Administrative Offices in Berlin

Contact information for the administrative centres of 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 the Berlin 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) (for information on arranging an appointment)
  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
  

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

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: