The mandatory deadlines first
Registering with the residents' registration office (Einwohnermeldeamt) is a legal requirement in Germany and must generally be done within two weeks of moving in. Everything else is contractual in nature — and the rule of thumb there is: the earlier, the less follow-up hassle.
Who you should notify in writing
| Recipient | When | Why in writing |
|---|---|---|
| Residents' registration office | within 2 weeks of moving in | statutory registration requirement |
| Employer / payroll office | before the moving date | tax statements, mail sent to your private address |
| Insurers | before the move | contents and liability cover depend on the address |
| Banks, building societies | promptly | identification, statements, cards |
| Energy, internet, broadcasting fee | 2–6 weeks in advance | meter readings, transferring or cancelling the connection |
| Doctors, schools, clubs | after moving in | bills and invitations are sent by post |
Sample wording
Subject: Change of address — customer number 123456
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to inform you of my new address. From 1 October 2026, it will be: Musterweg 4, 10115 Berlin. Please direct all correspondence to the new address from that date onward, and confirm the change to me briefly in writing.
Yours faithfully
The same wording works for almost any recipient — only the customer number and date change. In the editor, simply swap the recipient's address and send the next letter in under a minute, with no printer and no trip to the postbox.
A mail redirection order is not a substitute for notification
A mail redirection order (Nachsendeauftrag) buys you time, but it doesn't inform anyone. Contracts continue to run to your old address, and once the order expires, post ends up with the new occupant again. Use mail redirection as a safety net, not as a solution.
An order that has proven itself
- Four weeks beforehand: energy, internet, telephone.
- Two weeks beforehand: insurers, employer, bank.
- Moving week: set up mail redirection, note down meter readings.
- First week after: registration office, vehicle registration, broadcasting fee.
- First month: doctors, subscriptions, clubs, online retailers.