Based on the obligation to register, the statistics of migration records arrivals and departures of the population in Germany. Any movement into or out of a dwelling is regarded as migration, provided that it is the only or main place of residence (change of dwelling). When the status of a dwelling is altered, for instance a secondary place of residence becomes the main place of residence, this is regarded as migration. Guests at accommodation units and visitors staying with relatives or friends are obliged to register only when they stay for longer. According to the present registration requirements as laid down in the legislation of the Länder, this is mostly the case when the duration of a stay exceeds two months. The calling-up and release of persons doing compulsory military service is not regarded as migration. The statistics of migration covers migration across the borders of the territory of Germany after 03 October1990 (external migration) and migration between municipalities within Germany (internal migration). When people move within municipalities, this is not recorded. Over time, the statistics of migration shows cases of migration, not persons moving.
