Registering your address in Wels (Meldezettel)

Last updated: 24 October 2026

Everyone who moves into a home in Austria must register the address within three days. This applies to tenants, owners and flatmates alike, whether you come from abroad or from the next town. Parents register their children.

Where to register

Registration is handled by the mayor's office. In Wels you go to the city administration (Magistrat). In the municipalities of the Wels-Land district, such as Marchtrenk, Thalheim or Gunskirchen, you go to the municipal office (Gemeindeamt). If you have been registered in Austria before, you can also change your address online with ID Austria.

What to bring

the completed registration form (Meldezettel), one per person
documents that prove your identity, such as a passport or national ID card
the signature of your accommodation provider on the form

The accommodation provider (Unterkunftgeber) is whoever lets you live there: your landlord, or in a shared flat with subletting, the main tenant. They must sign. They may refuse only if you have not moved in and will not do so within a week. If they refuse without reason, the authority can register you anyway.

Main or secondary residence

Your main residence (Hauptwohnsitz) is the home that is the centre of your life. If you have several homes, you name the one you are most closely tied to through work, family or education. Any other home is registered as a secondary residence (Nebenwohnsitz).

Keep the confirmation

The office confirms your registration on a copy of the form, the Meldebestätigung. Keep it safe: banks, employers and many offices ask for it.

Moving out

When you move out, deregister within three days before or after. If you move within Austria, you can deregister at the same time as you register at the new address.

If you forget

Failing to register or deregister on time is an administrative offence with a fine of up to €726, or up to €2,180 for repeat offences. Simply do it in your first week.

Still looking for a flat? Browse rentals in Wels and Wels-Land. For flatshares, see the guide on shared flats.