Change of https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-germany
Change description : 2019-04-17 10:01:00: EU Exit update: New information in “Passports and travel after the UK leaves the EU” concerning travel and short stays within the EU and UK passport validity. [Brexit]
Showing diff : ..2019-04-17 09:04:14 +00:00
Guidance
Official information British people moving to and living in Germany need to know, including EU Exit guidance, residency, healthcare and driving.
You should:
To keep up to date with information about EU Exit you should:
You may want to check the entry requirements for Germany.
If you are planning to stay in Germany for more than 3 months, you must register at your local registration office within 14 days of arrival. The office is sometimes known as the Einwohnermeldeamt, Kreisverwaltungsreferat (KVR), Bürgerbüro or Bürgeramt.
Whenever you move home in Germany, you must register at your new address.
After the UK leaves the EU, UK nationals living in Germany will need to apply for a residence permit from their local Foreigners Authority (Ausländerbehörde).
You will need a valid passport when applying for a residence permit.
If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, the German government plans a 3-month transition period which may be extended to 9 months. During this period you must apply for your residence permit. Your right to work and receive benefits you received before the day the UK leaves the EU will be protected during this period.
For more information, see the Federal Ministry of the Interior’s FAQs on residency and citizenship.
In the event of changes to residency rules or registration processes after the UK leaves the EU, we will update this guidance as soon as information is available.
If you are permanently resident in Germany, you may be able to apply for German citizenship (in German).
The UK has no restrictions on dual nationality. Germany only allows dual nationality in exceptional cases.For more information, see the Federal Ministry of the Interior’s FAQs on residency and citizenship.
You can apply for or renew your British passport from Germany. If you cannot get a passport in time for your trip, you may need to get an emergency travel document or ‘emergency passport’.
You should check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip.
If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, new travel rules will apply. You should have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland).
If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.
You should check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. You’ll need to renew your passport before travelling if you do not have enough time left on your passport.
If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, UK nationals will not need visas for short stays elsewhere in the EU. You will be able to stay up to 90 days in another EU country, within a 180 day period. You should retain evidence of travel (e.g. train and plane tickets), in case these are requested by national authorities. If you hold a residence permit from an EU Member State, you will be able to transit through other EU Member States to reach your country of residence. We will update this guidance as more information becomes available.
If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, the German government has said that you should allow plenty of time when re-entering Germany and make sure that have you have documentation to hand that proves that you are a long term resident, such as your residence permit, Meldebescheinigung, correspondence concerning social insurance contributions and work or rental contracts.
For further information please read the Federal Interior Ministry FAQs.
If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, nothing will change until the end of 2020. In this time you can continue to travel freely in the Schengen area with your UK passport. What happens after 2020 will form the next part of negotiations.
If you are resident in Germany, you must register with a health insurance company (Krankenkasse) to access healthcare. This is usually done through your employer. You can ask your employer’s HR department for more information.
You can read the NHS guidance on accessing healthcare in Germany and the German government’s guide on Social Security in Germany.
You are able to pick the health insurance company (in German) and in some cases you can also choose private health insurance (private Krankenversicherung) instead of the standard statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung).
If you live in Germany and receive an exportable UK pension, contribution-based Employment Support Allowance or another exportable benefit, you may currently be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK. You will need to apply for a certificate of entitlement known as an S1 certificate.
If you are resident in Germany, you should not be using a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from the UK to access healthcare in Germany.
You can find an English-speaking doctor in Germany.
Students should:
You can read the NHS guidance on healthcare and studying abroad.
If you are resident in Germany and have statutory or private health insurance from a German provider, your access to healthcare will not change. This applies if you are an employee or self-employed.
If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, your current rights on access to healthcare in Germany will remain the same until 31 December 2020, as long as you remain a resident in Germany.
If you do not have statutory or private health insurance from a German provider and the UK leaves the EU without a deal, your access to healthcare may change significantly. You should take action now to confirm your residency status and decide what steps you need to take to ensure access to healthcare if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
If you are resident in Germany you should take out German health insurance. You would be required to pay towards this insurance. Contact your Krankenkasse for more information (in German) and read the Association of German Health Insurers’ FAQs.
The UK has proposed maintaining current healthcare cooperation with Germany for S1 form holders until the end of December 2020. If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, and an arrangement with Germany to continue reciprocal healthcare has not been reached, those receiving coverage through the S1 form will not be covered. According to German no-deal legislation (in German) you will be able to join a statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung) within 3 months of the UK leaving the EU, without being subject to the normal restrictions regarding age etc.
UK nationals will also be able to return to the UK for treatment.
Your UK issued EHIC may not be valid in the event the UK leaves the EU without a deal. The UK has offered to maintain the EHIC scheme should the UK leave the EU without a deal, however this is reliant on Germany continuing to accept UK EHICs.
