vocabulary

Moving to Germany? 30 words for apartments, Anmeldung and paperwork

2026-10-01

You found an apartment you like in Berlin, Munich or Hamburg. Congratulations! Now the German starts. The listing says 2 ZKB, 58 qm, KM 750 € zzgl. NK, the landlord wants a Schufa-Auskunft, and the Bürgeramt needs a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung before you can do anything else.

None of this is as scary as it sounds. Germany's apartment and paperwork world runs on about 30 words, and once you know them, the process is logical, if slow. This guide walks you through them in the order you'll need them, from the first viewing to your registration certificate. It's written for learners around B1, but every word comes with an English explanation.

One note before we start: this is a language guide, not legal advice. The rules below are the general federal ones; details (and waiting times) differ from city to city, so always check your city's website.

Part 1: Finding an apartment

Your search starts with listings, and listings love abbreviations:

2 ZKB: 2 Zimmer, Küche, Bad: two rooms plus kitchen and bathroom. Germans count rooms, not bedrooms, so a "2-Zimmer-Wohnung" is a living room and one bedroom.
qm: Quadratmeter, square meters. 58 qm is about 620 square feet.
KM and WM: Kaltmiete and Warmmiete (more on those below).
NK and zzgl.: Nebenkosten and zuzüglich ("plus"). "KM 750 € zzgl. NK" means 750 euros plus utilities.
EBK: Einbauküche, a fitted kitchen. Check for this one! In Germany, unfurnished apartments sometimes come without a kitchen, and tenants bring their own.

Next comes the Besichtigung (viewing). In big cities, viewings can feel like casting calls, so bring your documents: a Schufa-Auskunft (credit report from Germany's main credit agency), your last three Gehaltsnachweise (pay stubs) and often a short form about yourself. If you're new to Germany and have no Schufa history yet, a work contract and proof of savings can help.

Many newcomers start in a WG, a shared apartment. It's normal at every age in Germany, not just for students, and it's often the fastest way to get a room and an address.

Kaltmiete, Nebenkosten, Warmmiete

This trio confuses almost everyone, so here it is with numbers:

Kaltmiete (cold rent) is the base rent for the apartment itself: say 750 euros.
Nebenkosten are the extra costs of the building: heating, water, trash collection, cleaning the stairwell, the caretaker. Say 200 euros. You pay them in advance every month, and once a year you get a Nebenkostenabrechnung (statement) that shows whether you get money back or owe more.
Warmmiete (warm rent) is the total of the two: 950 euros.

What's usually not included: electricity and internet. You sign those contracts yourself.

16 words for renting

Tap a card to see the meaning and an example. The speaker reads the word, or the example sentence once the card is flipped.

die Wohnung (plural: die Wohnungen): apartment Example: Wir suchen eine Wohnung mit Balkon. (We're looking for an apartment with a balcony.)
die Besichtigung (plural: die Besichtigungen): viewing (of an apartment) Example: Die Besichtigung ist am Samstag um zehn Uhr. (The viewing is on Saturday at ten.)
der Vermieter (plural: die Vermieter): landlord (female: die Vermieterin) Example: Der Vermieter möchte eine Schufa-Auskunft sehen. (The landlord wants to see a credit report.)
der Mieter (plural: die Mieter): tenant (female: die Mieterin) Example: Die Mieter über uns sind sehr nett. (The tenants above us are very nice.)
der Mietvertrag (plural: die Mietverträge): lease, rental contract Example: Lies den Mietvertrag genau, bevor du unterschreibst. (Read the lease carefully before you sign.)
die Kaltmiete (plural: die Kaltmieten): base rent, without heating and utilities Example: Die Kaltmiete beträgt 750 Euro im Monat. (The base rent is 750 euros a month.)
die Nebenkosten (plural only): utilities and building costs (heating, water, trash, cleaning) Example: Die Nebenkosten sind in der Warmmiete enthalten. (The utilities are included in the warm rent.)
die Warmmiete (plural: die Warmmieten): rent including heating and utilities Example: Die Warmmiete liegt bei 950 Euro. (The total rent comes to about 950 euros.)
die Kaution (plural: die Kautionen): security deposit Example: Die Kaution beträgt zwei Kaltmieten. (The deposit is two months' base rent.)
die WG (plural: die WGs): shared apartment (short for Wohngemeinschaft) Example: Ich wohne in einer WG mit drei Studenten. (I live in a shared apartment with three students.)
die Schufa-Auskunft (plural: die Schufa-Auskünfte): credit report Example: Für die Wohnung brauche ich eine Schufa-Auskunft. (I need a credit report for the apartment.)
der Gehaltsnachweis (plural: die Gehaltsnachweise): proof of income, pay stub Example: Bitte schicken Sie uns Ihre letzten drei Gehaltsnachweise. (Please send us your last three pay stubs.)
die Hausverwaltung (plural: die Hausverwaltungen): property management Example: Die Heizung ist kaputt. Ich rufe die Hausverwaltung an. (The heating is broken. I'm calling property management.)
die Hausordnung (plural: die Hausordnungen): house rules Example: Laut Hausordnung ist ab 22 Uhr Ruhe. (According to the house rules, quiet time starts at 10 p.m.)
das Übergabeprotokoll (plural: die Übergabeprotokolle): move-in or move-out inspection report Example: Im Übergabeprotokoll steht jeder Kratzer im Boden. (Every scratch in the floor is listed in the inspection report.)
die Kündigungsfrist (plural: die Kündigungsfristen): notice period Example: Die Kündigungsfrist beträgt drei Monate. (The notice period is three months.)

