Leaving Germany & Moving On

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Leaving Germany & Moving On

There are a number of tasks to be completed before departure when leaving Germany and moving on.

Anyone who registered with their Embassy on arrival now needs to advise them that they are moving on.

• British citizens will find useful information for returning to the UK, including a checklist of things to do, on the Directgov website: Click here
• Australians should consult their government site: Click here
• Information for Canadian citizens: Click here

Anyone who registered with their Embassy on arrival now needs to advise them that they are moving on.

Local Authorities

All foreigners in Germany must register with the local authorities in their place of residence. This is done at the town hall with the Einwohnermeldeamt or Bürgeramt. Once the formalities have been completed a registration card is issued (Polizeiliche Anmeldebestätigung).

Before leaving Germany, foreigners must de-register. To do this, visit the local authorities and complete the relevant paperwork. Some cities allow the paperwork to be completed online to save queuing. The form is known as the Abmeldungsformulare.

• Find out if online deregistration is available in a particular area by visiting the registration authority's (Meldeaemter) website: Click here (in German)

Education

Give schools a reasonable amount of notice of a child's departure. There may be outstanding bills for school fees, transport or meals to be settled.

On registration at a new school in the new country a parent may be asked for a certificate stating the latest grade passed by the child. Request this from the school when giving notice of departure. Schools will normally be happy to provide a summary of a child's progress and up-to-date test results.

Leave a forwarding address for any correspondence.

Housing Issues

Rental contract

The rental contract should state the required period of notice (kuendigungsfrist). Always give notice in writing.

If the tenancy is less than two years then the normal notice period is three months. For tenancies lasting between two and five years it is six months and over ten years requires a twelve-month notice period.

If for some reason the required notice period cannot be adhered to, the landlord has the right to charge a fee (weitervermietungsaufwand) to cover costs (such as advertising for a replacement tenant). However, most landlords will agree to waive this if a suitable new tenant (nachmieter) can be found to take over the contract.

Tenants pay a deposit at the start of the rental period (usually equivalent to one to three months' rent) which should be returned with interest at the end of the rental period. Any damage or repair costs are deducted from this deposit. Deductions will be made if the property is not in the same state as when it was rented.

Property sales

German law dictates that sellers of property sold within 10 years of purchase are liable for 15 percent capital gains tax.

It is possible to sell property privately or through estate agents. The German Real Estate Association (Immobilien Verband Deutschland, IVD) is an association of estate agents, property officials and real estate tax advisors.

• For the German Real Estate Association website: Click here (in German)

Agents charge fees for their services. Commissions are negotiable and either the buyer or the seller pays the commission in full, or it is split between them.

The seller must be present at the signing of the sales contract. A non-German speaker may have an interpreter present if they wish. The vendor and the buyer must show official identification papers as part of the procedure.

Insurance

House insurance can be cancelled once a sale is completed and in some circumstances a partial refund may be due. It is best to cancel all insurance in writing and by recorded delivery.

Utility bills

As with any house move, there are utility bills to be settled and meters to be read. If meters are not outside, access to the property will be required. Leave a forwarding address with all the companies involved.

In Germany, meters are normally read once a year. Contact the supplier for a final reading or use the online facility offered by some suppliers to record a reading and to disconnect service (Abmelden).

Electricity and Gas: Many electricity and gas companies have customer service centres or customer advice lines with staff that speak some English and can assist with the completion of the formalities and payment of the final account.

• For an alphabetical list of all electricity suppliers (stromanbieter) in Germany: Click here
• For a list of gas suppliers (gasanbieter) in Germany: Click here

Water: Water in Germany is usually supplied by the local waterworks (kommunale wasserwerke). Contact the supplier by telephone or via their website. Many have facilities for registering readings and requesting disconnection online.

Those residing in a rental property will likely be paying for their water as part of their additional rental costs and need take no action on departure,

Telephone and Internet: To disconnect or transfer telephone and Internet services, inform the provider at least a week prior to the move.

Please note that some German suppliers insist on a minimum contract period which prohibits the contract being terminated before a certain date without penalty.

For customers of Deutsche Telekom (T-Com) disconnection can be arranged online (in German), by telephone or in person at a T-Punkt customer service centre.

They will require the usual information regarding account number, addresses, disconnection date and so on.

• For the Deutsche Telekom website: Click here (in German)

Customers of TKS will find that disconnection requires one month's notice and will terminate at the end of a calendar month. The pre-paid deposit is usually retained for payment of charges for the final month.

