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State guide

Schleswig-Holstein

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

Checked 6 Nov 202633 official sources

This is general information from official sources, checked 2026-11-04. Rules can change. For your own case, ask your local office or a qualified adviser.

This page lists only what is specific to Schleswig-Holstein (SH) and its cities. For the rules that apply across Germany, see the Anmeldung guide and the visa guides.

1. Registering your address (Meldebehörde)

How to find your office. In SH you register with your Gemeinde-, Amts- or Stadtverwaltung (Bürgerbüro, formerly called Einwohnermeldeamt). Source: kiel.de › leistung (checked 2026-11-04). To find the right office for your address, use the state's finder (Zuständigkeitsfinder) at zufish.schleswig-holstein.de or servicesuche.bund.de (checked 2026-11-04).

Online registration across SH. The online registration service (elektronische Anmeldung) works throughout Schleswig-Holstein. It needs an official document with an eID function: a German Personalausweis or the EU eID card. Source: kiel.de › leistung (checked 2026-11-04). The state portal is the Schleswig-Holstein-Service at serviceportal.schleswig-holstein.de/Verwaltungsportal (checked 2026-11-04). If you hold an electronic residence permit (eAT), use the address check on wohnsitzanmeldung.gov.de to see whether you can use it.

Kiel

  • Office: Stadtamt in the Rathaus (Fleethörn 9) and the Stadtteilämter. Source: kiel.de › leistung (checked 2026-11-04).
  • You don't always need an appointment. You can register or re-register online. If you can't use the online service, you can come to the Rathaus without an appointment. Kiel suggests coming outside the walk-in hours for urgent cases (Spontansprechstunde), which run Mon, Tue, Thu and Fri, 9–12. Source: kiel.de › anmelden ausweis pass (checked 2026-11-04).
  • What to bring: the landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung; a rental contract alone is not enough) and an ID document. For non-German citizens, that can be a residence permit together with your national passport. Source: same page (checked 2026-11-04).
  • Appointments: book at kiel.de/termine. New slots appear every morning from 7:30, and you can book up to four weeks ahead. Source: kiel.de › organisationseinheit (checked 2026-11-04). If you register at an appointment, your ID card (and car papers, if any) are updated at the same time, and students can apply for the welcome payment (Begrüßungsgeld). Source: kiel.de › termine (checked 2026-11-04).
  • Fee: registering, including the official Meldebestätigung, is free ("gebührenfrei"). Source: kiel.de › leistung (checked 2026-11-04).

Lübeck

  • Office: the Bürgerservicebüros handle registration (Meldewesen). Book via online booking at luebeck.de › termine-online (checked 2026-11-04).
  • Booking rules: you can book at most eight weeks ahead. If no slots are free online, you can't book by phone either. Short-notice slots go online on weekdays by 8:30, and every Monday the slots for the 8th week ahead are released. Without a free slot, you can send an appointment request (Terminwunsch) through the booking system. Source: same page (checked 2026-11-04).

Flensburg

  • Office: Bürgerbüro, Rathausplatz 1, 24937 Flensburg. Phone 0461 85-2124, buergerbuero@flensburg.de. Source: flensburg.de › Online-Terminvergabe (checked 2026-11-04).
  • Appointments: online or by phone. The page also mentions open office hours (offene Sprechstunde). Source: same page (checked 2026-11-04). For Anmeldung, book online or by phone (0461 85-2124).
  • Address changes: the Einwanderungsbüro does not handle changes to your registered address; the Bürgerbüro does. Source: flensburg.de › Online-Terminvereinbarung (checked 2026-11-04).

Neumünster

  • Office: Bürgerbüro, Kuhberg 18, 24534 Neumünster. Phone 04321 942 2600. It handles registering, deregistering and re-registering (An-, Ab- und Ummeldungen). Source: neumuenster.de/buergerservice/buergerbuero (checked 2026-11-04).
  • Appointments: book online at termin.neumuenster.de. New slots are added every Monday. A limited number of same-day slots are available on Mon, Tue and Thu. On Fridays 8–12 (arrive by 11) you can apply for ID documents without an appointment. Source: same page (checked 2026-11-04).

