Leaving Germany
A complete exit guide for Indians, de-registration, pension refund, visa implications, children's school records, final tax return, and every contract you need to cancel.
Start planning at least 3 months before departure
Many German contracts — internet, phone, gym, have 24-month minimum terms and require 1–3 months written notice. Starting too late means paying for services long after you have left.
Exit Timeline
3 Months Before
- ›Give notice to landlord (standard Kündigungsfrist is 3 months)
- ›Cancel internet & phone contracts (check minimum term remaining)
- ›Book flights and lock in your departure date
- ›Start clearing belongings — sell, ship, or donate
1 Month Before
- ›File Abmeldung (can submit up to 1 week before departure)
- ›Notify employer of last working day
- ›Inform Krankenkasse (health insurer) of departure date
- ›Cancel GEZ/Rundfunkbeitrag, gym, and remaining contracts
Last Week
- ›Collect children's Schulabgangszeugnis and vaccination records
- ›Request Lohnsteuerbescheinigung from employer
- ›Transfer money to India (Wise or SWIFT)
- ›Arrange Deutsche Post Nachsendeauftrag (mail forwarding)
Departure Day
- ›Carry your Abmeldebestätigung, needed for pension refund
- ›Keep Sozialversicherungsausweis (yellow pension card)
- ›Note today's exact date — 24-month pension wait starts now
24 Months Later
- ›Apply for pension refund to Deutsche Rentenversicherung (form V900)
- ›File any outstanding German tax return from India
- ›Close German bank account once all refunds are received
The Pension Decision — The Most Important Fork
60 months (5 years) of contributions is the single most important threshold when leaving Germany. The two paths are completely different.
- ✓ Claim back all your employee contributions
- ✓ Form V900 from Deutsche Rentenversicherung
- ✓ Apply 24 months after leaving the EU
- ✓ Paid to Indian bank account via SWIFT
- ⚠ Employer share is NOT refunded
- ✗ Lump-sum refund no longer available
- ✓ Pension entitlement (Rentenanwartschaft) locked in
- ✓ Paid at German retirement age (67)
- ✓ Paid to any country incl. India via SWIFT
- ✓ ~€39/month per year worked at avg. salary
When
Anytime from 1 week before your departure up to 2 weeks after you leave.
Where
Your local Bürgeramt or Einwohnermeldeamt. Many cities (Berlin, Munich, Hamburg) now offer online Abmeldung — check your city's official website.
What to bring
Valid passport and your current Anmeldebescheinigung (registration certificate). No appointment is needed at most offices.
What you receive
Abmeldebestätigung, a de-registration certificate. Keep this document permanently. You will need it to apply for the pension refund 24 months after leaving the EU.
Effect on residence permit
Abmeldung does not automatically cancel your residence permit. However, permanent departure invalidates it in practice. If there is any chance you will return to Germany, speak to the Ausländerbehörde before filing Abmeldung.
EU Blue Card
Lapses when you leave Germany permanently. After 12 consecutive months outside Germany the Blue Card is legally considered expired and cannot be used to re-enter.
Niederlassungserlaubnis (Settlement Permit / PR)
Remains technically valid for up to 6 months of absence. This can be extended to 12+ months if you notify the Ausländerbehörde in advance with a valid reason (work assignment, illness, family). After that window it lapses permanently.
Skilled Worker Visa
Expires on the printed date or on permanent departure, whichever comes first. Cannot be reactivated from abroad.
If returning within 6 months
Holders of a Niederlassungserlaubnis can often maintain their permit. Notify the Ausländerbehörde before departure and get written confirmation (Fiktionsbescheinigung) to protect your status.
If returning after years
You will need a new visa from scratch. However, prior German residence and work history is viewed favourably and can speed up the process.
Who qualifies
Indian passport holders (non-EU/EEA) who contributed for LESS than 60 months (5 years) total and have permanently left the EU.
Waiting period
You must wait 24 months after leaving the EU before applying. This cannot be waived.
What you get back
Your employee share only, approximately 9.3% of your gross salary for every month worked. Your employer's matching 9.3% is not refundable. Example: if you earned €60,000/year for 3 years, you can recover roughly €16,740.
How to apply
Submit form V900 to Deutsche Rentenversicherung. The form can be downloaded from their website and mailed from India or submitted online via their portal.
Documents needed
Passport copy, Abmeldebestätigung, Sozialversicherungsausweis (yellow card), bank account details (Indian account is accepted), Rentenversicherungsnummer (pension number on the yellow card).
Processing time
3–6 months after submission. Refund can be paid directly to an Indian bank account via SWIFT transfer.
Deadline
July 31 of the year following your departure year. Extensions are possible. You can file from India.
Documents to collect before leaving
Lohnsteuerbescheinigung (annual income certificate from your employer — request this before your last day), health insurance premium statements, receipts for deductible expenses (commuting, home office, professional tools).
Tools you can use from India
ELSTER (free, official German tax portal), Wundertax (English-friendly), SteuerGo, Taxfix. All work for non-residents filing from abroad.
Typical refund amount
Partial-year filers often receive €1,000–€3,000+ depending on tax class and income. The refund is higher if you were on Tax Class 1 early in the year or had significant deductible expenses.
India-Germany DTAA
India and Germany have a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement. Income you have already paid German tax on is generally exempt from Indian income tax. Keep your German tax assessment notice (Steuerbescheid) as proof.
Public insurance, GKV (TK, AOK, Barmer, DAK)
Send a cancellation letter (Kündigungsschreiben) attaching your Abmeldebestätigung and stating your departure date. Coverage ends on that date. No minimum notice period applies when you can prove permanent departure.
Private insurance — PKV
Cancel in writing per your policy's terms. Many PKV plans require 3 months' notice, check your contract. You may owe a partial premium for the remaining notice period.