You should read the NHS guidance on healthcare for UK nationals in Germany and how it may change after UK leaves the EU.
You should:
You may need a:
If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, your right to work will not change until the end of the implementation period.
If you’re planning to start a business, provide a service, or do a job in a regulated profession after the UK leaves the EU, further guidance can be found here.
In Germany, schooling is compulsory for any child above the age of 6.
You should get your UK professional qualifications recognised in Germany before the UK leaves the EU. For help with this you can:
A professional qualification that has already been recognised by an EU country will still be valid after the UK leaves the EU.
If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, UK nationals will continue to be able to study in Germany. Students or trainees receiving BAföG funding for courses that began before the UK leaves the EU, will continue to receive this support until the end of their course.
For more information you can:
The UK has a double-taxation agreement with Germany to ensure that people do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.
For more information, you can read:
You will get an income tax card (Lohnsteuerkarte) with your tax number (Steuernummer), when you register your address at the local registration office (Einwohnermeldeamt). Your employer will need your tax number.
For help with taxes in Germany you should:
You may be able to pay National Insurance while in Germany, so that you protect your State Pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances.
You must file an annual declaration of assets that are held outside Germany, alongside your annual tax return. There are severe penalties if you fail to file this, or give incorrect or incomplete information.
The UK leaving the EU will not change existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Germany. You should direct individual taxpayer questions about double taxation to the relevant tax authority.
After the UK leaves the EU, it may become more expensive to use your bank card in Germany. If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, you should read our guidance on using a bank card, insurance or other financial service in the EU.
You will need to tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.
If you retire in Germany, you can claim:
For more information on how pension entitlements are calculated, please read the German Pensions’ Authority’s guidance (in German).
If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you need to respond as soon as possible – your payments may be suspended if you don’t.
The UK government will continue to pay State Pension, child benefits and disability benefits to those eligible in the EU after the UK leaves the EU. If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, you can read our guidance on benefits and pensions.
If the UK leaves the EU with a deal and you work and pay social security contributions in Germany, you will still be able to add your UK social security contributions towards your German pension. This will happen even if you claim your pension after the end of the implementation period.
Germany’s no-deal legislation (in German), which would come into effect if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, ensures that UK nationals living in Germany can continue to pay into Germany’s public pension system. It also ensures that any contributions you have paid in the UK for 5 years after the day the UK leaves the EU would be counted towards entitlements for a German state pension.
For more information read the German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs’ FAQs (in German).
The UK government will uprate your UK state pension for the fiscal year 2019/2020 in any scenario.
You may still be able to claim some UK benefits like child and disability benefits if you live in Germany. You should:
You may be entitled to German benefits. For more information you can read the German government’s guide on German Social Security.
You can request proof of the time you’ve worked in the UK from HMRC, if you are asked for this.
The UK government will continue to pay the UK State Pension, child benefits, and disability benefits to eligible UK nationals after the UK leaves the EU. If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, you can read our guidance on benefits and pensions in a no deal scenario.
If the UK leaves the EU with a deal and you work and pay social security contributions in Germany, your UK social security contributions will be taken into account when applying for German contributions-based benefits. This will happen even if you claim contributions-based benefits after the end of the implementation period.
If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, the German government plans a 3-month transition period which may be extended to 9 months. During this time, UK nationals will continue to receive benefits they received before the UK leaves the EU. For further information, please consult the FAQs of the German Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (in German).
If you are a resident in Germany, you should exchange your UK licence for a German one before the UK leaves the EU, as your UK licence may no longer be valid once the UK leaves the EU. You can still use your German licence in the UK for short visits or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test if you return to live in the UK.
You must exchange your UK licence for a German driving licence within 6 months of moving to Germany.
If your UK driving licence is lost, stolen or expires, you will not be able to renew it with the UK Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) while you are resident in Germany.
You can find guidance on:
If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, driving licence rules will stay the same during the implementation period.
If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, your UK licence may no longer be valid in Germany. Therefore, you should ensure that you have exchanged your licence for a German one before the UK leaves the EU. You can still use your German licence in the UK for short visits or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test if you return to live in the UK.
Find out more:
An International Driving Permit is not a suitable alternative to exchanging your licence.
Read our guidance on taking a vehicle out of the UK.
If you spend longer than 6 months of the year in Germany with your UK-registered car, you must register your vehicle with the German authorities. To do this, contact your local vehicle registration office (Zulassungsstelle) (in German). You can read the European Union’s guidance on car registration rules and taxes in Germany . You may be exempt from some of these taxes. If so, you will need certificates of exemption.
You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:
If you are resident in Germany, you can vote in local municipal and European parliamentary elections until the UK leaves the EU. For more information you can read the European Union’s guidance on elections abroad.
