- Online residential registration shifts the landscape significantly, according to Wegner.
The capital city of Berlin's leading politician, Kai Wegner from the CDU, views the impending online residential registration, set to kick off mid-October, as a considerable advancement in the digitalization of citizen services. During a summer press conference held at the iconic Red City Hall, Wegner expressed his belief that this development could potentially revolutionize certain appointment scenarios.
Wegner emphasized that the registration and address change procedures, with approximately 500,000 annual applications, are among the most frequently utilized administrative services in Berlin. Furthermore, the digital registration certificate, introduced in 2023, has already been utilized over 130,000 times.
Many people are still unaware of the abundance of digital solutions available for various concerns
These digital advancements could potentially alleviate the strain on citizen services, thereby making it easier to secure appointments for various other services. Therefore, it's essential that Berlin's residents are made aware of these digital opportunities. Regrettably, many remain oblivious to these digital possibilities.
"The current state of citizen services remains subpar," admitted Wegner. "It sometimes takes far too long, I must confess." The Senate continues to make strides in ensuring that appointments can be obtained more quickly. As a result, over 100 additional personnel have undergone training, and a new citizen service center is scheduled to open in Spandau on September 4.
No appointment necessary at the office?
Wegner also announced his intention to implement an idea he had previously proposed - offering citizen services without the requirement for an appointment on certain days. "We're willing to take a chance," declared Wegner. "I want to implement this as soon as possible." He envisioned citizen services being accessible to walk-ins on Wednesdays or Thursdays. Negotiations are ongoing with the districts, some of which support this initiative, while others are still grappling with it. If not all districts respond favorably, the project could still come to fruition as part of a "coalition of the willing," according to Wegner.
It was decided by the Senate at its latest meeting that Berlin residents will soon be able to register their residences online. The service is set to become available from mid-October, as announced by the Senate Chancellery. Consequently, the need for an appointment at the citizen service center will no longer be necessary. It remains unclear when the ultimate goal of securing an office appointment within 14 days upon request will be achieved.
The digital online residential registration, set to commence mid-October, is a significant leap in the digitalization of Berlin's citizen services, as mentioned by Wegner. With the digital registration certificate already utilized over 130,000 times, it's clear that the digital aspect of Berlin's services is gaining traction.
