Register of residents; application for an information block or transmission block

Information block

If there are facts that justify the assumption that providing information from the register of residents could put you or another person – for example, your relatives – at risk (risk to life, health, personal liberty or similar interests worthy of protection), your registration details will be blocked accordingly upon application to the registration authority (block on disclosure). Similar interests worthy of protection include, in particular, the protection of the person concerned or another person from threats, insults and unauthorised stalking. When determining whether the above circumstances apply, the registration authority must also take into account whether you or the other person belong to a group of people who, by virtue of their professional or voluntary activities, are generally exposed to a heightened risk of hostility or other attacks. However, membership of a particular professional group alone is not sufficient grounds for imposing a restriction on access to information.

Before the information restriction is put in place, your details will be checked by the registration authority. If this check confirms that the above-mentioned conditions are met, an information restriction will be noted in the register of residents, which applies to all types of information from the register.

If you have several addresses, all other relevant registration authorities will be informed of the restriction on access to information and will record it. Similarly, the registration authority for your most recent previous address will also record the restriction on access to information.

Restrictions on access to information always apply for the purpose of protection that was decisive for the registration. If a request is made for information from the register of residents concerning you, the registration authority may nevertheless provide the information, if, after hearing your views, the registration authority concludes that the disclosure of the information from the register of residents does not compromise the purpose of the restriction on access and that your other legitimate interests are also safeguarded.

The information block is valid for a limited period of two years and can be extended upon request. You will be informed by the registration authority in good time before the information block expires.

Please note that restrictions on access to information may also result in disadvantages for you or family members who are registered at the same address: Digital administrative services that rely on retrieving registration data (e.g. for verification or to pre-fill application details) can no longer be used if a restriction on access to information has been entered in the register of residents.

Transmission blocks

• Restriction on the disclosure of data to religious communities under public law (Section 42(3), second sentence, of the Federal Registration Act)
  The Federal Registration Act provides that, in addition to the data of their members, public religious communities may also be provided with certain basic data on family members (namely spouses or civil partners, minor children and the parents of minor children) who do not belong to the same or any public religious community. The family member concerned – not the member themselves – may request that a transmission block be imposed. However, this transmission block does not apply where data is transmitted for the purposes of the tax collection rights of the respective religious communities under public law.

• Information to political parties, voter groups and other bodies submitting lists of candidates (Section 50(1) and (5) of the Federal Registration Act (BMG))
  The registration authority may provide political parties, voter groups and other bodies submitting lists of candidates with information on groups of eligible voters during the six months preceding an election or referendum at state or local level. Only age may be used to define these groups. The dates of birth of eligible voters must not be disclosed. The information provided comprises names, addresses and doctoral degrees. The recipient must delete the data no later than one month after the election or referendum. You may object to this disclosure of information.

• Information on birthdays and wedding anniversaries (Section 50(2) and (5) of the Federal Registration Act (BMG), Section 21 of the Registration Regulations (MeldDV)) Information from the register of residents regarding residents’
  birthdays and wedding anniversaries may be provided to elected representatives, the press and broadcasters. The information may only include the data necessary for this purpose (surnames, first names, academic titles, address) as well as the date and nature of the anniversary. Furthermore, the registration authorities may transmit data on milestone birthdays and wedding anniversaries to the Federal Office of Administration and the District Office for the purpose of congratulations from the Federal President or the District Administrator. The State Office for Finance automatically receives data on milestone birthdays and wedding anniversaries for the purpose of congratulations from the Minister-President. You may object to the provision of this information or the transmission of these data.

• Disclosure of information to directory publishers (Section 50(3) and (5) of the Federal Registration Act)
  The Federal Registration Act permits the disclosure to directory publishers of the first names, surnames, academic titles and addresses of residents who have reached the age of 18. The data provided may only be used for the publication of address books (address directories in book form). You may object to this disclosure of information.

If you have objected, the respective transfer block will be entered by your registration authority free of charge. The transfer block will only be entered at the municipality where you have objected to the data transfer. If you have several homes and wish to exclude data transmission for all homes, you must object to data transmission to all municipalities in which you are registered with your main or secondary residence.

Transmission blocks apply indefinitely.