How to Block Your Address in Germany's Residents' Register (Auskunftssperre & Übermittlungssperre, 2026)

Germany has one of the strongest address-suppression systems in the world — but it is hidden behind two German words most people never learn until they need them: Übermittlungssperre and Auskunftssperre. Both are filed at your local Bürgeramt, both are free, and together they control how Germany's residents' register (the Melderegister) discloses your address to the outside world. This guide explains the difference, who needs which, and how to file them.

Why the Melderegister Matters

In Germany, every resident must register their address ("Anmeldung") at the local Bürgeramt. That record lives in the Melderegister, and third parties can request "simple registry information" (einfache Melderegisterauskunft) — your name and current address. That makes the register itself a quasi-broker feed: address publishers, marketers, and others can pull your details unless you block them.

There are two blocks, and choosing the right one matters.

Übermittlungssperre: the everyday block

An Übermittlungssperre ("transmission block") switches off specific disclosure channels. You do not need to prove any threat — it is available to everyone. It typically blocks disclosure of your registry data:

• to address publishers and for advertising,
• to political parties, candidates, and others in the run-up to elections,
• to churches (where you are not a member), and
• for "age-anniversary" (Altersjubiläen) lists used in marketing.

This is the block most people want. It keeps your registered address from feeding marketing and address-trading while leaving the register otherwise functioning normally.

How to file: request the Übermittlungssperren at your local Bürgeramt — many cities let you do it online, by form, or at your Anmeldung. There is no fee.

Auskunftssperre (§51 BMG): the full block for people at risk

An Auskunftssperre under §51 of the Bundesmeldegesetz (BMG) is far stronger: it is a full information block where disclosure could endanger your life, health, freedom, or similar interests — the tool for stalking victims, people fleeing abuse, and at-risk professions.

• When granted, the authority will not disclose your registered address to third parties.
• It is free, lasts two years, and is renewable.
• You apply at your Bürgeramt/Meldeamt, usually with a short explanation of the risk.

Use the Auskunftssperre if you face a genuine safety threat; use the Übermittlungssperre for ordinary privacy and marketing suppression.

Step-by-Step

1. Decide which block you need — Übermittlungssperre for marketing/general privacy, Auskunftssperre (§51 BMG) if you are at risk.
2. Go to your local Bürgeramt (in person, online, or by post depending on your city; e.g. Berlin offers an online service).
3. File the block(s). Both are free. For the Auskunftssperre, briefly state the risk.
4. Renew the Auskunftssperre before its two-year term expires.

While You're At It: Three More German Steps

• SCHUFA — request your free annual data copy (Datenkopie nach Art. 15 DSGVO), dispute errors, and request deletion of outdated entries. Companies need your consent to pull your score.
• Das Telefonbuch / Das Örtliche — delete your entry via "Mein Telefonbuch" or your phone provider (ID verification required; full removal can take a few weeks).
• Robinsonliste — register to suppress unaddressed direct mail and marketing.

For anything else, use your GDPR rights: objection (Art. 21, absolute for marketing) and erasure (Art. 17). Complaints go to the competent Land data-protection authority — Germany has 17 state DPAs plus the federal BfDI, and the right regulator depends on where the company is based.

Don't Forget the US Brokers

Even with a watertight Melderegister block, German residents are still indexed by US people-search brokers — Whitepages, Spokeo, BeenVerified, and the rest — which resell name, address, and relatives data independent of the German register. The registry blocks close the German feed; they do nothing about the US broker layer.

OfflistMe is built for that layer: one flat payment, no subscription, generating opt-out requests across 500+ US data brokers from your own verified inbox. Pair it with the German steps above to close both feeds.

For your full German rights, the regulators, and every public-record source that feeds brokers, see the Germany data removal guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between an Übermittlungssperre and an Auskunftssperre?

An Übermittlungssperre blocks specific disclosures (advertising, political parties, churches, anniversary lists) and is available to everyone with no threat required. An Auskunftssperre under §51 BMG is a full information block for people whose safety could be endangered; it lasts two years and is renewable. Both are free.

How do I hide my address from Germany's residents' register?

File an Übermittlungssperre at your local Bürgeramt to block specific disclosures. If you face a threat, apply for an Auskunftssperre under §51 BMG, which fully blocks registry information for two years (renewable, free).

How much does a registry block cost in Germany?

Both the Übermittlungssperre and the §51 Auskunftssperre are free. The Auskunftssperre must be renewed every two years.

Does a Melderegister block remove me from people-search sites?

No. It stops the German registry from disclosing your address, but it does not remove data already held by online brokers — including US people-search sites. Use GDPR erasure requests for those, and a US broker opt-out for the US layer.