Signing the lease

When you get the apartment, you sign the Mietvertrag (lease) with the Vermieter (landlord) or with a Hausverwaltung (property management company). Three things to look for:

Die Kaution: the security deposit. By law it can be at most three months of Kaltmiete, and you have the right to pay it in three monthly installments. It's usually kept in a separate account and paid back after you move out.
Die Kündigungsfrist: the notice period. For tenants, it's normally three months. Your notice has to be in writing, on paper, with your signature.
Die Hausordnung: the house rules. This is where you'll find quiet hours (often from 10 p.m.), rules about the stairwell and which trash goes in which bin.

On moving day, you and the landlord walk through the apartment and fill out the Übergabeprotokoll, listing every scratch, stain and broken tile. Take photos too. When you move out, this document decides how much of your Kaution you get back.

Ready for a quick check? Type the German, article included. Don't worry about umlauts on an American keyboard: use the buttons, or type ae, oe, ue and ss.

Type the German

Ten words from the apartment hunt and the paperwork. Nouns need their article.

base rent (without utilities): die Kaltmiete
security deposit: die Kaution
lease, rental contract: der Mietvertrag (Miete + Vertrag)
viewing of an apartment: die Besichtigung
landlord: der Vermieter
shared apartment (short form): die WG
appointment: der Termin
form: das Formular
passport: der Reisepass
health insurance: die Krankenversicherung (krank + Versicherung)

Part 2: Die Anmeldung

The Anmeldung (address registration) is the key that opens every other door in Germany. Without the Meldebescheinigung (registration certificate) you get afterwards, it's hard to open a Girokonto (checking account), and your Steuer-ID (tax ID) only arrives by mail once you're registered.

Here's how it works:

Book a Termin. You register at the Bürgeramt (in many cities it's called Bürgerbüro or Einwohnermeldeamt). In big cities, appointments can be booked out for weeks, so book as soon as you have your move-in date.
Get the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung. Your landlord is required to give you this form, which confirms that you moved in. You can't register without it.
Fill out the Formular. The registration form (Anmeldeformular) is usually on your city's website.
Bring your Reisepass and, if you have one, your visa or residence permit.

The law gives you two weeks after moving in to register. If the Bürgeramt has no appointment in time, keep a screenshot of your booking attempt.

In the weeks after that, two letters usually arrive. One contains your tax ID. The other is from the Rundfunkbeitrag (the public broadcasting fee), which every household pays, whether or not you own a TV. Welcome to Germany!

Visas and insurance

If you're not an EU citizen, you'll also deal with the Ausländerbehörde (immigration office), where you submit your Antrag (application) for an Aufenthaltstitel (residence permit). Bring every document they ask for, in the original and as copies, plus your Meldebescheinigung.

Two kinds of insurance come up right away:

Die Krankenversicherung (health insurance) is mandatory for everyone living in Germany. You'll need proof of it for your visa and your job.
Die Haftpflichtversicherung (personal liability insurance) is not mandatory, but most Germans have it. It covers damage you accidentally cause to others, like flooding your downstairs neighbor's apartment, and many landlords like to see it.

Here are the 14 paperwork words. They're long, but most of them are compounds you can take apart: Wohnung + Geber + Bestätigung is literally "apartment giver confirmation".

