Other cities have regional public offices scattered all over the place, but expat residents within the Munich city limits get most of their bureaucratic matters sorted in the one place. The KVR (Kreisverwaltungsreferat) is a big and imposing building on Rupperstr. 11, right near the Poccistraße U-Bahn. This is where you, a fresh new Munich resident, can go to register your new Munich apartment address (Anmeldung) and apply for a work and residency permit (Aufenthaltsgenehmigung, Aufenthaltstitel), among other things.
The office has come under criticism of late thanks to enormous waiting lines, software teething problems, and a severe staff shortage. Visitors and experts report that in many cases, the waiting numbers for everyday matters are all gone by 12pm for the rest of the day, with residents told to return at 7:30 the next morning.
Anyone wishing to get a work permit or register their address at the Bürgerbüro in Munich is well-advised to show up as early as possible (visitors recommend 6:30am nowadays!) and to take a really good book. And maybe some breakfast. Alternatively, you can book an appointment by e-mail for the foreigner’s office, although you might not get one for a while (reported waiting time for an appointment can be ca. 8 weeks).
While many of you Munich expats might be experiencing raised blood pressure and inexplicable rage while waiting in the long lines to get your visa or Meldebescheinigung, rest assured that expat Berliners have it much, much worse at the moment.
Whether you booked an appointment or not, If you’d like to take a German speaker with you to the KVR, have a chat to Red Tape Translation: we’ve just started up in Munich! A friendly bilingual interpreter can meet you at the Kreisverwaltungsreferat shortly before the doors open, or just before your appointment.
Cheers,
Kathleen Parker
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