Moving Away From Germany

Why people leave

Germany's Federal Statistical Office recorded 1.25 million departures across its borders (Fortzüge) in 2025, and among German citizens specifically, departures outnumbered arrivals by 97,000 — up from 81,000 the year before — with Switzerland, Austria and Spain the top destinations. Reasons aren't broken out in that headline figure, but coverage of both German citizens and foreign residents leaving commonly points to a mix of career opportunities abroad, frustration with bureaucratic processes, and cost pressures, alongside the more universal drivers of family ties and retirement. Treat this as a general pattern rather than one single dominant cause.

Departure checklist

1. Deregister your address (Abmeldung) at your local Bürgeramt/Einwohnermeldeamt within the required window — no earlier than one week before you leave and no later than two weeks after — to avoid a fine of up to €1,000
2. Keep the Abmeldebescheinigung (deregistration certificate) you receive — it's what lets you cancel your Rundfunkbeitrag (public broadcasting fee), statutory health insurance, and several other contracts early
3. Notify the Beitragsservice to stop your Rundfunkbeitrag, using your Abmeldebescheinigung as proof
4. Cancel or transfer statutory or private health insurance and confirm any final contribution owed
5. File a German income tax return (Steuererklärung) for your departure year — many people leaving mid-year are owed a refund, since tax is typically withheld assuming a full year's employment
6. If you hold at least 1% of shares in a company or a comparable investment position, get tax advice on Wegzugsbesteuerung (exit tax on unrealised gains) before you leave — this does not apply to ordinary employees or renters without significant shareholdings
7. Start pet export paperwork early: the microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccination, and you'll need an EU pet passport for EU destinations or a non-commercial health certificate from an authorized vet for destinations outside the EU
8. Keep a German bank account open for a few months if possible, to receive any final pay, deposit refunds, or tax rebates
9. Give proper notice on your lease and utility contracts in line with their contractual notice periods

Container shipping corridors from here

Country-to-country container guides from Germany will appear here as they are published. Destination country guides and the quote form are available now.

Exit tax and customs

Germany's Wegzugsbesteuerung (exit tax) is narrowly targeted: it applies to individuals holding at least 1% of shares in a corporation, or comparable investment positions above certain thresholds, and taxes the unrealised gain on those holdings as if sold at the point German tax residency ends. It does not apply to ordinary employees or renters without significant shareholdings. Household goods moving within the EU need no customs declaration; moving outside the EU brings the normal EU/German export customs process into play. This is general information, not tax or legal advice.

This is general orientation, not tax, legal, or immigration advice.