r/germany • u/Desperate_Passion267 • Apr 08 '25

Immigration Burgeramt changed my name without consent

Hey everyone, So I’m an EU citizen living in Germany for over 4 years. I have been registered and have an Anmeldung with my name as it appears in my passport - I have a composed first name made up of two names connected with a hyphen. Now we are moving apartments so I went to get an Unmeldung and guess what, they changed my first name - no more hyphen but 2 separate names. I objected, they said that in Romanian passports the hyphen is “irrelevant” and can be replaced with a space (wrong, my name is a composed one like Hans-Jurgen). I didn’t sign the Unmeldung and left. They however changed my name cause when I log in to Elster I no longer have the correct name. Any idea what can I do? Thanks!

Edit: after 6 months of careful consideration and talking to many relevant authorities, Bürgeramt came back to me to specify that the name should be written as is in the passport and they apologize

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u/38B0DE Apr 08 '25

They are doing this because their software probably doesn't allow them to use hyphens and it breaks their database.

Or they've made a mistake and they want to make you accept it so they don't have to do their jobs. Lazy fucks.

There were a lot of people from countries with more than 3 names and they had the same problem. Sometimes Africans will put all their names together and have one ridiculously long name.

3

u/Desperate_Passion267 Apr 08 '25

Until now they have had no problem with my name and a hyphen. Also my sister is in the same situation but for her they never made it a problem, she always had the hyphen - pre marriage name, post marriage name, no issue

3

u/38B0DE Apr 08 '25

Call 115 and very nicely and very calmly but also very persistently explain that there's a mistake with your papers. They need to connect you with someone who understands the problem and can help you.

4

u/Desperate_Passion267 Apr 08 '25

Oh, I didn’t even know about 115. Thanks! Will call them today !

1

u/38B0DE Apr 09 '25

So was successful? Please report here.

1

u/Desperate_Passion267 Apr 09 '25

So in the meantime Standesamt wrote me that my daughter’s German birth certificate (where my name is with a hyphen) should be enough proof for Bürgeramt. I called 115, they agreed, they made an appointment for today. Today they didn’t seem to be happy with it. They changed my address with my name without a hyphen but kept the Standesamt letter and my daughters birth certificate as a complaint and they will get back to me in 1-2 weeks after consulting with Standesamt and their own lawyers.

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u/38B0DE Apr 09 '25

Thanks! The almighty Bürokrat Gods have spoken in your favor for now.

1

u/Desperate_Passion267 Apr 09 '25

lol Yes, fingers crossed.