• Find out more at the TKS website: Click here (in English)

Health Care and Social Security

Those in employment will have paid contributions to a health insurance fund. The employer or the employee should now contact the appropriate fund to de-register. These funds also deal with registration in the pension, unemployment and care schemes and will have provided employees with a medical card, a social security number and a social security insurance document (angestelltenversicherungnachweisheft).

Therefore it is important that they are notified of departure.

Those with particularly well-paid jobs may have been obliged to take out private medical cover while others may have optionally chosen to do so. Any private health insurance cover which has been in force may need changing or cancelling now. Ensure that health insurance remains valid until arrival in the new country of residence or continues as appropriate.

Those who have made contributions to a pension fund (state and/or private), should inquire about the possibility of transferring benefits as well as provide a forwarding address. EU citizens can normally transfer benefits between countries quite simply.

• For more information, see the German Institute for Pension Insurance (Bundesversicherungsanstalt): Click here (in German)

Anyone who has been in receipt of other social security benefits, such as Unemployment Benefit (Arbeitslosengeld) or Child Benefit, must notify the authorities that they are leaving. Contact the local employment office (Arbeitsagentur) or the social offices (Sozial Ämter) of the city or town council before departure.

Business and Tax Issues

Banking

A German bank account should be kept open for a short period to settle final bills (in Euros).

Speak to the bank before departure to check what documentation will be required to close an account. Some banks reserve the right to charge for closing an account.

Credit card companies will also need to be notified of a new address for statements.

Tax

The tax system in Germany is known to be one of the most complicated in the world. Most people make use of a tax advisor to fill out their tax returns and it would be wise to check that the extent of any remaining tax liability is understood before departure. As well as consulting a tax advisor, a visit to the local tax office (Finanzamt) is advisable.

As a general rule everyone who is employed completes a tax return in Germany. Even retirees with investment income should complete one.

The tax year in Germany is 1 January to 31 December. The deadline for filing a tax return is always 31 May of the following year. This can be extended until the end of September if a tax advisor is filing the tax return or on written confirmation from the tax office.

It may take the tax office several months to confirm whether any refunds or additional payments are due.

Correspondence

A redirection service is available from the German post office (Deutsche Post). This service can be requested at a post office or online.

• For the German post office website: Click here (in German)
• For the online redirection service: Click here (in German)
• For further information, as well as instructions for how to complete the post redirection form, see the AngloINFO INFOrmation page, Moving House in Germany

Vehicles and Driving

To export a vehicle from Germany, contact the local Vehicle Registration Office (Kraftfahrzeugzulassungsstelle).

• For addresses of Vehicle Registration Offices: Click here

When de-registering, the Vehicle Registration Office will ask for proof of ownership and registration as well as the vehicle licence plates.

Embassies in the new country of residence can provide information on the importation of personal goods.

• Find more information about vehicle imports and exports from the Information Office of German Customs (Zoll): Click here

Driving licences: In theory, drivers with valid licences issued by EU and EEA member states may continue to use their current driving licence for an unlimited period in any EU Member State. For those that have changed to a German licence this may well be accepted in their new place of residence (particularly if it is another EU country) but it is worth checking with the relevant embassy prior to departure.

Animals

Dogs in Germany must be registered at the local town hall and dog tax (Hundesteuer) must be paid. Before leaving Germany with a dog, advise the town hall of your move so that they may update their records.

Depending on the destination, some animals may require a period of quarantine. Their move will almost certainly require documentation and possible additional vaccinations or similar medical treatment.

The EU pet passport covers dogs, cats and ferrets for movement within Europe and the Pets Travel Scheme (PETS) allows qualifying domestic pets to travel to and from the UK without a period of quarantine. There is a waiting period after vaccination before a vet can carry out blood tests and issue a passport. Local vets can provide information and documentation.

Travelling to other EU destinations with pets with passports (cats, dogs and ferrets) is relatively straightforward but relocating to a non-EU country will be more complicated. It is best to contact the embassy in the new country of residence for up to date information.

As a general rule, animals have to travel in approved containers and by approved routes. Be aware that sudden outbreaks of diseases (such as avian flu) can affect pet travel. Embassy websites are also good sources of information.

• See the AngloINFO INFOrmation Page, Pet Travel & Moving with Animals to Germany for more information.

The German Customs Information Centre can give advice in English if required.

• For contact information for the German Customs Information Centre: Click here

Related Information

• British Embassy, Berlin
• United States Embassy, Germany
• Australian Embassy, Berlin
• New Zealand Embassy, Berlin
• Returning to New Zealand (from the New Zealand government website)
• European Union information regarding moving pets and animals