Checklist - Before Your Departure

Before you leave Germany, you will have do deal with some organisational matters:
- Cancel all your contracts (tenancy agreement, mobile phone, electricity, gas, water etc.) and any subscriptions and memberships (newspapers, clubs etc.)
- Cancel your bank account. Consider leaving it open for 3 months after leaving to catch any delayed payments.
- Find out if you have to complete a tax declaration (see "Taxes")
- Arrange an appointment with an adviser at the "Rentenversicherungsanstalt" (pension scheme) (Essen, Duisburg or VBL) to discuss your pension entitlements, especially if you have been staying here with a work contract.
- Check with your personnel department/your fellowship provider well in advance whether you will receive your final salary/fellowship payment before you leave the country
- If you leave Germany, you need to de-register your residence with the city. If you just move to another German city, just register your residence there, you don't need to de-register in the former city of residence then
- You can de-register in Essen informally in writing at the earliest 7 days before moving out and at the latest 14 days after moving out. You can also use this form
- In Duisburg, you have to de-register in person, please make an appointment. EU citizens can de-register at the citizen's office. For non-EU citizens, de-registration has to be done at the Talent Center in person. You can request an appointment 6 weeks in advance and have to appear in person at the earliest 7 days before you leave. We can request an appointment for you. For this, please send us a scan of your passport, visa, and flight or train ticket
- Consider taking out the redirection service of Deutsche Post so that your mail will be forwarded to your new address