Anmeldung

One important step when you get a permanent place to reside in Berlin is to register your address (Anmeldung) with the local government (Bürgeramt) who will give you a certificate. This is also the case when you move within Berlin or Germany in general. Officially, the Anmeldung should be done within the first two weeks of moving to the new address but it is not always possible to get an appointment that quickly. It is recognized that it can take time to get an appointment and there are not usually any problems so long as the Anmeldung is done as soon as possible. The registration is needed for many other things, such as getting a residency permit, opening a German bank account and the university needs to see this when you change address.

The registration is free of cost in Berlin. Please note that most of the homepages of the registration offices as well as the registration forms are in German only. A list of registration offices including their address and opening times can be found online https://service.berlin.de/standorte/buergeraemter/. You must book an appointment and attend in person. The necessary forms are available from the registration office or downloadable as a PDF file from the information page.

The registration at the registration office (Bürgeramt) is usually done immediately if all documents are presented. You will be given a written form by the Bürgeramt immediately after your registration is completed (Meldebestätigung). It is a good idea to make a copy to keep at home and have one version inside your passport, to keep it safe!

For more information on how to do the Anmeldung and what to bring along, the website of All About Berlin gives some great information here: https://allaboutberlin.com/guides/anmeldung-in-english-berlin 

Searching for accommodation in Berlin can take time and may be challenging. Depending on your needs, being open to living further away from the university can open up many opportunities. The Semester Ticket enables you to travel both within and beyond Berlin.

Renting a temporary accommodation within Berlin will help you to attend viewings on a shorter notice which gives you more chances to find something.

To help you with your search, we have listed in this guide some common abbreviations to look out for when renting and some resources of where to start your search. Additionally, keep an eye on the Bulletin Board in MS Teams for leads. You can find some useful information on what you need to rent, more resources and useful hints and tips here: https://allaboutberlin.com/guides/find-a-flat-in-berlin 

The TV tax (Rundfunkbeitrag) is a mandatory public broadcasting tax. The TV tax is collected by the ARD ZDF Deutschland Radio Beitragsservice. You might also come across its old name GEZ (Gebühreneinzugszentrale). Each household is required to pay but if you live with other people, only one person has to pay the TV tax. One exception is some student housing, where each room is treated as an individual address. In those cases, each room will pay their own TV tax. 

It is a mandatory payment and the Beitragsservice will get a collection agency involved if you don’t pay which is more expensive in the long run. When you register your address (Anmeldung), the local government (Bürgeramt) will inform the Beitragsservice and you will receive a letter. If you live with other people, you will need to inform the service to deregister. Additionally, students who receive the financial aid BAföG can register for an exemption. You can read more about the TV Tax, how to make payments and how to stop paying here: 

https://allaboutberlin.com/guides/gez-rundfunkbeitrag