Registering at your New Address

If you enter Austria with the intention of staying here, you are legally obliged to register your new address within three days of moving in.

Registration of Address

Residence Registration (Meldebestätigung)

The certificate you receive is commonly known as a Meldezettel and is often required when applying for state benefits, signing a phone contract or opening a bank account. Keep this with your most important documents, as you will often be required to present the original. You can register an address as either your primary or a secondary place of residence. If you change your place of residence, you must de-register from the previous address and register at the new one.

Where to Register

At the registration office in your new place of residence, usually the town hall (Rathaus) or the city’s municipal administration (Gemeindeamt).

You have to register your address in person and you can register or de-register at any Registration Service Centre (Meldeservicestelle) in Vienna. You can also nominate a representative to file the application on your behalf, however they will need to present your original passport or ID-card.

You’ll need to bring the following documents:

completed registration form (MeldezettelMeldezettel ()) with the landlord's signature and your own signature
a valid passport and/or ID card.
evidence of your new address, such as a rental or purchase agreement or simply a signature from the landlord on a form. If you are living rent-free with friends or relatives, a signed confirmation (MietrechtsvereinbarungMietrechtsvereinbarung ()) of this is required.

Further information on registering a new primary or secondary place of residence.

For Vienna we recommend booking an appointment using this online reservation tool (only available in German).