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State guide

State of Bremen (Freie Hansestadt Bremen)

Where to register, which immigration office handles your case, how to book, and what differs from the nationwide rules.

Checked 6 Nov 202620 official sources

Fristfrei gives general information only. Rules, addresses and procedures change. Always check with the responsible authority, or get advice from a qualified counselling service or lawyer.

This page covers only what is specific to Bremen. For the nationwide rules (2-week deadline, documents, landlord confirmation, Steuer-ID, visa types), see the Anmeldung guide and the visa guides.

The state has two municipalities, and each one runs its own registration office and immigration office. Use the office for the city where you live.

All facts checked 2026-11-04.

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1. Registering your address

Bremen city: Bürgeramt

  • The Bürgeramt handles registration for the municipality of Bremen. Main office: Stresemannstraße 48, 28207 Bremen. Phone: 0421-115. The page lists other locations under "Zugeordnete Dienststellen". Source: service.bremen.de › buergeramt-116324 (checked 2026-11-04)
  • Appointments: required at all locations. Book online at service.bremen.de (preferred) or by phone on 0421-115. Source: same page (checked 2026-11-04)
  • Walk-in hours for travel documents and address registration only, at these service centres (Bürgerservicecenter, BSC):
  • BSC-Mitte: Mon 13:00–18:00, Wed 07:30–12:30
  • BSC-Stresemannstraße: Mon 13:00–16:45, Wed 07:00–11:45
  • BSC-Nord: Mon 13:00–16:45, Wed 07:30–11:45

Source: same page (checked 2026-11-04)

  • Email for urgent matters: bscmitte@ / bscstre@ / bscnord@buergeramt.bremen.de. Source: same page (checked 2026-11-04)
  • To cancel an appointment, use the link in your confirmation email or call 361-70868. Source: service.bremen.de/terminbuchung-1469 (checked 2026-11-04)

Bremerhaven: Bürgerbüro Mitte / Bürgerbüro Nord (Bürger- und Ordnungsamt)

  • Mitte: Am Alten Hafen 118, 27568 Bremerhaven. Email buergerbuero@magistrat.bremerhaven.de. Hours: Mon–Thu 09:00–17:00, Fri 08:00–15:00, and Sat 09:00–13:00 on the first Saturday of each month. Payment by cash or EC card. Source: bremerhaven.de › buerger-und-ordnungsamt-bue… (checked 2026-11-04)
  • Nord: Hinrich-Schmalfeldt-Straße 30, Stadthaus 5, 1st floor, 27576 Bremerhaven. Email buergerbuero-nord@magistrat.bremerhaven.de. Source: bremerhaven.de › buerger-und-ordnungsamt-bue… (checked 2026-11-04). For opening hours, see that page.
  • Appointments: generally required. Book online or call 0471-590 3470. Phone booking does not give access to extra slots. Extra same-day slots go online from about 07:45 (Nord) and 08:00 (Mitte). Some short tasks need no appointment, such as collecting ID documents or getting a registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung). Source: bremerhaven.de › termin-vereinbaren.31880 (checked 2026-11-04)

Open points (both cities)

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2. Ausländerbehörde (immigration office)

Bremen city: Migrationsamt

  • The Migrationsamt is the immigration office for Bremen city under § 71(1) of the Residence Act (AufenthG). It also handles naturalisation. Address: Stresemannstraße 48, 28207 Bremen. Phone 0421 361-88630. Email office@migrationsamt.bremen.de. Source: service.bremen.de › migrationsamt-100086 (checked 2026-11-04)
  • Appointments only, and no online booking. For residence matters, email office@migrationsamt.bremen.de or call 0421 361-88630. For naturalisation, email einbuergerung@migrationsamt.bremen.de or call 0421 361-88670. Include your name, date of birth, address, contact details, what you need, and whether family members also need an appointment. Source: service.bremen.de › migrationsamt-terminvereinb… (checked 2026-11-04)
  • First residence permit after arriving with a visa: send the form "Vordruck Terminvergabe Einreise" to ref11@migrationsamt.bremen.de. Post or fax also works. Phone hours for the "Aufenthalt" unit: Mon–Thu 08:00–12:00. Fee: "bis zu € 110,00" (up to €110) depending on the purpose of stay. Source: service.bremen.de › aufenthaltserlaubnis-nach-e… (checked 2026-11-04)

