at the Bürgeramt: Registering Your Address in Berlin
Hallelujah! This article from the Berliner Morgenpost almost brought tears to my eyes. There’s a new telephone number in town, and it’s a one-way ticket to a fast-tracked appointment at the Bürgeramt in Berlin. No more 8 week waiting, now you can even get next-day appointments.
We just tried it. It works!
No Appointments Left at the Bürgerämter for the Rest of 2015
Just read an interesting article in the Berliner Morgenpost about the current state of Berlin’s Bürgerämter. There are over 40 of them in Berlin, and you can visit any of them to do things like register your address in Berlin, get your driver’s license swapped over for a German one, or request a certificate of good standing (Führungszeugnis). Unfortunately, they are suffering from severe understaffing. This means you won’t get an appointment for the rest of 2015.
Important News About Registering Your Address in Berlin
We already know about the appointment crisis in Berlin, and it’s not really getting any better. But here’s some new information I’ll bet you didn’t know about registering your address: from 1 November 2015, the process has changed slightly. You’ll need to take an extra piece of paper with you.
From the berlin.de website:
Bei Vorsprache ab dem 01.11.2015 zusätzlich: Einzugsbestätigung des Wohnungsgebers (Vermieter)
Introducing the Price Cap at the Berlin Ausländerbehörde
I’ve noticed over the past couple of weeks that waiting in line has become a real drag at the Ausländerbehörde. Take a number, and you might be waiting for the better part of a day. It’s always a relief to have an interpreter with you, and it’s important they get paid for their time, however, after a few hours of sitting and waiting, it’s hard to stop fretting about how much money you’re giving out. Fair enough. Here’s my solution.
I Can’t Get An Appointment to Register My Address in Berlin?!
There have been lots of changes in the way Berlin public offices operate over the last few years, months, and even weeks. In the good old days, you arrived in Berlin, rocked up to your closest Bürgeramt and registered your address. It might have been a bit of a wait, but you usually left after an hour or two with that coveted piece of paper in your hands. Those days are over. There is such a massive demand for appointments in Berlin, many of the Bürgerämter in Berlin have now changed their status to “appointment only”. If you show up without one, you often get turned away.
Leaving Berlin Behind?
Red Tape Translation recently helped some clients leave their Berlin lives behind and start anew. Though I’m always sad to see a friendly face move away, I was ready to take on the task of tying up all the loose ends before the family skipped the border and settled down in the Netherlands. It certainly wasn’t simple.
How to Register Your Address in Berlin
Visa Loophole or IT Glitch? Booking Appointments at the Ausländerbehörde in Berlin
Red Tape Translation received an interesting question about booking appointments at the Ausländerbehörde (LABO), and we thought we’d throw it out there for discussion.
An American citizen was not able to get an appointment before his current permit expired. Those pesky appointment times go like hotcakes, and sometimes, there isn’t one available for 6-8 weeks.
Luckily, that’s not such a huge problem. If you can’t get an appointment before your current permit runs out, your current permit will remain valid until the date of your appointment. Whatever working conditions currently apply to you will also apply until your appointment. All you have to do is print out the appointment confirmation and carry it around with your passport, should anyone ask. You can read that on the official LABO website here.
Moving to Berlin?
Moving to Berlin? Red Tape Translation has resources at hand to help you with the culture shock. Check out our Resources page for free PDF downloads and videos.