Learn Hardcore German: Die Anmeldung erfolgt online. - The registration takes place online.

Erfolgen means “to take place,” “to occur,” or “to be carried out.” It’s a formal, neutral way to say something happens. Here it states that the act of registering happens online. It is not a passive form; it’s an active, impersonal-sounding main verb.

Why isn’t there an auxiliary like ist or wird?

Because erfolgen itself is the main verb in the present tense: Die Anmeldung (Subject) erfolgt (Verb) online (Adverb). You would see ist erfolgt in the present perfect (e.g., “has taken place”), but not in simple present.

Can I say Die Anmeldung ist online instead?

Usually no. ist online sounds like “is online (available/on the web)” and can be ambiguous (it could mean a website is up). To express that the process happens online, prefer:

Die Anmeldung erfolgt online.
Die Anmeldung ist online möglich. (The registration is possible online.)

Why the definite article die? Is Anmeldung feminine?

Yes, Anmeldung is feminine: die Anmeldung (singular), die Anmeldungen (plural). The definite article here can be generic (“the registration (process) in this context”). You could use the indefinite in some contexts—e.g., Eine Anmeldung erfolgt online—if you mean “a registration (one instance) is done online.”

Where’s the reflexive sich from sich anmelden?

Using the noun die Anmeldung avoids the reflexive verb. If you phrase it with the verb, you’d say:

Man meldet sich online an.
Sie müssen sich online anmelden.

What’s the difference between Anmeldung, Registrierung, and Anmelden?

die Anmeldung: a registration/sign-up (noun). Also used for event sign-ups, administrative procedures, even for “login” in IT contexts.
die Registrierung: registration (often in tech/online account contexts; slightly more international/technical).
(sich) anmelden: (to) register/sign up; also “to log in.”
All can overlap, but Anmeldung is very common in bureaucratic and event contexts.

Can Anmeldung also mean “reception/registration desk”?

Yes. On a sign in an office, Anmeldung often means “reception/registration desk.” In this sentence it clearly refers to the process of registering.

Can I drop the article and say Anmeldung erfolgt online?

In headlines, labels, or bullet points: yes (very common). In a full sentence, standard German prefers the article: Die Anmeldung erfolgt online.

Can I change the word order, e.g., Online erfolgt die Anmeldung?

Yes. Online erfolgt die Anmeldung is fine and puts emphasis on “online.” The neutral order is Die Anmeldung erfolgt online.
Question form: Erfolgt die Anmeldung online?

Is online lower-case? Could I say im Internet instead?

As an adverb, online is lower-case: online.
In compounds used as adjectives/nouns, capitalize the first part: die Online-Anmeldung.
Alternatives: im Internet, übers Internet, elektronisch. online is the most concise and common.

How do I pronounce the words here?

Anmeldung: stress on the first syllable: “AHN-mel-doong” (the final -ung like a short “oong,” g is part of the “ng” sound).
erfolgt: stress on “folgt”: “air-FOLKT” (the -gt sounds like “kt”).
online: like English “ON-line” (German often keeps the English-like pronunciation).

Is Die Anmeldung findet online statt the same?

Yes. stattfinden (“to take place”) is a very common alternative. Nuance:

erfolgt feels slightly more formal/bureaucratic.
findet … statt is very standard and neutral. Avoid passieren here; it sounds wrong for planned processes.

How else could I paraphrase this (active/passive)?

Neutral/impersonal: Es wird online angemeldet. (passive)
Active, generic subject: Man meldet sich online an.
Instructional: Die Anmeldung muss online erfolgen.
Colloquial but acceptable: Die Anmeldung wird online gemacht. (less precise/stylistically weaker than erfolgen/stattfinden)

How do I put this in other tenses?

Past (Präteritum): Die Anmeldung erfolgte online.
Present perfect (with sein): Die Anmeldung ist online erfolgt.
Future: Die Anmeldung wird online erfolgen.

Is erfolgt related to Erfolg (“success”) or erfolgreich (“successful”)?

They share the root folg- (“to follow”), but in modern usage erfolgen = “to occur/take place,” while der Erfolg = “success” and erfolgreich = “successful.” Don’t read “success” into erfolgt here.