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Residence; notification of change of main residence
If you have and live in several apartments in Germany, one apartment is your main residence and all other apartments are secondary residences. You must inform the registration office which apartments you have and which of them is your main or secondary residence.
Responsible for you
For contact details of the responsible authoritiy and local valid information select under "Select location" a location.
Procedure details
Description
If you have several residences in Germany, the registration law distinguishes between a main residence and a secondary residence. Homes abroad are not taken into account when determining main and secondary residences, even if they would objectively meet the criteria of a main residence.
The main residence of single persons is the residence that is predominantly used by them in the course of a year. If the comparison of the periods of residence in the respective dwellings does not lead to a clear result, it depends on where the focus of your living relationships lies. Key criteria for this can be The type of home, personal ties or social activities (e.g. membership in clubs and other organizations).
The main residence of a married person or a person living in a registered civil partnership is the home primarily used by the spouse or civil partner or the family.
In the case of married persons or persons living in a registered civil partnership who are permanently separated, the same criteria apply as for single persons.
In the case of minors, the main residence is the home primarily used by the person with custody. If they live separately, the main residence is the home of the person with custody that is predominantly used by the minor. If a corresponding application is made, this also applies to persons up to the age of 25 who live in an institution for disabled persons. In cases of doubt, the predominantly used home is where the main focus of the living relationships is located.
Requirements
You have at least two homes in Germany.
The decisive criteria for determining a main or secondary residence may be, in addition to the period of use: Age, marital status, place of work, family ties, the focus of living relationships.
The final decision is made by the registration authority, which will check the information you have provided if necessary.
Required documents
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if applicable, employer's confirmation of working hours (stay at the place)
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If applicable, driver's logbook
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if applicable, further (personal) documents that allow an assessment of which dwelling is predominantly used
Fees
none
Deadlines
If your main residence changes, you must notify the registration authority responsible for the new main residence within two weeks of this change.
Legal bases
Related issues
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Inland navigation operators and seafarers; registration
If you are moving to an inland waterway vessel, you must register. As the owner of an ocean-going vessel, you must register and deregister the captain and crew members.
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Residence; registration
If you move into an apartment, you must register with the relevant registration authority (municipality, town or administrative community) within two weeks of moving in.
Status: 22.07.2025
Editorially responsible for prodecure description: Bayerisches Staatsministerium des Innern, für Sport und Integration
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