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Answer · Employment

How much notice do you need to quit a job in Germany?

The statutory minimum for an employee is four weeks, ending on either the 15th or the last day of a calendar month. During an agreed probation period of up to six months, it is two weeks to any day. Your contract or a collective agreement can set longer periods, and resignation always has to be in writing with a handwritten signature.

Last verified: 19 September 2026 · Settling in

At a glance

Statutory notice
Four weeks to the 15th or the end of a month
During probation
Two weeks, to any day
Probation length
Up to six months if agreed in the contract
Form
Written, signed by hand — email or chat is not enough
Longer periods
Possible through the contract or a collective agreement
Employer's notice
Grows with length of service

How the two dates work

Four weeks is not "one month". Counting back from the 15th and from the last day of the month gives two possible end dates, and your notice has to arrive in time for one of them. Hand in notice on the 20th and your earliest end date is usually the 15th of the month after next.

Arrival counts, not sending. Hand the letter over against a signature, or send it so that you can prove when it arrived.

What resigning affects beyond the job

  • Health insurance: employment-based cover ends with the job, so arrange continuation before the last day.
  • Residence permit: titles tied to employment can be affected by leaving a job. Check your specific title before you resign, not afterwards.
  • Final documents: you are entitled to a reference (Arbeitszeugnis) and to your final payslip and employment certificate.
  • Unused leave: it should be taken or paid out with the final salary.

Where the rules differ

  • A fixed-term contract usually cannot be ended by ordinary notice unless the contract allows it.
  • A termination agreement (Aufhebungsvertrag) can end the job earlier by mutual consent — but it can affect unemployment benefit entitlement.
  • Collective agreements can set both longer notice and different end dates.
  • Immediate termination for serious cause exists, but it is exceptional and a matter for legal advice.

Common mistakes

  • Resigning by email when the contract requires a signed letter.
  • Counting four weeks from the month you hand in notice rather than to the 15th or month-end.
  • Ignoring the effect on a residence title tied to the employer.
  • Letting health insurance lapse between two jobs.

What happens next

  • You get written confirmation of the end date from your employer.
  • You arrange continuing health insurance from the day after the job ends.
  • You collect the reference, the employment certificate and the final payslip.
  • If your residence title is tied to employment, you inform the immigration office as required for your title.

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Sequence your job change

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Related questions

Can my employer make my notice period longer than mine?
A contract can agree longer notice, but it may not require the employee to give longer notice than the employer must give.
Does a probation period always exist?
No. It only applies if the contract agrees one, and it may not exceed six months.
Do I have to give a reason for resigning?
No. Ordinary resignation by an employee needs no reason, only the correct form and notice period.

Official sources

Last verified: 19 September 2026

This page is general information about a German administrative process. It is not legal, tax or immigration advice and it does not replace a decision by the responsible authority. Rules, fees and processing times change, and practice differs between cities and offices — always check the official source linked above for your own case.

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