Main residence: Report change

If you have several residences in Germany and the status of your residence has changed (main residence is now used as a secondary residence or secondary residence is now used as a main residence without moving into or out of a new or previous residence), you are obliged to inform the relevant registration authority of this.

is the main residence:

• If you are married or in a civil partnership: the home primarily used by the family or civil partnership. This also applies if you are only temporarily separated from your family or partner.
• If you are married or in a civil partnership and live permanently separated: Your predominantly used home.
• If you are a minor: the home primarily used by your parents or foster parents. If they live separately, the main residence is the home in which you mainly live.
• Only if the predominantly used dwelling cannot be determined beyond doubt should the focus of the living relationships be taken into account. Indicators for this are, for example, the type of home, personal ties, social and local political activities as well as membership in clubs and other organisations.

At the same time, you are obliged to inform the registration authority which other residences (secondary residences) you have in Germany in addition to your main residence.

A secondary residence is any other residence in Germany. You can therefore have one main residence and several secondary residences.

• § Section 21 (4) of the Federal Registration Act (BMG)
• § Section 22 of the Federal Registration Act (BMG)

Please bring an identity document (e.g. identity card or passport as proof of identity and to change the flat details).

You have several homes in Germany.

Your previous main residence is used by you as a secondary residence or your previous secondary residence is used as your main residence.

You must appear in person at the relevant registration office.

Some registration authorities offer forms on the Internet.

• Online procedure possible: generally no
• Written form required: possible
• Personal appearance required: generally yes

If the registration office in your place of residence has opened Internet access for registration matters, you can use this access to transmit the required information using a qualified electronic signature in accordance with the Signature Act.

• Federal Registration Act

Unit 210 a

The registration authority is responsible for the new main residence

In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the responsible registration authorities are the mayors of the independent towns, the mayors of the large towns belonging to the district and the independent municipalities and the heads of the local authorities as local registration authorities.