Anmeldung is the registration of your address with the local authority. It is important, but it is not a universal first step that can happen independently of housing. You normally need an actual address and confirmation from the housing provider in the accepted form.
Before travelling, locate the responsible city page and read its current list of documents. Appointment systems and accepted alternatives differ. Save the official page, record when you checked it, and keep evidence if appointments are unavailable.
Build around dependencies
Your university may need health-insurance status communicated in a particular way. A bank may ask for identification or address evidence. Residence administration may require several items that take time to obtain. Put each task on paper and draw a line to what it depends on.
Carry originals securely and keep paper copies for appointments, but do not hand over your passport as security to a private person. Store digital copies in an account protected with multi-factor authentication.
After registration, check how your city handles the broadcasting contribution. Students in a shared flat generally coordinate around one contribution account rather than each paying without checking. Exemptions depend on circumstances and should be verified through the official service.
If your planned order changes because an appointment disappears, revise the sequence. Administrative preparation is not about completing everything on day one; it is about knowing the next available action and keeping proof.