14 words for paperwork

Long words, logical parts. Tap to flip.

die Anmeldung (plural: die Anmeldungen): registration of your address Example: Für die Anmeldung habe ich zwei Wochen Zeit. (I have two weeks to register my address.)
das Bürgeramt (plural: die Bürgerämter): citizens' office, where you register Example: Das Bürgeramt hat erst in drei Wochen einen Termin frei. (The citizens' office has no free appointment for three weeks.)
der Termin (plural: die Termine): appointment Example: Ich habe morgen um neun Uhr einen Termin. (I have an appointment tomorrow at nine.)
die Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (plural: die Wohnungsgeberbestätigungen): landlord's confirmation that you moved in Example: Ohne Wohnungsgeberbestätigung kann ich mich nicht anmelden. (Without the landlord's confirmation, I can't register.)
die Meldebescheinigung (plural: die Meldebescheinigungen): registration certificate Example: Die Bank möchte eine Kopie der Meldebescheinigung. (The bank wants a copy of the registration certificate.)
der Reisepass (plural: die Reisepässe): passport Example: Vergiss deinen Reisepass nicht! (Don't forget your passport!)
das Formular (plural: die Formulare): form Example: Das Formular kann man online ausfüllen. (You can fill out the form online.)
der Antrag (plural: die Anträge): (official) application Example: Den Antrag stellst du bei der Ausländerbehörde. (You submit the application at the immigration office.)
die Ausländerbehörde (plural: die Ausländerbehörden): immigration office Example: Bei der Ausländerbehörde braucht man viel Geduld. (At the immigration office, you need a lot of patience.)
der Aufenthaltstitel (plural: die Aufenthaltstitel): residence permit Example: Mein Aufenthaltstitel gilt zwei Jahre. (My residence permit is valid for two years.)
die Steuer-ID (plural: die Steuer-IDs): tax ID number Example: Die Steuer-ID kommt nach der Anmeldung per Post. (The tax ID arrives by mail after you register.)
die Krankenversicherung (plural: die Krankenversicherungen): health insurance Example: In Deutschland ist eine Krankenversicherung Pflicht. (Health insurance is mandatory in Germany.)
die Haftpflichtversicherung (plural: die Haftpflichtversicherungen): personal liability insurance Example: Eine Haftpflichtversicherung ist nicht Pflicht, aber sehr verbreitet. (Liability insurance isn't mandatory, but it's very common.)
das Girokonto (plural: die Girokonten): checking account Example: Für das Girokonto brauche ich meine Meldebescheinigung. (I need my registration certificate for the checking account.)

Moving again

Germans move less often than Americans, but you probably won't stay in your first apartment forever.

Moving within Germany: you register at your new address within two weeks, just like the first time. This is called Ummeldung, and the new Bürgeramt updates your old registration for you.
Leaving Germany: you deregister with an Abmeldung. Keep the certificate; banks, insurers and the broadcasting fee office will ask for it.
Leaving early: some leases let you go before the notice period ends if you find a Nachmieter (a replacement tenant), but the landlord doesn't have to accept one unless your lease says so.

And when you move out, the Übergabeprotokoll comes back: the same walk-through, this time deciding how much of your Kaution you get back.

Myth or fact?

Paperwork rumors spread fast in expat groups. Test what you've learned against seven common claims.

Myth or fact: the paperwork edition

Seven things newcomers often hear. Which ones are true?

After moving into an apartment, you have two weeks to register your address. Fact. That's the federal rule (Bundesmeldegesetz). If you can't get an appointment in time, keep proof that you tried to book one.
A landlord can ask for a deposit of six months' rent. Myth. The cap is three months' base rent (Kaltmiete), and you're allowed to pay it in three monthly installments.
You can register at the Bürgeramt with just your passport. Myth. You also need the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung, a form your landlord fills out to confirm you moved in.
Your tax ID arrives by mail automatically after your first registration. Fact. The Federal Central Tax Office sends it to your registered address, usually within a few weeks.
Health insurance is optional if you're young and healthy. Myth. Health insurance is mandatory for everyone who lives in Germany.
To cancel your lease, a short email to your landlord is enough. Myth. Notice must be given in writing, on paper, with your signature. An email or text message isn't enough.
The Warmmiete usually includes your electricity bill. Myth. Warmmiete covers heating and building costs. Electricity is usually a separate contract with a provider you choose.

Keep learning

These 30 words will carry you through your first month. To keep going, our B1 word list has the 50 most important nouns for work, contracts and opinions (der Vertrag, die Versicherung and die Kündigung are on it), and the A2 list covers everyday life with die Miete, die Rechnung and das Konto. When a letter from the Bürgeramt contains a word you don't know, paste it into our dictionary for the meaning, the article and an example. And our free German tools can help you with forms and letters.

Viel Erfolg, and welcome to Germany!

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