Mail forwarding in Germany when moving abroad

When you move – for example back home after a care assignment – you do not want to miss important post. Deutsche Post’s mail forwarding service (Nachsendeauftrag) redirects letters and parcels for a set period from your old to your new address.

How it works

• Order it online or at a branch, ideally two weeks before moving.
• It runs for a limited time, typically six or twelve months, and can be extended.
• Forwarding abroad is possible.
• A fee applies; Deutsche Post publishes current prices.
• There are separate orders for private persons and businesses.

Limits

Forwarding only covers Deutsche Post items; other carriers often keep delivering to the old address. Forwarded post takes extra days to reach other countries – tight for official letters with deadlines. After the term ends, nothing more arrives.

Change your address, don’t just forward

• Registration office: when moving abroad, deregister within two weeks (§ 17 Federal Registration Act).
• Trade office: a new business address is a change of trade registration; if you give up the business, deregister the trade.
• Tax office, health insurer, bank and clients.

Why the self-employed need a permanent business address

With a business in Germany you must be permanently reachable. Your invoices need a full address, and tax notices come with deadlines. A business address in Germany stays in place even when you travel between countries. With our office service incoming post is digitised so you can read it anywhere; important official letters are kept.