Hamburg

This page is general information about public authorities in Hamburg. Rules, fees and processes change. The official pages linked here are the final word. For your own case, ask the authority responsible or a qualified advisor (for example a lawyer or an approved advice centre).

This page covers only Hamburg-specific points. For the nationwide rules (the two-week registration deadline under BMG §17, the landlord confirmation under BMG §19, how online registration works, and the visa types), see the Anmeldung guide and the visa guides.

Every fact below was checked on 2026-11-04 against the linked source.

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1) Registering your address (Meldebehörde)

How to find yours

• In Hamburg, registration is handled by the "Hamburg Service vor Ort – Standorte Einwohnerangelegenheiten". These offices used to be called "Einwohnermeldeämter" or "Kundenzentren". (hamburg.de – Standorte Einwohnerangelegenheiten, checked 2026-11-04)
• You can use any location, no matter which district you live in, as long as appointments are free. The one exception: Verpflichtungserklärungen (formal declarations to cover a visitor's costs) for stays under 90 days must be made at the location for your home district. (same source, checked 2026-11-04)

Appointments

• Appointments are required. Book through "Digitales Terminmanagement" (serviceportal.hamburg.de – Termin buchen, checked 2026-11-04). You don't need to register, and booking is free (same source).
• Phone booking: call 115 (+49 40 115), Monday to Friday, 7:00–19:00. (Standorte Einwohnerangelegenheiten, checked 2026-11-04)
• Release times: every day at 7:00 and 10:00, new appointments go live for the same day, for 14 days ahead and for the next 5 weeks. (same source, checked 2026-11-04)

Main locations and hours

• Altona, Bergedorf, Blankenese, City, Eimsbüttel, Harburg, Langenhorn, Nord and Wandsbek are open Monday to Friday, 7:00–19:00. On Saturdays, 9:00–16:00 "am Standort City und an ausgewählten Standorten" (at the City location and selected other locations). The online booking shows which ones are open on Saturday. (Standorte Einwohnerangelegenheiten, checked 2026-11-04)
• Other locations listed on the service page include Finkenwerder, Rahlstedt and Billstedt. (hamburg.de – Umzug aus dem Ausland, checked 2026-11-04)
• Saturdays: 09:00–16:00 at the City location and at selected other locations. The online booking shows which Saturday locations are available. Source: hamburg.de › standorte-17584 (checked 2026-11-05)

Moving from abroad (in person only)

• If you plan to stay in Hamburg for more than 3 months, you must register. You and everyone moving in with you must attend an appointment in person. The deadline is no later than 2 weeks after moving in. (hamburg.de – Umzug nach Hamburg aus dem Ausland melden, checked 2026-11-04)
• Documents Hamburg asks for, in addition to the nationwide list:
• Original civil status certificates, such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate or name declaration.
• Where needed, a legalisation or apostille and a translation by a sworn translator.
• Hamburg says explicitly that a rental contract does not replace the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung.
• If you move into a home you own: the purchase contract or a land register extract.
• (same source, checked 2026-11-04)
• Forms: "Anmeldung bei der Meldebehörde" and "Wohnungsgeberbestätigung" are linked on the same page. A copy of the Hamburg Wohnungsgeberbestätigung form, which includes an owner self-declaration: welcome.hamburg.de PDF (checked 2026-11-04)
• Fee (officially published): €16.00 per person, or per family with the same move-in address. Hamburg notes that fees are expected to rise from 1 January 2027. (hamburg.de – Umzug aus dem Ausland, checked 2026-11-04)
• Processing at the office: usually 15–20 minutes. (same source)

Online re-registration (moves within Germany or within Hamburg)

• Hamburg's in-person moving service can also be done online with a German ID card or an EU eID card plus a user account. Online, it is free. (hamburg.de – Umzug innerhalb Hamburgs melden, checked 2026-11-04)
• According to the Hamburg Senate, the electronic registration service (eWA) works fully end to end. It produces a tamper-proof digital Meldebestätigung, and you can update the address on your ID chip yourself. (Senatskanzlei press release, checked 2026-11-04)
• Who can use the online service: individuals, and families moving together if they're already linked in the population register (wohnsitzanmeldung.gov.de: Voraussetzungen, checked 2026-11-06). Hamburg's Standorte Einwohnerangelegenheiten page mentions single households because that was one of the first services offered online, not as a limit.

