The vicious circle of Anmeldung

Anmeldung (registration) is one of the first and biggest obstacles that people moving to Berlin must face. Without Anmeldung, you cannot open a bank account, nor obtain a tax ID. Both are prerequisites for obtaining a work contract in Germany. Without work, however, it is practically impossible to find an apartment to live in. For many migrantsThe vicious circle of Anmeldung means the exclusion of basic rights and services that are essential for a dignified life

01. Why is it so difficult to register your residence in Berlin?

Anyone who has ever looked for an apartment or a room in the German capital knows how difficult it is to find an affordable place to live. Financial speculation is increasingly turning housing into a commodity and rents are continuously on the rise. Faced with a huge supply problem in the affordable housing stock, especially new Berliners but even long-established Berliners often can only find rooms or apartments to sublet and, in most cases, only on a temporary basis. Many WGs (shared apartments) are only offered with the restriction "No Anmeldung" because of the strict control exercised by the landlords. The landlords can check who is staying in the apartments and often refuse permission to sublet so that they can cancel existing contracts. That way, they are able to rent or sell the property for an updated and more profitable price.

02. What basic rights depend on the Anmeldung?

Without the Anmeldung it is almost impossible to open a bank account or obtain a tax ID: two necessary conditions for finding formal employment in Germany. Nor is it possible to access public services such as health insurance, or the various state subsidies available to cover housing (Wohngeld), family (Kindergeld) and study costs (BAföG). People are also excluded from the fundamental democratic right to register a public assembly or protest (Versammlungsrecht). Last but not least, the presentation of an Anmeldung is often a condition for the visa application and renewal.

03. Who is particularly affected by the vicious circle of the Anmeldung?

Finding housing and therefor Anmeldung in Berlin is a major obstacle for anyone who does not come from a wealthy family. However, migrants are particularly affected by this situation because compared to people born and raised in Germany, migrants have fewer contacts and less robust networks. They also do not have the same knowledge of their rights, the language and the local bureaucracy. For migrants without EU citizenship, the consequences are even more serious, insofar as their residence in the country depends directly on the Anmeldung. For the same reason, the risk of sexual aggression, abuse and other types of violence, especially against women and queer people, increases.

People born in Germany usually already have a tax ID, a bank account and an Anmeldung at some previous place of residence. However, they also cannot apply for state benefits if they are not „angemeldet“ in the Bundesland (federal state) in which they live.