The standard process when relocating overseas is to pack your bags, book a flight and check into a hostel or hotel while searching for a long-term flat to call home. While this may be true for many cities, the process is somewhat different if moving to Berlin.

In this post, we will explore exactly why the process for Germany differs to the norm and why short-term rentals in Berlin can prove crucial to your relocation. We’ll also take a look at some of the accommodation pitfalls that newcomers to Berlin encounter when they first arrive in the city.

Related resources

• Accommodation with Anmeldung in Berlin

• Complete guide to address registration (Anmeldung) in Berlin

• How to find long-term accommodation in Berlin

• Living in Berlin, what you need to know

• All our apartment-hunting guides and resources

The Process When Moving to Berlin

The reason the German relocation process differs to many other countries is largely due to the fact that you need to officially register at an address, a process that is known as Anmeldung. On paper this seems simple – all you need to do is attend an appointment with the authorities notifying them that you are registering at a specific address in Berlin. For further details, check out our guide on how to complete your Anmeldung in Berlin.

But this is where things can get tricky. Almost all hotels, hostels, Airbnbs, etc. in Berlin do not allow address registration (Anmeldung). On top of this, it is currently difficult to find long-term accommodation in Berlin where you can register due to a significant housing shortage, and almost impossible if trying to land a long-term place from overseas.

So, with tourist accommodation (hotels, etc.) off the cards and long-term accommodation difficult to secure on arrival in Berlin, your best bet is usually to take a short-term rental in Berlin to get you started.

What happens if you don’t register at an address?

It can be tempting to either ignore the Anmeldung requirement completely or to book a hostel or Airbnb for your first few months in Berlin while you search for a long-term apartment to register at. There are a number of reasons why this is a bad idea! Not registering your address quickly after arriving in Germany can bring your whole relocation to a complete standstill. This is because you need to have first completed your Anmeldung in order to:

• Get a German tax ID (otherwise you will be taxed at a much higher rate than normal when starting work in Germany – Ouch!)

• Apply for a visa in Berlin – without your address registration certificate (Anmeldebestätigung), you will be unable to apply for any visa at the immigration office in Berlin, whether this is a Work Visa, Working Holiday Visa, Job Seekers Visa, EU Blue Card, Freelance Visa, etc.

• Perform most administrative steps involved with relocating to Berlin – including opening most bank accounts, taking out a phone contract, signing up for an internet package, etc.

As you can see, failing to register your address quickly in Berlin can severely hamper your relocation process and cause significant delays to your set up.

So, where does this leave you?

So, what can you do?

As failing to register at an address in Germany can leave you without a tax ID or visa (thus abruptly curtailing your relocation to Berlin), you may be interested in booking a furnished apartment with Smartments.

Smartments provide well-located, studio accommodation in Berlin and offer Anmeldung so long as you book for at least 14 nights. By opting for Smartments, you can get registered within days of arriving in Berlin.

Common pitfalls surrounding short-term rentals in Berlin

Above, we have covered why short-term rentals can be essential to a successful relocation to Berlin and how you can quickly complete this all-important step by booking a Smartments apartment.

Nonetheless, we’d also like to highlight a few pitfalls with regard to short-term rentals to help you avoid some of the most common mistakes made by newcomers to Berlin.

Pitfall 1: Booking a hostel or hotel in Berlin

While OK for putting a roof over your head in your first few days in Berlin, hotels or hostels generally do not allow address registration. Without address registration, your relocation will effectively grind to a standstill.

Pitfall 2: Booking an Airbnb in Berlin

As with hotels or hostels, it is very uncommon for an Airbnb to allow address registration. Again, this will hamper your move and prevent you from progressing through the relocation process.

Pitfall 3: Registering at a friend’s address in Berlin without the landlord’s permission

There are generally two issues here:

• It is not legal to be registered at an address that you will not actually be living at.

• The landlord will be notified if someone registers at their property. If they have not given their prior consent for this, they may accuse your friend of illegally subletting the property to you, something that is grounds for eviction.

We hope you’ve found this post helpful! For further tips and tricks on moving to Berlin, check out the free resources and guides on our homepage.