2) Ausländerbehörde (immigration office)

Who is responsible. Hamburg splits immigration matters across three bodies:

1. Hamburg Welcome Center for Professionals (HWCP). This is a unit within the Amt für Migration (Behörde für Inneres und Sport). It is responsible for:
2. the first residence permit after entry for training, study, work, self-employment or freelancing (§§ 16a–21 AufenthG)
3. extensions and transfers for skilled workers (§§ 18a–18g AufenthG, including the EU Blue Card and researchers), and settlement permits for them
4. family members of the people above
5. the fast-track procedure for skilled workers (beschleunigtes Fachkräfteverfahren)
6. (sources: welcome.hamburg.de – Aufenthaltsangelegenheiten, hamburg.de – HWCP Ersterteilungen, checked 2026-11-04)
7. Address: Süderstraße 32b, 20097 Hamburg. (same sources)
8. Hamburg Service vor Ort – Standorte Ausländerangelegenheiten. This covers everyone else with legal residence, including EU citizens and their family members. On extensions, it is responsible for example for self-employed people, freelancers, volunteer-service participants and job seekers. Only the location for the district where you are registered can handle your case. (Standorte Ausländerangelegenheiten, hamburg.de – Verlängerung HWCP, checked 2026-11-04)
9. Amt für Migration (central office). This handles:
10. initial reception of asylum seekers
11. people whose residence is not permanently secured, such as holders of a Duldung or Aufenthaltsgestattung
12. naturalisation (Einbürgerung)
13. (Standorte Ausländerangelegenheiten, checked 2026-11-04)

Appointments and online applications

• First permits, extensions and transfers, as well as EU residence cards (Aufenthaltskarten), are applied for through the Online-Dienst "Aufenthaltserlaubnis Hamburg". The service works out which office is responsible. After your case has been reviewed, you are sent an appointment without having to ask. You don't need an account, and the online service itself is free. People with a Duldung or Aufenthaltsgestattung cannot use it. (serviceportal.hamburg.de – Aufenthaltserlaubnis Hamburg, checked 2026-11-04)
• The 115 phone line cannot book appointments for immigration matters. (Standorte Ausländerangelegenheiten, checked 2026-11-04)
• HWCP: immigration matters are handled by appointment only, with no walk-ins at the moment. Submitting documents later, reporting changes (for example a new employer) and requests for a Fiktionsbescheinigung (temporary permit certificate) go through the serviceportal. (welcome.hamburg.de – Kontakt, checked 2026-11-04)
• HWCP's published waiting-time estimates, from online application to appointment offer:
• first residence permit: about 8–10 weeks
• transfer to a new passport: about 4 weeks
• extension or change of purpose: about 8–10 weeks
• settlement permit or EU long-term residence: about 12 weeks
• (same source, checked 2026-11-04)
• HWCP asks you to apply for an extension no later than 8 weeks before your current permit expires. (hamburg.de – Verlängerung, checked 2026-11-04)
• Fees (officially published):
• Extension at HWCP: €96.00 for a further stay of up to 3 months, €93.00 for over 3 months. (hamburg.de – Verlängerung, checked 2026-11-04)
• The online service describes the residence permit fee only as "ungefähr 100 Euro" (about €100). (serviceportal – Aufenthaltserlaubnis, checked 2026-11-04)
• Fees for first permits follow the national fee rules in the Residence Ordinance (AufenthV § 45). The office tells you the exact amount for your permit.
• HWCP phone numbers:
• 040 428 39-5500 (Monday to Thursday 9:00–15:00, Friday 9:00–12:00) is listed for immigration matters. (welcome.hamburg.de – Kontakt, checked 2026-11-04)
• The general Welcome Center hotline is (040) 42839-5555. (welcome.hamburg.de, checked 2026-11-04)
• The page hamburg.de/service/info/11258592 also lists +49 40 42793-5511 without saying what it is for, so use the main number +49 40 42839-5500 (checked 2026-11-05).

3) Official portals & finders

4) Known differences vs nationwide guides

1. Any location works for registration. You are not tied to your own district. Immigration matters at the Hamburg Service, however, are tied to your district. (sources in sections 1 and 2)
2. Fixed appointment release times: daily at 7:00 and 10:00, for the same day, 14 days ahead and 5 weeks ahead. (section 1)
3. Moves from abroad are in person only. Hamburg asks for original civil status certificates, with an apostille or legalisation and a sworn translation where needed. (section 1)
4. Registration fee of €16.00 per person or per family. Online re-registration is free. Fees are expected to rise from 1 January 2027. (section 1)
5. Immigration applications start online with the Online-Dienst Aufenthaltserlaubnis, and the authority then sends you an appointment. You don't book it yourself, and 115 cannot book it. (section 2)
6. Skilled workers (§§ 18a–18g) and first permits after entry (§§ 16a–21) go to the Hamburg Welcome Center for Professionals, not to the district office. (section 2)
7. Apply for an extension at HWCP at least 8 weeks before expiry. This is Hamburg's own guidance. (section 2)
8. Who can use online registration: individuals, and families already linked in the register who move together (section 1).