Leaving Germany: what to do before moving abroad

5 key things to do before leaving Germany

• Deregister your address if you are leaving Germany (and not moving to another home in Germany).
• Check your telecom and energy contracts early, because moving abroad does not automatically end every contract.
• Stop the broadcasting contribution if you give up your home in Germany completely.
• Clarify your rent, deposit and final bills before handing over the flat.
• Close or reorganise your bank account and redirect your post if needed.

Do you need to deregister your address in Germany?

If you leave your home in Germany (and do not move into another home in Germany), you generally have to deregister from your local registration authority.

This also usually applies if you move abroad for more than one year. If you move within Germany, deregistration is usually not required.

When do you need to do this?

You can usually deregister:

• at the earliest 7 days before moving out
• at the latest 2 weeks after moving out

The exact procedure depends on the local authority. Many offices allow deregistration:

• in person
• by post
• and in some cases online

You normally receive an official deregistration confirmation.

What happens to your phone, internet and TV contracts?

Do not assume that leaving Germany automatically ends your telecom contracts. Check the contract term and the cancellation rules as early as possible.

Can you cancel after automatic renewal?

Yes. If you missed the ordinary cancellation deadline and the contract has already been extended automatically after the initial term, you can usually cancel it at any time with one month’s notice.

What if the provider cannot serve your new address?

If your provider cannot provide the agreed telecom service at your new residence after you move, you generally have a statutory special termination right with one month’s notice.

If the provider can continue to provide the service at your new address, the contract usually continues until the end of the term. In that case, you generally still have to pay until the contract ends.

If the provider can continue the contract at the new residence, it may charge a reasonable moving fee, but not more than the cost of setting up a new connection.

What about routers and other devices?

If you received equipment such as a router or modem, remember:

• returning the device does not by itself cancel the contract
• contract cancellation and device return are two separate issues

What if TV or broadband is linked to your rent?

Check this carefully. Since 1 July 2024, landlords may no longer simply pass on monthly charges for a TV or broadband connection through ancillary costs in the old way. If telecom services are connected to the tenancy, customer-protection rules generally apply there as well.

If you want more detail on choosing or ending telecom contracts, see our article on telecommunication in Germany.

How do you stop the Rundfunkbeitrag when leaving Germany?

If you move abroad permanently and give up your home in Germany completely, you can deregister your broadcasting-contribution account. As a rule, you need proof, such as confirmation of deregistration from the registration authority.

You do not have to do this by post. The contribution service provides an official form for deregistering a home, including for people who move abroad permanently.

How much notice do you need for your rental contract?

If your residential tenancy agreement does not contain a fixed minimum term or another special arrangement, you can usually terminate it with three months’ notice.

Legally, the notice must reach the landlord by the third working day of a calendar month if the tenancy is to end at the close of the month after next.

Can you end the tenancy early because you move abroad?

Usually not. Moving abroad or changing jobs does not generally give tenants a special statutory right to terminate an ordinary residential tenancy early.

Before leaving, make sure you also clarify:

• the handover date
• the final operating-cost statement
• the return of the deposit

Should you close your German bank account?

A current account in Germany can generally be cancelled at any time. A contractual notice period is allowed, but it may not exceed one month.

Before closing the account, check that:

• no direct debits are still running
• no standing orders are still active
• the account is not overdrawn

If the account is overdrawn, you will usually have to settle the negative balance first.

Can you redirect your post after leaving Germany?

Yes. If you want your mail to be forwarded after leaving Germany, you can use the Nachsendeservice of Deutsche Post. Deutsche Post currently recommends placing the order at least 5 working days before the forwarding period begins. The service for private customers is currently offered for up to 6 months.

What happens to your electricity, gas, water and heating contracts?

Energy contracts do not end automatically when you move out. You need to take action yourself. Depending on the situation, that means cancelling the contract or asking whether it can continue at your new address.

What are the main cancellation rules?

If you are in the basic supply for electricity or gas, you can generally cancel the contract with two weeks’ notice.

For other energy contracts, there is generally a special termination right in case of a move. However, if the supplier offers within two weeks to continue the contract at your new address on the same terms, the special termination right no longer applies. In that case, the continuation must be free of charge.

For a special termination because of a move, your notice should generally reach the supplier six weeks before the date of the move.

What should you do before moving out?

Before you leave the flat, note the meter readings for electricity and gas. It is best to:

• write them down in the handover record
• take a photo as proof

Whether water and district heating are billed through your landlord or through a separate supplier depends on your housing situation, so check your contract documents carefully.

What about gym memberships, subscriptions and transport tickets?

For other contracts such as gym memberships, newspaper subscriptions or similar consumer contracts, first check:

• the initial contract term
• the ordinary cancellation deadline

For many consumer contracts concluded since 1 March 2022, tacit extensions are generally only allowed for an indefinite period, and the extended contract must then be cancellable at any time with one month’s notice. The notice period for cancelling at the end of the initial term may also be no more than one month.

Does moving abroad always let you end the contract early?

No. Moving abroad does not automatically mean that every contract can be ended immediately. Whether an early exit is possible depends on the contract and, in some cases, on specific legal rules.

What about clubs and associations?

For associations and clubs, the statutes may set notice periods. Under German law, members have the right to leave an association, but the statutes may provide that withdrawal is only possible at the end of a financial year or subject to a notice period of up to two years.

What about public transport subscriptions?

The rules depend on the provider and the product.

For example:

• BahnCard 25 and 50 can be cancelled up to 4 weeks before the end of the term in text form
• the Deutschlandticket can currently be cancelled up to the 10th day of a month for the end of that month