Meldeamt / Meldeservice letter explained in English

Registration office. Registers your address (Meldezettel). You need this registration for many other papers.

Letters you may get

• Meldebestätigung — proof of your registered address
• Aufforderung zur Meldung — you must register or update your address
• Abmeldung — your registration at an address was ended

What to do

• You must register within 3 days after moving in, and deregister within 3 days before or after moving out.
• The owner or main tenant of the flat must sign your Meldezettel.
• Find the deadline. Look for “Frist”, “bis zum”, “innerhalb”.
• Write the reference number from the letter on everything you send back, and keep copies.
• If you disagree with a decision, object in writing before the deadline (“Beschwerde”, “Vorstellung”, “Einspruch”, “Beschwerde”). See the template.

Words you may see

Meldezettel

Form to register your address. You must register within 3 days after moving in.

Questions

What is the Meldeamt / Meldeservice?

Registration office. Registers your address (Meldezettel). You need this registration for many other papers.

How long do I have to answer a letter from the Meldeamt / Meldeservice?

It depends on the letter. Look for words like “Frist”, “bis zum”, “innerhalb” — they mark the deadline. In Austria, an official letter sent by normal post usually counts as delivered on the 3rd working day after it was posted. A registered letter (RSa or RSb) counts as delivered on the day you get it — or, if you were not home, usually on the first day you can pick it up at the post office. To object, the letter usually names the way to do it (“Beschwerde”, “Vorstellung”, “Einspruch”, “Beschwerde”).

Can I read a Meldeamt / Meldeservice letter in English?

Yes. Take a photo of the letter with Briefly. It explains the letter in plain English, finds the deadline and the amount, and gives you ready-made replies in German. Your letter never leaves your device.

Other offices in Austria

Finanzamt Österreich · Familienbeihilfe (Finanzamt Österreich) · AMS (Arbeitsmarktservice) · Magistrat / Bezirkshauptmannschaft · MA 35 / Niederlassungsbehörde · ÖGK (Österreichische Gesundheitskasse) · SVS (Sozialversicherung der Selbständigen) · Pensionsversicherungsanstalt (PVA)