Moving plans · Address and paperwork

Address changes after moving in Germany

A new home means several separate updates: your residence registration, the address used for important letters and the details held by each service provider. Keep these tasks distinct and record which changes have actually been confirmed.

umzughilfen.de editorial team · Updated 24/09/2026

Illustration: Laptop, envelopes and keys for planning after a move. Not a customer reference.

1. Identify the recipients before ticking off tasks

Start a shared household list. Record the actual move-in date, old and new addresses and everyone who is moving. Add customer numbers, case references and the intended notification method. Where household members hold separate contracts, check each person’s accounts.

Prioritise deadlines, essential services and important payments, then work through other accounts. Treat an update as complete when it is visible in the account or confirmed, rather than simply when the message has been sent.

When	Task	What to record
Before the move	Plan appointments, utilities and post; contact relevant benefit offices	Move-in date, contract references and unanswered questions
At move-in	Check names on the letterbox and doorbell; record meters	Photos, meter numbers and handover date
After move-in	Register the residence and update other records	Submission receipts and confirmations
At follow-up	Review unanswered messages, next bills and delivery addresses	Responsible person and your own follow-up date

2. Register the residence and prepare your documents

For an ordinary move-in, section 17 BMG requires registration with the local registration authority within two weeks. When moving within Germany, you generally do not need to deregister separately at the previous address.

You will need a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung, the housing provider’s confirmation of occupancy. It identifies the home, move-in date and people moving in. Request it early; the tenancy agreement alone does not replace it. If it is missing, contact the registration authority promptly.

The federal service portal also covers moves within the same municipality. Ask your new municipality which identity documents, forms or authorisations are needed and whether electronic registration is available to you. Check any required updates to identity documents at the same time.

Match the move-in date to the housing provider’s confirmation.
Include every person moving and their required identity documents.
If appointments are unavailable, contact the authority early about the appropriate procedure.
Keep the completed registration confirmation accessible.

3. Work through your address-change checklist

This list covers common situations. Cross out organisations with which you have no contract or benefit relationship. Include annual subscriptions and accounts managed by someone else in the household.

Changing a billing address does not necessarily update a service location, delivery address or order already placed. Check each field separately.

Organisation or account	What to check or update	Useful reference
Employer / HR	Address for documents and personnel records	Employee number
Banks, cards and payment services	Contact and billing address for each account	Customer number or secure login
Health and care insurance	Contact details of affected insured people	Insurance number
Other insurers	Address; discuss the new home for contents insurance	Policy number and moving date
Electricity, gas, water / property management	Contract address and supply location separately	Customer and meter numbers
Broadband, landline and mobile	Connection transfer and billing address separately	Contract number
Broadcasting contribution service	Contribution account and new household situation	Beitragsnummer
Familienkasse	Notify the new address directly	Kindergeld reference
Employment Agency / Jobcenter / other benefit offices	Check each office responsible for your benefits	Customer or case reference
Vehicle registration authority	Update vehicle registration after changing residence	Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I
Tax office / tax adviser	Check the procedure for ongoing cases or business activities	Tax or case reference
Immigration authority, where relevant	Ask about responsibility and document updates	Case reference
School, childcare, university and clubs	Contact address and any changes to journeys	Membership or student details
Medical practices and ongoing care providers	Address for letters and appointments	Name and agreed contact channel
Landlord / property management	Forwarding address for later statements	Previous tenancy details
Shops, subscriptions and delivery services	Billing, delivery addresses and pending orders	Account and order number
Friends and family	New address and name on the letterbox	Your chosen personal contact channel

Federal service portal: vehicle registration after an address change

4. Deal with utilities and connections separately

Electricity supplier changes cannot be backdated. The technical 24-hour switching rule does not replace contractual notice periods. Arrange the contract before taking electricity and obtain confirmation of the supply start.

Keep separate records for the old and new homes. Group each contract with its meter number, handover date, reading and contact person. This helps distinguish a final bill for the old property from an unresolved registration at the new one.

Ask the broadband provider early about availability, the transfer date and any engineer visit. An updated address in your account does not itself confirm that the connection will work. Agree on a reachable contact for the appointment.

Bundesnetzagentur: electricity supplier changes and contract start

5. Use mail forwarding as an additional safeguard

Deutsche Post specifies at least five working days’ lead time for mail forwarding. Include all relevant people and check which types of mail are excluded.

Notify important senders directly as well. Check saved delivery addresses before placing an order. For a shipment already in progress, ask the retailer whether a change is still possible.

When the first letters arrive at your new home, check the spelling and addressee. A forwarded letter is a useful reminder to review the sender’s records.

Deutsche Post: mail forwarding and processing time

6. Handle benefit offices and the contribution account individually

Familienkasse requires direct notification of your new address. Informing the registration office, Jobcenter or Employment Agency does not fulfil this requirement.

If you receive unemployment benefit, tell the Employment Agency about the planned move in good time. If the Jobcenter is also responsible for benefits, notify it too. Keep the case references separate.

The broadcasting contribution number belongs to the paying person. If you continue paying, report the new address. If someone already pays for the new shared home, check deregistration of your previous account using that person’s contribution details.

For children, also check school, childcare, club memberships and ongoing appointments. Decide who will contact each organisation. Updating an address and obtaining a school or childcare place are separate processes.

7. Track submissions and confirmations separately

Copy this structure into your own notes or spreadsheet. Keep “sent” and “confirmed” separate. A follow-up date you choose is an organisational reminder, not a statutory deadline.

A free-text notification usually needs a clear subject, the relevant contract reference, old and new addresses and the effective date. Request confirmation. Use the organisation’s designated secure channel and provide only the evidence it actually requires.

Open the customer account and check the address.
Match each response to the correct contract.
Check the new billing address against the next bill.
Follow up unanswered questions individually and retain the submission receipt.

Recipient / case	Sent on / via	Confirmed on	Outstanding item / next step
One row per authority or contract	Date and portal, letter or other designated channel	Date or visible account update	Question and your follow-up date
Separate entries for different people	File the receipt with the right case	Check the names and effective date	Name the household member responsible

8. Review the list before closing it

Review the list together: which changes are confirmed, which need a reply and who owns the next step? Check the first bill and delivery carefully. File the evidence so that you can answer a later query without searching through every message.

Residence registration and required document updates completed.
Utilities and connection arrangements confirmed.
Benefit offices and Familienkasse contacted where applicable.
Letterbox, open orders and customer accounts checked.
Every missing confirmation has a next action.

Frequently asked questions

Does the registration office inform every company automatically?

No. Keep your own recipient list and notify your contract providers. Then check their account records and confirmations.

Do I need to register after moving within the same town?

Yes, the new residence still needs to be registered. Ask your municipality about appointments, documents and online options.

Is mail forwarding enough?

No. Forwarding provides additional help with post. Customer accounts, benefit offices and delivery addresses need to be checked and updated separately.

Does every family member need to make the same notifications?

Check the people and contract holders for each case. A joint bank account, separate insurance policies and a family benefit may be linked to different people.

Official sources and review date

Reviewed on 24 September 2026. This editorial checklist covers an ordinary residential move within Germany. The relevant recipients depend on your contracts, benefits and documents. Check local procedures and individual requirements with the responsible organisation.