Formalities

When moving, I know that I have to tell my bank and suppliers of my new address. Any one else?

Indeed! You have to re-register at the police. This is mandatory for every person in Germany – German, European, or whatever. When you do not meet this requirement, you are subject to fine. Relax! For some odd reason, the authorities are not eager to fine anybody for this – unless they stubbornly refuse. So, just excuse yourself and get it done – ASAP.
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At which "police station" do I have to register?

Though the formal requirement is still called "police registration (polizeiliche Anmeldung)", be aware that at most municipalities, you do not register at the police but at the “Meldestelle” or "Einwohnermeldeamt" in your city hall. Even in this case, you register at the “police”. The easiest way to find out where to register is to call the town hall and ask. Do not delay registration because you only have two weeks to get it done – by law. Practical experience, however, shows that the administration will be happy as long as if you claim to have a rental contract no older than six months, and as long as you tell them you moved in within the past week.
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What duties do I have concerning my ID-card or passport during my sojourn in Germany? What happens when I lose my passport?

You are required to

• renew your passport or ID-card on time,
• immediately apply for a new passport or ID-card if it becomes invalid or if you lose it,
• report loss (a plain letter and not a form suffices) of your passport or ID-card to the foreigner’s office ASAP,
• without undue delay present the new one to this authority in person, and now also present all former and especially any retrieved passports (§56 no. 6 AufenthaltsVO),
• present your new passport or new ID-card to the foreigner’s office without undue delay in person if entries have become invalid or if you have renewed the ID-card or passport.
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Also check out following article in the newsletter archive:

"Database on Lost Documents".

And what if I do not fulfill these requirements for identification?

Then you will be subject to a fine up to €1,000 (§17 OWiG). If the police realizes that you do not have your ID with you, the police might take you into custody. You will remain there until your identity is clarified. A practical tip: if you forget your ID at home: Keep calm, tell the police where you live, and at least if you are from an industrialized country, the EU or other buddy countries like Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Japan or the U.S.A., they might accompany you home where you can identify yourself. In any case, ask if they would like to follow you. Be sure to arouse no suspicion by trying to flee. Anyhow, the following table will show you which citizens are exempt of always having a passport at hand. But still, I suggest always having it with – especially if you are to visit any authorities.
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What can I do if the Ausländeramt denies me a permit?

You have the right to appeal. It must be done within one month after having received the denial, in writing, and the appeal must be in German. You ought to name the reasons why you think the administrative decision is wrong. Otherwise, quickly consult an attorney. If you want to take the first step yourself, write a sentence like: “Hiermit lege ich Widerspruch ein gegen den Bescheid vom [date]. Die Begründung des Widerspruchs bleibt einem gesonderten Schreiben vorbehalten, das ein von mir beauftragter Rechts­an­walt einreichen wird. (I hereby contradict the brief of [date]. The reasons for this contradiction will be put forward by an attorney I will hire.)”. It is usually wise to hire an attorney to fight for your rights and interests against an office.
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