Moving Abroad

The Abmeldung Process

When you leave Germany permanently or for an extended period, you must deregister from your local Bürgeramt — the Abmeldung. This is not optional. German law (§17 BMG) requires you to deregister within two weeks of moving abroad. The Abmeldung is the single most important step because it triggers a cascade of changes to your insurance, tax status, and residency.

How the Abmeldung works:

1. Visit or write to your Bürgeramt. You can do this in person up to one week before departure, or by mail (send a signed Abmeldung form to the Einwohnermeldeamt of your last registered address).
2. Receive a Abmeldebestätigung. This document confirms your deregistration date. Keep it — you'll need it for insurance, tax, and future re-registration.
3. Notify your Krankenkasse. Send them a copy of your Abmeldebestätigung. Your insurance membership ends on the date of your Abmeldung (or the date you actually leave, if different).
4. Notify your employer. If you're leaving your job as well, the Abmeldung and employment end should be coordinated. Insurance via employment ends with the last day of employment.

GKV When Leaving Germany

If you're in public insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung), your membership ends when you deregister from Germany. There's no way to voluntarily maintain GKV membership while living abroad (with very limited exceptions for posted workers).

What happens to your GKV:

• Coverage ends on Abmeldung date. From that moment, you are no longer insured through GKV. Any treatment after that date is not covered.
• Refund of overpaid contributions. If you've paid contributions beyond your Abmeldung date (e.g., your employer deducted a full month but you left mid-month), the Krankenkasse will refund the difference. This usually happens automatically but can take 4-8 weeks.
• Your insurance history is preserved. Germany tracks your Versicherungszeiten (insurance periods). Your GKV membership history remains on record and counts toward future eligibility — important if you return later.
• Krankengeld ends. If you were receiving Krankengeld (sick pay from GKV), it stops on the Abmeldung date. Make sure any ongoing treatment or sick leave is resolved before you leave.

PKV When Leaving Germany

Private insurance (private Krankenversicherung) works differently. Because PKV is a private contract, it doesn't automatically end when you leave Germany. You have several options:

Option 1: Cancel the contract

• Give notice with a 3-month cancellation period to the end of the insurance year
• You lose all Alterungsrückstellungen (aging reserves) — the money your insurer set aside for your future premium increases
• If you've been in PKV for years, this can mean losing tens of thousands of euros in reserves
• Only makes sense if you're certain you'll never return to PKV in Germany

Option 2: Anwartschaftsversicherung (dormant contract)

This is the smarter option for most people. An Anwartschaft suspends your active contract while preserving your entry conditions for when you return.

Kleine Anwartschaft (small dormancy):

• Preserves your original entry age and health status — no new health check when you reactivate
• Does not preserve Alterungsrückstellungen — they are dissolved
• Costs roughly €20-50/month depending on the insurer
• Best for younger people who haven't built up significant reserves

Große Anwartschaft (large dormancy):

• Preserves everything — entry age, health status, and Alterungsrückstellungen
• Costs significantly more: typically 20-50% of your regular premium
• Essential if you've been in PKV for a long time and have substantial aging reserves
• The monthly cost can be €100-400+ depending on your tariff and age

Moving Within the EU/EEA

Moving within the European Union or European Economic Area is the most straightforward scenario, thanks to EU Regulation EC 883/2004 on the coordination of social security systems. This regulation ensures you're always covered by one country's system — and only one.

Key principles:

• Lex loci laboris: You are insured in the country where you work, not where you live. If you move to France and work there, you join the French system.
• One country at a time: You cannot be insured in two EU countries simultaneously. Your German insurance ends when you become insured in another EU country.
• Posted workers exception: If your German employer sends you to another EU country temporarily (up to 24 months), you stay in the German system. Your employer obtains an A1 certificate and you get an S1 form for access to healthcare in the host country.
• Insurance periods transfer: Time insured in Germany counts toward eligibility in other EU systems, and vice versa. This prevents gaps when moving between countries.

The S1 form:

If you're a posted worker or receive a German pension while living in another EU country, the S1 form (formerly E106) entitles you to full healthcare in your new country of residence, charged back to Germany. Request it from your Krankenkasse before leaving.

Moving Outside the EU

Moving to a non-EU country (USA, Canada, Australia, Asia, etc.) means no social security coordination. Your German insurance ends with the Abmeldung and you're on your own for coverage.

Your insurance options:

1. International health insurance

• Companies like Cigna Global, Allianz Care, Bupa Global, Aetna International, and IMG offer comprehensive plans for expats
• Covers you worldwide or in specific regions
• Premiums depend on age, coverage level, and region — typically €150-600/month
• Can often be purchased before leaving Germany to ensure no gap
• Usually more expensive in the USA region due to high healthcare costs there

2. Local insurance in your destination country

• Many countries require residents to join a national or mandatory insurance scheme
• Quality and coverage vary enormously — from excellent (Japan, South Korea, Taiwan) to minimal (many developing countries)
• Research your destination country's requirements before leaving Germany

3. Travel insurance (short-term only)

• German Auslandskrankenversicherung (e.g., from HanseMerkur, ADAC, DKV) covers trips up to 6-12 weeks
• Not designed for permanent relocation — most policies explicitly exclude people who have done an Abmeldung
• Can be useful as bridge coverage during the transition period

Keeping German Insurance While Abroad

In most cases, you cannot maintain your German health insurance while living abroad. However, there are a few limited exceptions:

When you can keep German insurance:

• Posted workers (Entsendung): If your German employer sends you abroad temporarily, you stay in the German system. For EU countries, this is limited to 24 months (extendable in exceptional cases). For non-EU countries, bilateral social security agreements may apply.
• Temporary assignments with Ausstrahlung: Under §4 SGB IV, if your employment is still fundamentally tied to Germany (temporary project abroad, employer is German, you'll return), German social insurance continues to apply.
• Development workers and aid organizations: Certain German organizations (GIZ, etc.) maintain German insurance for employees posted abroad.
• German civil servants abroad: Beamte posted to German embassies, consulates, or international organizations retain Beihilfe and their insurance.

