germany driving
Eligibility Requirements for Anmeldung
<p>I want to exchange my foreign driving licence (a US state with a full reciprocity agreement) with a German driving licence. I emailed my local <em>Bürgeramt</em>/<em>Fahrerlaubnisbehörde</em> (citizens bureau / department of motor vehicles) here in Bavaria and I was told they could not locate my <em>Anmeldung</em> (residency registration).</p>
<p>I do not have an <em>Anmeldung</em> as I am not resident in Germany, I am only visiting but I am a German citizen and do have access to a permanent address in Germany.</p>
<p>As I am not seeking residence, can I still get an <em>Anmeldung</em>? It is different to the residence permit so I am not sure if non-residents can obtain an <em>Anmeldung</em>. I could not find any sources which explain any eligibility requirements for the <em>Anmeldung</em>.</p>
<p>PS: I’m sure I will get many questions about why I want to obtain a German driving licence during a visit when my US licence allows me to drive in Germany without any restrictions. I am aware it is unnecessary but I would still like to obtain the German driving licence.</p>

<p>A German <em>Anmeldung</em> (registration) notifies the authorities that you are living in some place. The rules for this are codified in the <em>Bundesmeldegesetz (BMG)</em> (<a href="https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bmg/index.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">German text</a>, <a href="https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_bmg/index.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">English translation</a>).</p>
<p>Anyone living in Germany is required to do the Anmeldung within two weeks of moving in to their residence (flat/dwelling/house). This applies regardless of residency status, though there are special rules for staying in hotels and for certain persons such as sailors or asylum seekers. An Anmeldung is necessary at the latest after staying 6 months in Germany.</p>
<p>If you live in multiple places, you'd have to register in all of them (but careful: some places tax non-primary residences with the <em>Zweitwohnungsteuer</em>). From the Anmeldung perspective, at least one German place would be your primary residence, even if Germany is not your center of life – this is somewhat unrelated to taxation concerns.</p>
<p>Note that the Anmeldung is a duty of the person living in Germany – not a right of that person or a duty placed on authorities. You cannot obtain an Anmeldung just because you want one.</p>
<p>Moving forward, consider whether you have moved in (or will move in) to a residence in Germany.</p>
<ul>
<li>Consider whether you are living in Germany, with the exception of short visits. Did you “move in” to some residence?</li>
<li>Consider whether you can register in your residence. If you own it, you can. If you rent it, you need a <em>Wohnungsgeberbescheinigung</em> from the landlord to confirm that you do in fact live there.
<ul>
<li>Services that offer a Wohnungsgeberbescheinigung without you living there are illegal. Similarly, friends or family can't give this Bescheinigung unless you actually live there. The maximum fine for this misdemeanour is EUR 50000.</li>
<li>If the landlord illegally refuses this Bescheinigung, you can make the Anmeldung regardless but the matter will be investigated.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
