 | Administrative Offices in Berlin |
Contact information for the national and local administrative centres of Germany and Berlin, including where to go for residency papers, vehicle registration, driving licences and more.
Germany has an extensive list of national and regional authorities. For foreigners living in the country, the most important requirements are the proof of residence permit and the working visa. These documents are required for a number of reasons, the most important being to work legally and to open a bank account. The proof of residence permit is also required for less important, but nonetheless
useful tasks such as joining a video store or renting a moving van.
These two documents can be obtained from regional branches of the following offices:
- Landeseinwohnemeldeamt: Residence permit authority
- Ausländerbehörde: Foreigners registration office (Citizens from the EU Member States no longer have to register as a foreigner in Germany)
The main offices in Berlin are:
- Central Office for Inhabitant Affairs (Zentrale Einwohnerangelegenheiten)
Landesamt für
Bürger- und Ordnungsangelegenheiten, Abteilung II - Einwohnerwesen
At:
Friedrichstr. 219, 10958 Berlin
Tel: 030 902 692 000
Fax: 030 902 692 095
e-mail
- Regional Foreign Affairs Department (Landesamt für
Bürger- und Ordnungsangelegenheiten)
Ausländerbehörde (Abteilung IV)
At:
Friedrich-Krause-Ufer 24, 13353 Berlin
Tel: 030 902 690
Open: Monday and Tuesday 07:00-14:00, Thursday 10:00-18:00; closed on Wednesday and Friday
e-mail
Website (for information on arranging an appointment)
Everyone living in Germany has to
register at the nearest registration office (Meldeamt) to get their official registration
document (polizeiliche Anmeldung). Citizens moving address within Germany must
re-register with the new local office which will automatically inform the previous
one. When leaving Germany, citizens and residents need to deregister.
- To find the nearest registration office (Meldeamt) in Berlin: Click
here
"Welcome to Berlin" New Residents' Paperwork
Berlin city has published an extensive and comprehensive "welcome
manual" with information and relevant addresses to assist newcomers seeking
residence and work in Berlin.
- Welcome to Berlin is available online in English: Click
here (PDF)
- The forms required to begin the process of immigration and residence (Zuwanderung
und Aufenthalt - Ausländerbehörde) are available online: Click
here (in German)
- The Application for Visa or Residence Permit (non-EU) is available
in English: Click
here
- For further information on residency see AngloINFO INFOrmation Page: Residency
in Germany
Principal Offices & Authorities
All other major offices and authorities required by foreign residents and visitors to the country along with a description of the main services offered can be summed up as follows:
| Office |
English |
What it does |
|
Amtsgericht |
Local court |
Deals with court cases and legal disputes, such as non-payment of flat deposit, motoring
accidents and so on |
|
Arbeitsamt |
Employment office |
Assistance and support in the workplace for the unemployed and freelancers |
|
Bezirksamt |
District authority |
Day-to-day administration for each local district |
|
Bürgeramt |
Citizens Office |
Provides services for citizens which include person and flat registration as
well as car registration. The residence permit and foreigners registration
office can often be found within the same building |
|
Finanzamt |
Inland Revenue office |
For all revenue and tax questions (district specific, depending on
residential address) |
|
Gesundheitsamt |
Health authority |
Assistance for the disabled, mentally ill and senior citizens as well as pest control and other potential health hazards |
|
Sozialamt |
Social services department |
Previously handed out social benefits which the Arbeitsamt has now taken over |
|
Standesamt |
Registry office |
For weddings and divorces |
|
Umweltamt |
Environmental authority |
Local and national environmental problems, including emissions. Car emissions have to follow the Umweltamt's
vehicle roadworthiness guidelines |
|
Wohnungsamt |
Housing office |
Organises social contributions for rent and housing |
The Berlin Senate
Berlin also has eight senate departments which oversee various sections of society throughout the region. For more detailed information on specific issues, contact the relevant Senate department:
| Senate Department |
Address |
Telephone |
|
Town Hall
(Senatskanzelei) |
At: Berliner Rathaus, 10173 Berlin-Mitte |
Tel: 030 902 60
Fax: 030 9026 2013 |
|
Senate Justice Department |
At: Salzburgerstr. 21-25, 10825 Berlin-Schöneberg |
Tel: 030 901 30
Fax: 030 9013 2004 |
|
Senate Department of Finance |
At: Klosterstr. 59, 10179 Berlin-Mitte |
Tel: 030 902 00
Fax: 030 9020 2069 |
|
Senate Department of the Interior |
At: Klosterstr. 47, 10179 Berlin-Mitte |
Tel: 030 902 70
Fax: 030 9027 2733 |
|
Senate Department for Economics and Technology |
At: Martin-Luther-Str. 105, 10825 Berlin-Schöneberg |
Tel: 030 901 30
Fax: 030 9013 8281 |
|
Senate Department of Urban Development |
At: Württembergischestr. 6, 10707 Berlin-Wilmersdorf |
Tel: 030 900
Fax: 030 9012 3100 |
|
Senate Department of Education, Youth and Sport |
At: Beuthestr. 6-8, 10117 Berlin-Mitte |
Tel: 030 902 67
Fax: 030 9026 5020 |
|
Senate Department of Labour, Social Affairs and Women's Issues |
At: Oranienstr. 106, 10969 Berlin-Kreuzberg |
Tel: 030 902 80
Fax: 030 9028 2053 |
|
Senate Department of Science, Research and Culture |
At: Brunnenstr. 188-190, 10119 Berlin-Mitte |
Tel: 030 902 280
Fax: 030 9022 8450/1 |
|
Ombudsman for foreigners in Germany (Ausländerbeauftragte des Senats von Berlin) |
At: Potsdamer Str. 65,
10785 Berlin-Mitte |
Tel: 030 9071 2372/2367/2368/2379
Fax: 030 262 5407 |
Further Information
Related reference INFOrmation on AngloINFO Berlin:
If you believe any of the information on this page is incorrect or out-of-date, please let us know. AngloINFO makes every effort to ensure its INFOrmation Pages are as comprehensive, accurate and up-to-date as possible, but we're also grateful for any help!
(If you want to contact AngloINFO for any other reason, please follow the instructions on this website's contact page.)
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