Registration and residence

You will have a lot to do when you arrive in Frankfurt. For example: you will have to register with the city or apply for various documents.

Here you will find information on the following:

• If you have just moved to Frankfurt am Main
• If you are not from the EU
• If you need help in contacting a public authority
• If you have problems or questions about your residence
• If you need help with your ongoing asylum procedure

If you have just moved to Frankfurt am Main

Register in person at the Bürgeramt (Citizens' Office) within two weeks. To do this you will need:

• An address where you can be reached
• Confirmation from your landlord or the person you live with. In German, this is called a "Wohnungsgeberbestätigung".
• Your identity document (passport or identity card)

You can find the addresses and opening hours of all Bürgerämter (Citizens' Offices) in your area here:
www.frankfurt.de/buergeraemter

You can download forms and make an appointment online:
www.frankfurt.de/buergeraemter/terminservice

You can find more information on registering, deregistering or re-registering a flat here:
www.frankfurt.de/abmeldungen-ummeldungen-anmeldungen

If you are not from the EU

If you are not from another EU country, you will have to register with the Ausländerbehörde (Foreigner’ Registration Office). The Foreigner’ Registration Office is responsible for everything to do with residence.

You can find the address and opening hours here:
www.frankfurt.de/auslaenderbehoerde

You can download forms to apply for or renew your residence permit, for example:
www.frankfurt.de/auslaenderbehoerde/formulare

You do not have to go to the Foreigner’ Registration Office yourself for everything. You can read more about this in the "Kontaktinformationen Ausländerbehörde" (Foreigner’ Registration Office Contact Information) in Arabic, German, English, French and Turkish:
www.frankfurt.de/auslaenderbehoerde/kontaktinformationen

The Foreigner’ Registration Office can answer many of your questions online. You can read the answers to the most frequently asked questions in Arabic, Bosnian, Chinese, German, English, Hindi, Serbian, Spanish and Turkish:
www.frankfurt.de/auslaenderbehoerde/faq

If you need help in contacting a public authority

Some letters can be difficult to understand. And sometimes you might not know how to fill out an application.There are several advice centres that you can turn to for help:

• Allgemeine Sozialberatung des Internationalen Familienzentrums
  e. V. (General Social Advisory Service of the International Family Centre) in Bosnian, German, Croatian, Polish, Serbian, Turkish, Tigrinya and Amharic:
  www.ifz-ev.de/migrationsberatung
• Caritas social advisory service:
  www.caritas-frankfurt.de/sozialberatung
• Lese- und Schreibservice der ASB Lehrerkooperative (The Reading and Writing Service of the ASB Teachers' Cooperative): 
  www.lehrerkooperative.de/lese-schreibservice-gallus
• Guide to Official Authorities for Frankfurt West, provided by Christen helfen:
  www.stiftung-christenhelfen.de/behoerdenlotsen
• Migration Advice Centres for Adults, for people aged 27 and older, and Youth Migration Services, for young people aged 12 to 26, provide support in many different languages. You can find all contacts you need in the flyer "Welcome to Frankfurt am Main".
  www.amka.de/flyer-willkommen

If you have problems or questions about your residence

You can get an initial legal assessment here - free of charge:

• Goethe Uni Law Clinic in Albanian, Amharic/Tigrinya, Arabic, Bulgarian, Chinese, German, English, Farsi/Dari, French, Kurdish, Russian, Somali, Spanish and Turkish:
  www.jura.uni-frankfurt.de/beratungsangebot
• Frankfurter Rechtshilfekomitee für Ausländer e. V. (Frankfurt Legal Aid Committee for Foreign Nationals): 
  www.rechtshilfekomitee.de/flyer.pdf
• Verband binationaler Familien und Partnerschaften e. V. (Association of Binational Familes and Partnerships):
  www.verband-binationaler.de/infos-fuer-ratsuchende
• "Der Laden" Advisory Centre for Refugees:
  www.der-laden-frankfurt.de

If you need help with your ongoing asylum procedure

Do you live in shared accommodation? Then please ask the responsible social workers. You can also get help here:

• Amnesty International Asylberatung (advice for asylum seekers) in Arabic, German, English, Farsi/Dari, French, Kurdish, Russian and Turkish:
  www.amnesty-frankfurt.de/flyer_asylum.pdf
• Pro Asyl advice in individual cases:
  www.proasyl.de/asylberatung/
• Besonderer Dienst 4 des Jugend- und Sozialamts (special service provided by the Youth and Social Welfare Office) of the City of Frankfurt am Main:
  www.frankfurt.de/fluechtlinge-und-auswaertige