Partial month refund
Most GKV insurers charge for the full last calendar month. Some will pro-rate — ask specifically when you send the Kündigung.
Insurance certificate (Versicherungsnachweis)
Request a certificate showing your full coverage period before you leave. This is useful when applying for health insurance in India and for future German visa applications.
Dependants
Family members co-insured under your GKV (e.g., spouse on family insurance) are also deregistered on the same date. They need independent coverage in India from departure day.
Which banks allow non-residents
N26, DKB, and Comdirect explicitly allow non-residents to hold accounts. Sparkasse and Deutsche Bank typically require a German address and may close your account after deregistration — check with your branch.
Transferring money to India
Wise (formerly TransferWise) offers the best mid-market rates, typically 0.5–1% fee. For amounts over €10,000 a SWIFT transfer via your German bank is also reliable. Avoid airport or bank counter exchange rates.
RBI / FEMA rules
Foreign income legally earned and taxed abroad can be remitted to India freely under FEMA for NRIs. Keep German pay slips and tax documents as proof of source of funds if asked by your Indian bank.
Blocked account — students
Contact your Sperrkonto provider (Fintiba, Expatrio, or Deutsche Bank) in writing requesting full release of remaining funds. Provide your Abmeldebestätigung. Funds are transferred to your German current account within 1–2 weeks, then you can transfer to India.
Investments (ETF/stocks)
If you hold a portfolio with Trade Republic, ING, or Comdirect, you can either liquidate before leaving or keep the brokerage account open as a non-resident (check your broker's T&Cs, most allow it). Capital gains from German-held assets may still be taxable in Germany.
Closing the account
Only close your German bank account once you have received the pension refund, tax refund, and any other outstanding payments. Send a written Kündigung to the bank and cancel all standing orders first.
Internet & phone
Typically 24-month minimum terms with 1-month cancellation notice after the term ends. Telekom, Vodafone, and O2 allow early cancellation (Sonderkündigung) if you provide your Abmeldebestätigung as proof of relocation. Use Aboalarm.com for instant cancellation letters.
GEZ / Rundfunkbeitrag (ARD broadcasting fee)
€18.36/month. Cancel online at rundfunkbeitrag.de with your Beitragsnummer and Abmeldung date. Cancellation is effective from the month you leave.
Gym membership
Most gym contracts run 12–24 months. Many accept early termination (Sonderkündigung) for relocation abroad, ask for their specific form and attach the Abmeldebestätigung.
Haftpflichtversicherung (personal liability insurance)
Cancel with 3 months' notice, or immediately with proof of departure. You are entitled to a pro-rated refund for unused months.
Hausratversicherung (contents insurance)
Cancel in writing with your departure date. Standard notice is 3 months, but relocation abroad is usually accepted as a reason for immediate termination.
Streaming & subscriptions
Netflix, Spotify, Amazon Prime — cancel outright or switch to an Indian plan (different pricing tier). Done through your account settings, no paper letter needed.
Car insurance & registration
De-register your car at the Kfz-Zulassungsstelle (Kfz-Abmeldung) and then cancel your Kfz-Versicherung. You receive a pro-rated refund on annual premiums.
ADAC membership
Cancel with 1 month's notice before your renewal date. Written letter or online form accepted.
Exit Checklist
Track every step. Progress is saved in your browser.
Give notice to landlord (standard Kündigungsfrist is 3 months — check your contract)
Cancel internet and phone contracts, ask about early exit Sonderkündigung for relocation
Book your flight and confirm your departure date
Cancel gym membership with required notice period
Start selling, shipping, or donating furniture and large items
File Abmeldung at local Bürgeramt — collect Abmeldebestätigung
Notify employer of your last working day in writing
Notify Krankenkasse (health insurer) of departure date, send Kündigungsschreiben + Abmeldebestätigung
Cancel GEZ / Rundfunkbeitrag at rundfunkbeitrag.de
Cancel Haftpflichtversicherung and Hausratversicherung
Set up Deutsche Post Nachsendeauftrag (mail forwarding to Indian address)
Notify children's school at least 4 weeks before departure — request all documents
Notify Kita of departure, check contract for required notice period
Check if you are eligible for Arbeitslosengeld — if so, file before leaving
Collect children's Schulabgangszeugnis, Zeugnis, and vaccination records (Impfpass)
Collect children's Kita portfolio and development records
Request Lohnsteuerbescheinigung from employer HR (in person if possible)
Request Versicherungsnachweis (insurance coverage certificate) from Krankenkasse
Transfer money to India via Wise or bank SWIFT transfer
Release blocked Sperrkonto if applicable, contact Fintiba / Expatrio / Deutsche Bank in writing
Cancel streaming services or switch to Indian plan (Netflix, Spotify, Amazon Prime)
De-register car at Kfz-Zulassungsstelle and cancel Kfz-Versicherung (if applicable)
Cancel ADAC membership (if applicable)
Update address on ELSTER, bank, Deutsche Rentenversicherung to Indian address
Abmeldebestätigung (de-registration certificate), needed for pension refund
Sozialversicherungsausweis (yellow card with Rentenversicherungsnummer)
All original documents: passport, degree certificates, birth & marriage certificates
Lohnsteuerbescheinigung and German tax documents
Children's Schulabgangszeugnis, Impfpass, and school records
German bank details (IBAN) — needed to receive pension and tax refunds
File final German tax return for year of departure (deadline: July 31 of following year), use ELSTER or Wundertax
After 24 months: apply for pension refund to Deutsche Rentenversicherung using form V900
Once pension refund received, transfer to India via Wise or SWIFT
Close German bank account in writing once all refunds are received
Keep German Steuerbescheid (tax assessment notices) for DTAA proof in India
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