Kreise (rural districts)

Outside the four kreisfreie Städte (cities that don't belong to a Kreis), you register with your Gemeinde or Amt, not with the Kreis. Source: kiel.de › leistung (checked 2026-11-04). Use zufish.schleswig-holstein.de to find yours. Check your Amt's own page for how to book.

2. Ausländerbehörde

Who is responsible. Decisions on residence and passports are made only by the Zuwanderungs-/Ausländerbehörden of the 11 Kreise and 4 kreisfreie Städte. Source: schleswig-holstein.de › auslaenderbehoerden (checked 2026-11-04). That page lists all 15 offices:

  • Cities: Kiel, Lübeck, Flensburg, Neumünster.
  • Kreise: Dithmarschen (Heide), Herzogtum Lauenburg (Ratzeburg), Nordfriesland (Husum), Ostholstein (Eutin), Pinneberg (Elmshorn), Plön, Rendsburg-Eckernförde (Rendsburg), Schleswig-Flensburg (Schleswig), Segeberg (Bad Segeberg), Steinburg (Itzehoe), Stormarn (Bad Oldesloe).

Landesamt für Zuwanderung und Flüchtlinge (LaZuF), Haart 148, 24539 Neumünster.

  • It handles first reception, registration and distribution of asylum seekers and other humanitarian arrivals. It acts as the Ausländerbehörde only while a person lives in one of its reception facilities. Sources: schleswig-holstein.de › Aufgaben and schleswig-holstein.de › LD14 Welche Behoerden Sind … (checked 2026-11-04).
  • Since 1 March 2020, LaZuF has also been SH's central office for skilled-worker immigration (Zentralstelle für Fachkräfteeinwanderung). It runs the fast-track procedure for employers (beschleunigtes Fachkräfteverfahren, §81a AufenthG). Sources: same Aufgaben page, and schleswig-holstein.de › Fachinhalt FKE (checked 2026-11-04).
  • ⚠️ Currently not accepting applications. The office notice dated 26.10.2026 says that, after large-scale power-surge damage, operations are still restricted and no new applications are being accepted, online or otherwise. The same page says email applications are still considered in individual cases until 01.12.2026. Processing status as of 15.10.2026: cases from mid-July 2026 were being worked on. Usual duration is about four months. Fee: €411 per skilled worker ("bundesweit pauschal"). Source: Fachinhalt_FKE page above (checked 2026-11-04).
  • General advice (not about pending cases): Welcome Center Schleswig-Holstein, info@welcomesh.de. Source: same page.

Kiel: Zuwanderungsabteilung / Immigration Office

  • Address: Stresemannplatz 5, 24103 Kiel (Neues Rathaus, building D, 1st floor). Email zuwanderung@kiel.de, phone 115. Source: kiel.de › faq immigration office (checked 2026-11-04).
  • Appointments: you can only see staff with an appointment. Request one by email with your name, date of birth and reason. Some matters can be booked online at terminvergabe.kiel.de/tevis-zuwanderung, but online booking is only for people registered as living in Kiel. Kiel also offers online services and a Service Point you can visit without an appointment. Sources: kiel.de › organisationseinheit and terminvergabe.kiel.de/tevis-zuwanderung/select2 (checked 2026-11-04).
  • Matters you can book online: the booking portal currently offers Abgabe Biodaten, Übertrag Niederlassungserlaubnis (new passport), Abgabe Schülersammelliste, Verlustmeldung Pass/eAT, Aushändigung eAT, Adressänderung auf dem Aufenthaltstitel and (De-)Aktivierung der eID-Funktion (terminvergabe.kiel.de/tevis-zuwanderung/select2, checked 2026-11-06). The FAQ lists only the first four of these; the portal is the current list.
  • Photos: biometric photos must be digital. You can have one taken at the office for €6. Source: _organisationseinheit.php?id=267540808 (checked 2026-11-04).