Bremerhaven: Abteilung für Migration und Einbürgerung (Bürger- und Ordnungsamt)

  • This department is the immigration office for Bremerhaven under § 71(1) AufenthG and also handles naturalisation. Address: Bürgermeister-Smidt-Straße 20, Columbus Center, 5th floor, 27568 Bremerhaven. Hours: Mon 08:00–12:00 and 15:00–17:00, Wed 08:00–13:00, Fri 08:00–12:00. Source: bremerhaven.de › buerger-und-ordnungsamt-abt… (checked 2026-11-04)
  • Appointments only, by phone or by email to Auslaenderbehoerde@magistrat.bremerhaven.de. For naturalisation, email einbuergerung@magistrat.bremerhaven.de. Send extension applications by post or put them in the office letterbox. Photos must be digital: either from a participating photographer (QR code) or from the on-site terminal at €6.00 per photo. Source: same page (checked 2026-11-04)
  • Residence permit fees in Bremerhaven follow the national fee rules (AufenthV § 45). The office tells you the exact amount.

Central office for skilled workers / accelerated procedure (§ 81a AufenthG)

  • No central immigration office for skilled workers is named. The state Senator for the Interior says the municipal offices carry out residence law: the Migrationsamt in Bremen city and the Bürger- und Ordnungsamt in Bremerhaven. The Senator's own role as a "zentrale Ausländerbehörde" covers mainly ending the stay of offenders and people classed as dangerous (Gefährder), not skilled workers. Source: inneres.bremen.de › auslaenderangelegenheiten-2… (checked 2026-11-04)
  • Bremen city: employers based in Bremen city apply to the Migrationsamt for the accelerated skilled-worker procedure (beschleunigtes Fachkräfteverfahren), acting under a power of attorney from the worker. Source: service.bremen.de › beschleunigtes-fachkraeftev… (checked 2026-11-04). The Senate press release of 3 Aug 2026 announced the new online application service. Source: senatspressestelle.bremen.de › beschleunigtes-fachkraeftev… (checked 2026-11-04)
  • How to apply: online, or in writing by post or email using the "Erstkontaktaufnahme" form. Source: service.bremen.de › beschleunigtes-fachkraeftev… (checked 2026-11-04)
  • Fee: €411.00 for the accelerated procedure. Source: same page (checked 2026-11-04)
  • Bremerhaven: the federal Make it in Germany contact list names the Stadt Bremerhaven Bürger- und Ordnungsamt for the accelerated procedure: phone 0471 590-3781, auslaenderbehoerde@magistrat.bremerhaven.de. Source: make-it-in-germany.com › Zentrale Auslaenderbehoerde… (checked 2026-11-05)

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3. Official portals & finders

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4. Known differences vs nationwide guides

  • Two separate systems for registration and immigration (Bremen city vs Bremerhaven). Sources: section 1–2 pages (checked 2026-11-04)
  • Walk-in registration is available at certain times at 3 Bremen city service centres, and Bremerhaven releases same-day slots online in the early morning. Sources: Bürgeramt and Termin vereinbaren pages (checked 2026-11-04)
  • No online booking at either immigration office. Appointments go by email or phone, unlike Berlin's online application described in the visa guides. Sources: section 2 pages (checked 2026-11-04)
  • Fees published by Bremen offices: up to €110 for a first residence permit after arriving with a visa (Bremen city); €6 per photo at the Bremerhaven terminal; €411 for the accelerated procedure (Bremen city). Sources: section 2 pages (checked 2026-11-04)
  • Applying after visa-free entry: citizens of Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the UK and the USA may enter visa-free and apply for their residence permit here (§41 Abs. 1 AufenthV, checked 2026-11-06). The Bremen Migrationsamt page lists the same countries except the UK (service.bremen.de › aufenthaltserlaubnis-nach-e…, checked 2026-11-06); the regulation includes the UK.

General information summarised from official sources. Check with the responsible office before you act.

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