Yes, if you move out of your German home and do not take a new one in Germany. Under the Federal Registration Act you must deregister (Abmeldung) within two weeks after moving out, and you can do it no earlier than one week before. It is free, and a missed deadline can lead to a fine of up to €1,000.
It depends on
Deregistration is required when you give up your home and move abroad; temporary stays abroad with a home kept in Germany usually do not require it.
Each registration office decides whether you can deregister online, by post or only in person.
Deregistering does not by itself settle tax, insurance or benefit questions, which follow their own rules.
Who needs it
Everyone who moves abroad and gives up their home in Germany, including families, retirees and people starting a job abroad. It also matters for anyone who needs proof of departure: insurers, banks, the broadcasting contribution service and foreign authorities often ask for the deregistration certificate (Abmeldebestätigung). People spending a semester or a limited period abroad while keeping and returning to their German home usually stay registered. If you keep a flat in Germany, remember that tax residence follows the dwelling, not the registration.
How it works
- 1
Pick your date
Deregister no earlier than one week before moving out and no later than two weeks after.
within two weeks after moving out - 2
Choose the channel
Check your town's website: many accept the form by post, some offer an online service, and all accept in-person visits. Include a copy of your ID card or passport.
- 3
Keep the certificate
Ask for the deregistration certificate and keep copies; you will need it for insurers, banks and other contracts.
- 4
Notify other bodies yourself
Tell the broadcasting contribution service, the Familienkasse if you receive Kindergeld, and your health insurer separately, because the registration office does not do it for you.
What it costs
Key facts
| Fact | Value | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deregistration deadline when moving abroad (§ 17(2) BMG) | Within two weeks after moving out | 123 | checked 15 October 2026 |
| Earliest date to deregister | One week before moving out | 12 | checked 15 October 2026 |
| Fee for deregistration | None | 12 | checked 15 October 2026 |
| Maximum fine for not deregistering or deregistering late (§ 54(2) no. 2 and (3) BMG) | €1,000 | 14 | checked 15 October 2026 |
| How to deregister | In person, in writing by post, or online where the municipality offers it; ID or passport copy required | 23 | checked 15 October 2026 |
| Temporary stays abroad (e.g. study) | Do not require deregistration if you keep and return to the German home | 2 | checked 15 October 2026 |
| End of broadcasting contribution (Rundfunkbeitrag) when moving abroad | End of the month you leave the home, but no earlier than the end of the month in which you notify the Beitragsservice; deregistration certificate required as proof | 5 | checked 15 October 2026 |
| Residence (Wohnsitz) for tax purposes (§ 8 AO) | Where you have a dwelling under circumstances indicating you will keep and use it | 6 | checked 15 October 2026 |
| Duty to notify the Familienkasse of a move abroad (§ 68(1) EStG) | Without delay; notifying the registration office or tax office does not count | 7 | checked 15 October 2026 |
Common mistakes
- Forgetting to deregister before leaving and then having to arrange it by post from abroad.
- Assuming deregistration ends German tax residence even though you keep a flat in Germany.
- Not cancelling the broadcasting contribution, which ends no earlier than the month in which you notify the service.
- Assuming the Familienkasse is informed automatically when you deregister.
- Throwing away the deregistration certificate, which many institutions ask for later.
FAQ
Can I deregister after I have already left?
Yes. Many registration offices accept the signed form by post, and some offer an online service. The legal deadline is two weeks after moving out, so send it promptly. A late deregistration is an administrative offence that can be fined, although offices decide case by case.
Does deregistering end my German tax liability?
Not automatically. Tax law looks at whether you still have a dwelling in Germany that you keep and use, or whether you stay in Germany for a longer period. If you keep a flat available to you, you may remain fully taxable in Germany. Get tax advice if you keep property here.
Do I need to deregister for a temporary stay abroad?
Usually not, if you keep your German home and will return to it, for example for a semester abroad. Deregistration is required when you leave the home and will not live there in future. If you are unsure, ask your registration office.
What happens with the broadcasting contribution?
You must cancel it yourself with the Beitragsservice and enclose the deregistration certificate as proof. The obligation ends at the end of the month in which you leave the home, but no earlier than the end of the month in which you notify the service.
Sources
- FIM-Portal (Federal Information Management, service description from Saxony), Abmeldung bei der Meldebehörde (service key 99115005070000) (opens in a new tab)Authority · checked 15 October 2026
- Land Berlin – Service-Portal, Abmeldung einer Wohnung (opens in a new tab)Authority · checked 15 October 2026
- Landeshauptstadt Stuttgart, Wohnsitz abmelden (opens in a new tab)Authority · checked 15 October 2026
- Bundesmeldegesetz (federal law text, reproduced by lxgesetze.de), § 54 BMG – Bußgeldvorschriften (opens in a new tab)Law · checked 15 October 2026
- FIM-Portal (ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragsservice service description), Rundfunkbeitrag im privaten Bereich, Abmeldung (opens in a new tab)Authority · checked 15 October 2026
- Abgabenordnung (federal law text, reproduced by lexmea.de), § 8 AO – Wohnsitz (opens in a new tab)Law · checked 15 October 2026
- Bundesagentur für Arbeit – Familienkasse, Merkblatt Kindergeld (KG 2) für 2026 (opens in a new tab)Authority · checked 15 October 2026
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