Residence; notification of change of main residence

  • Brief description

    If you have and live in several apartments in Germany, one apartment is your main residence and all other apartments are secondary residences. You must inform the registration office which apartments you have and which of them is your main or secondary residence.

  • Description

    If you have several residences in Germany, the registration law distinguishes between a main residence and a secondary residence. Homes abroad are not taken into account when determining main and secondary residences, even if they would objectively meet the criteria of a main residence.

    The main residence of single persons is the home that is predominantly used by them in the period of one year. If the comparison of the periods of residence in the respective dwellings does not lead to a clear result, it depends on where the focus of your living relationships lies. Important criteria for this can be The type of home, personal ties or social activities (e.g. membership in clubs and other organizations).

    The main residence of a married person or a person living in a registered civil partnership is the home primarily used by the spouse or civil partner or the family.

    For married persons or persons living in a registered civil partnership who are permanently separated, the same criteria apply as for single persons.

    In the case of minors, the main residence is the home primarily used by the person with custody. If they live separately, the main residence is the home of the person with custody that is predominantly used by the minor. If a corresponding application is made, this also applies to persons up to the age of 25 who live in an institution for disabled persons. In cases of doubt, the predominantly used home is where the main focus of the living relationships is located.

  • Prerequisites

    You have at least two homes in Germany.

    The decisive criteria for determining a main or secondary residence may be, in addition to the duration of use: Age, marital status, place of work, family ties, the focus of living relationships.

    The final decision is made by the registration authority, which may check the information you have provided.

  • Deadlines

    If your main residence changes, you must notify the registration authority responsible for the new main residence within two weeks of this change.

  • Required documents

    Confirmation of working hours from the employer (if applicable)

    If applicable, logbook

    If applicable, further (personal) documents that allow an assessment of which home is predominantly used

  • Costs

    none

  • Legal basis


Responsible departments