After the UK leaves the EU, UK nationals living in Germany will not be able to vote in local and European elections.
If your child is born in Germany, you will need to register the birth abroad.
If someone dies in Germany you can:
Find out how you can get married abroad.
You may also need:
Read our guidance on buying a property abroad.
When the UK leaves the EU, you will still be able to travel to and from the UK with a cat, dog or ferret but the rules will change. You can read guidance on pet travel to Europe after the UK leaves the EU.
While the UK is still a Member State of the EU you’ll be able to travel with your pet to the EU under the current pet travel rules using your current EU pet passport.
If you’re travelling with your pet for the first time you’ll have to visit your vet to get a pet passport.
Read guidance on returning your cat, dog or ferret to the UK.
For moving pet horses and other equines read guidance on export horses and ponies: special rules.
For fire or medical emergencies dial the European emergency number on 112 or German police on 110.
Users with disabilities can fax on 112 or 100 to access the emergency services.
If you’re the victim of crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis abroad, contact your nearest British embassy or consulate.
You should read our guidance on:
If you are returning to the UK permanently, you should tell:
You should also deregister with your local registration office (Einwohnermeldeamt).
You can exchange your EU driving licence for a UK licence without taking another test if you passed your driving test in the UK or another specified country.
To move your pension to the UK contact:
If you get healthcare in Germany through the S1 form, you must contact the Overseas Healthcare Team on +44 (0)191 218 1999 to make sure your S1 is cancelled at the right time.
This information is provided as a guide only. Definitive information should be obtained from the German authorities. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is not liable for any inaccuracies in this information.
2025-12-11 13:43
Added new information about dual citizens travelling to the UK (‘Passports and travel’ section).
2025-10-22 12:18
Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand.
2025-05-13 14:07
Information on the EU Entry/Exit System (EES)for British nationals who were living in Germany before 1 January 2021 updated: Importance of obtaining an ‘Aufenthaltsdokument-GB’.
2024-05-15 11:20
Routine review – page is up-to-date
2022-03-11 08:00
Important information in the Working in Germany, and National insurance sections if you work in Germany, even it if it is for an employer based in the UK.
2021-02-26 14:00
Coronavirus section updated with a link to guidance on vaccines
2020-11-30 08:21
Visa and residency section updated on how to get the new residence document
2020-09-23 16:14
See the 'attend a citizen outreach meeting' section for details about our virtual info evening, with live Q&A session, on 28 September
2020-09-07 12:51
Passports and travel section updated to include information on passport validity and entry requirements when travelling to other European countries from January 2021
2020-07-10 14:26
Visas and residency section updated to include information about how to access the UK Nationals Support Fund for those who may find it harder to complete their residency applications.
2020-06-29 14:37
Visa and residency section updated to include new information on residence documents: click the link 'obtain a new residence document'. You can send us your questions during our Facebook Q&A (30 June). See the 'attend a citizen outreach meeting' section.
2020-02-12 15:13
New information on the Withdrawal Agreement, and an updated link to German Interior Ministry information on residency rights
2020-01-23 16:55
Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity, healthcare rights and State Pension uprating if the UK leaves the EU with a deal.
2020-01-06 14:46
Brexit update: Register for citizens outreach meeting in Dresden (9 January) and send us your Brexit questions during our Facebook Q&A (14 January). See the 'attend a citizen outreach meeting' section
2019-10-15 08:42
Brexit update: Send us your Brexit questions during our Facebook Q&A (21 October) and register for citizens outreach meeting in Munich (24 October). See the 'attend one of our citizens outreach meetings' section
2019-10-10 11:44
Brexit update: healthcare section updated to reflect transitional arrangements announcement
2019-09-27 16:35
Brexit update: Register for citizens outreach meetings in Frankfurt (10 October) and Hamburg (15 October). See the 'attend one of our citizens outreach meetings' section
2019-09-18 16:37
Brexit update: Register for citizens outreach meetings in Berlin (30 September) and Dusseldorf (1 October). See the 'attend one of our citizens outreach meetings' section
2019-09-03 17:40
Brexit update: Pensions section updated to include further details on State Pension uprating.
2019-07-29 13:49
Brexit Update: New event: Facebook Q&A, 6 August 1-2pm. See our events page (click on “attend one of our citizens outreach meetings”) or visit www.facebook.com/BritsInGermany
2019-04-24 17:11
EU Exit update: 2 Information events for UK nationals in Berlin on Tuesday 30 April 2019. For event details and registration instructions see “EU Exit updates” and click on “attend one of our citizens outreach meetings”.
2019-04-17 10:01
EU Exit update: New information in “Passports and travel after the UK leaves the EU” concerning travel and short stays within the EU and UK passport validity.