Coming Back to Germany

Returning to Germany and re-entering the health insurance system is generally straightforward — but the specifics depend on your situation.

Scenario 1: Returning with employment

• If you take a job in Germany with a salary below the JAEG (€77,400 in 2026), you become pflichtversichert in GKV — mandatory public insurance. This is the simplest path.
• You can choose any Krankenkasse. Your previous GKV membership periods are recognized.
• If your salary is above the JAEG, you can choose between GKV (freiwillig versichert) and PKV.

Scenario 2: Returning without employment

• You must have insurance from day one of your Anmeldung. Germany's Versicherungspflicht (insurance obligation) kicks in immediately.
• If you were last insured in GKV before leaving, you can re-enter GKV as a freiwilliges Mitglied (voluntary member) — but you must do so within 3 months of returning.
• If you were last insured in PKV and have an Anwartschaft, you reactivate your old contract. Contact your insurer before returning.
• If you were last in PKV without Anwartschaft, you can apply for a new PKV contract (with new health check and entry age) or try to enter GKV if you qualify through employment.

Scenario 3: Returning as self-employed

• Self-employed returnees who were previously in GKV can re-enter as freiwillig versichert within 3 months.
• Otherwise, PKV is the typical route for self-employed individuals.
• The 3-month window for choosing between GKV and PKV as self-employed applies from the date of your Anmeldung.

EHIC and Travel Coverage

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC / Europäische Krankenversicherungskarte) is issued by your Krankenkasse and provides access to medically necessary healthcare during temporary stays in other EU/EEA countries and Switzerland.

What EHIC covers:

• Medically necessary treatment during temporary stays — doctor visits, hospital stays, emergency care, prescribed medications
• Treatment is provided under the same conditions as local residents — including any co-payments the local system requires
• Covers pre-existing conditions and routine care (e.g., dialysis, oxygen therapy) if medically necessary during your stay
• Valid in all EU/EEA countries plus Switzerland

What EHIC does NOT cover:

• Private healthcare: Only covers treatment within the public system of the host country
• Medical tourism: You cannot travel specifically to receive planned treatment in another country (that requires prior authorization via S2 form)
• Repatriation: Medical transport back to Germany is not covered
• Non-EU countries: The card is useless outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland
• After Abmeldung: Your EHIC becomes invalid once your German insurance ends

Retirement Abroad

Many people dream of retiring to warmer climates. If you've worked in Germany and earned a German pension (Rente), here's how insurance works when you retire abroad.

German pension payments abroad:

• Your Deutsche Rentenversicherung pension is paid worldwide — it doesn't stop just because you leave Germany
• For EU/EEA countries, the full pension is paid without restrictions
• For non-EU countries, some restrictions may apply depending on bilateral agreements (Auslandsrente). Most Western countries have agreements that ensure full payment.

Health insurance in retirement abroad:

• KVdR (Krankenversicherung der Rentner) — the favorable retiree insurance in GKV — generally does not apply if you live outside Germany. KVdR requires German residency.
• Within the EU: You can use the S1 form to access healthcare in your country of residence, with costs charged to German GKV. This keeps your KVdR-like coverage effectively intact.
• Outside the EU: You need to arrange your own health insurance locally or through an international insurer. German GKV will not cover you.
• Contributions may still be deducted: Even living abroad, if you receive a German pension and are still technically in GKV, health insurance contributions (Krankenversicherungsbeitrag) may be deducted from your pension.

Digital Nomads & Temporary Absence

The rise of remote work has created a gray zone for health insurance. What if you work remotely from Bali for 6 months? What about spending winter in Portugal every year?

The legal situation:

• German law requires Abmeldung if you leave for more than 6 months (or if you give up your German apartment). Even shorter absences can trigger Abmeldung obligations if you no longer have a permanent residence in Germany.
• Keeping your apartment: If you maintain a registered address in Germany and return regularly, you may be able to maintain your Anmeldung — and therefore your insurance. But you must actually live there, not just keep the registration.
• Tax residency matters: Germany taxes based on residency. If you're abroad for 6+ months, the Finanzamt may question your tax residency — which in turn affects social insurance obligations.

The insurance gray zones:

• GKV abroad: Your Krankenkasse technically only covers treatment in Germany (plus EHIC for EU travel). Extended stays abroad are not "temporary travel" — if your Kasse learns you're living abroad, they may challenge your membership.
• PKV abroad: Many PKV tariffs include worldwide coverage for stays up to 1-6 months. Check your specific contract terms. Some PKV providers are more flexible than GKV for international lifestyles.
• Working from abroad: If you're employed by a German company and work temporarily from another EU country, EC 883/2004 may apply — potentially requiring you to join the other country's social insurance system. The A1 certificate is meant for posted workers, not remote workers choosing to work abroad.