
in:

German Administration - Berlin

German Administration - Berlin

Send | Print

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 who will automatically inform the previous one. When leaving Germany, citizens need to deregister.

To find the nearest registration office (Meldeamt) in Berlin: Click here

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
Mayor's Office (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

Application for a visa or residence permit form (PDF)
List of different forms required by residents of Germany (in German)

Any suggestions for extra information that should be on this page?
Just fill in the form to tell us:

More From AngloINFO:
Business Directory	INFOrmation Pages	What's On	The Forum	Berlin Maps
Exchange Rates	Mobile Users	Advertise With Us	Bookshop	Digital Postcards
Online Games	Newsletter Archive	What's New

^ Top of Page ^

Page generated at 15:48; Monday, May 12, 2008

This is the "German Administration - Berlin" INFOrmation Page at AngloINFO Berlin.

AngloINFO Berlin's INFOrmation Pages provide an online encyclopaedia covering all aspects of "Life in Berlin, in English!".

AngloINFO Berlin is your Berlin information source, for everyone living in Berlin or moving to Berlin, covering everything from the Berlin property and real estate contacts you need before and during your move to Germany, to all aspects of everyday life in the Berlin international community for those living their lives in Germany.