Lübeck: Ausländerbehörde

  • Online first: contact the office mainly through its online guide (Online-Wegweiser). This requires a free Servicekonto im Serviceportal Schleswig-Holstein, and the office replies to that account. Sources: luebeck.de › auslaenderbehoerde and luebeck.de › servicekonto-anleitung (checked 2026-11-04).
  • Online booking is available for new or extended residence titles at tevis.luebeck.de/tvweb. Changing or activating the PIN for the online function of an eAT can only be done at the Bürgerservicebüros. Naturalisation: no online booking at present. Source: luebeck.de › termine-online (checked 2026-11-04).
  • Published processing times: replies to enquiries can take up to 8 weeks. Settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis): at least 12 months. Visa matters: at least 6 months. Naturalisation: up to 36 months. During these periods the office gives no status updates. Source: luebeck.de Ausländerbehörde page (checked 2026-11-04).
  • Address: Königstraße 49-57, 23552 Lübeck, according to the state list (schleswig-holstein.de …/auslaenderbehoerden, checked 2026-11-04). Lübeck asks you to contact the office through its online contact form rather than by email: luebeck.de › kontakt-zur-auslaenderbehoe… (checked 2026-11-05).

Flensburg: Einwanderungsbüro / Immigration Office

  • Address: Schleswiger Straße 66, 24941 Flensburg. Phone 0461 85-2000, einwanderungsbuero@flensburg.de.
  • Online booking at abh-termine.flensburg.de covers only: collecting an already ordered residence title, changing the address on the title, and activating its online function. You can't book online for Gestattung or Duldung.
  • Fees published by the city (under §§44 ff. AufenthV): Niederlassungserlaubnis €113; issuing an Aufenthaltserlaubnis €100; extending one €96 (valid up to 3 months) or €93 (valid 3 months or more).
  • Source for all of the above: flensburg.de › Online-Terminvereinbarung (checked 2026-11-04).

Neumünster: Ausländerbehörde

  • Online application only for family reunification, training/study, employment, Niederlassungserlaubnis and changes to conditions (Auflagen). After the office checks your application, it gives you an appointment. A BundID account is recommended. For all other matters, book online, email the right team (abh-team1 to abh-team4@neumuenster.de) or call 04321 942 3430 (Mondays 9–11). Source: neumuenster.de/buergerservice/auslaenderbehoerde (checked 2026-11-04).
  • Address: Altes Rathaus, ground floor, Großflecken 63, Neumünster, as on the office's own page (neumuenster.de/buergerservice/auslaenderbehoerde, checked 2026-11-06). The state's list of offices gives number 59; go by the city's page.

Kreise

Contact details for each Kreis office are on the state list above. Check each Kreis's own page for its booking or online process.

3. Official portals & finders

(all checked 2026-11-04)

4. Known differences vs nationwide guides

  1. One online registration service statewide (eID required). In Kiel you can also register in person without an appointment. Source: kiel.de pages above (checked 2026-11-04).
  2. No central Ausländerbehörde. Each Kreis or kreisfreie Stadt handles residence matters. LaZuF acts as Ausländerbehörde only for people in reception facilities. Sources: schleswig-holstein.de pages above (checked 2026-11-04).
  3. One central office for the employer fast-track procedure (§81a) at LaZuF in Neumünster. It is not accepting new applications as of the 26.10.2026 notice. Source: Fachinhalt_FKE (checked 2026-11-04).
  4. Lübeck uses the state Servicekonto for written contact with the Ausländerbehörde. Neumünster requires online applications for most residence purposes. Sources above.
  5. Kiel's online booking at the Ausländerbehörde is only for people registered in Kiel. Source: terminvergabe.kiel.de (checked 2026-11-04).

--- Last checked 2026-11-06.

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

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