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Reimbursement of pension/social security contributions

If you move back to a country that has a social security system in place, you may have your social contribution, which you have paid in Germany, reimbursed under specific circumstances. After a waiting period of two years, you may submit a request for reimbursement of your social contribution at the German Pension Insurance (Deutsche Rentenversicherung).

Near the end of your stay at BTU and before your departure from Cottbus/Senftenberg, there are a few organisational tasks that you should keep in mind. Many contracts in Germany have a standard notice period of three months. This means that you should start planning your departure no later than three months before you leave. The following steps are designed to help you plan your transition smoothly. The staff of the Welcome Centre is also very glad to answer any further questions that you might have.

Three months prior to your departure
  • Submit a notice of termination of your rental contract in good time! The Welcome Centre can help you write a letter of termination for your accommodation.
  • Enquire with your lessor in due time about whether you will be expected to conduct any renovation work.
  • When moving abroad: If necessary, cancel your private health insurance. If you are insured with a statutory health insurance, notify them and any other insurance companies (e.g. liability insurance) that you are leaving Germany.
  • Deregister your children from day care facilities and schools.
  • Terminate your cable television and telephone contracts, public transportation tickets, newspaper and magazines subscriptions, memberships in organisations, etc.
  • Enquire whether it is advisable or mandatory for you to submit a tax return form.
  • If you had an employment contract with BTU and paid social security contributions, enquire about your pension rights at the Welcome Centre.
Shortly before your departure
  • If you move within Germany, you do not need to deregister. It is sufficient to register with the relevant City Administration Office within 14 days of moving into your new home.
  • When moving abroad: Deregister from your temporary residence address at the City Administration Office Cottbus/Senftenberg. The City Administration Office (Stadtbüro) will issue a written confirmation of deregistration (Abmeldebestätigung), which you will need for other administrative purposes. If you are registered in Cottbus: You can either book an appointment at the City Administration Offcie (link). This is possible at the earliest 7 days before you move out. Alternatively, at the earliest 7 days before you move out, you can send the completed and signed form "Wohnsitz Abmeldung" together with a copy of your passport to the city office by e-mail (stadtbuero(at)cottbus.de). In the e-mail, you should state that you require a Abmeldebestätigung.
  • Broadcasting Service (Rundfunkbeitrag): To stop paying the broadcasting licence fee, you must deregister your flat. You can do this online using the following form: Link. You will need the deregistration confirmation from the city office, which you can upload to the form.
  • Close your German bank accounts if you do not need them anymore, only do so after you have received your last payment/salary/scholarship instalment.
  • You may submit a forwarding request at the nearest post office branch, so that the postal service can send any future/late correspondence to you.
  • Last but not least please inform the Welcome Centre of your date of departure from Cottbus/Senftenberg and Germany, and provide us with your new contact details, so that we can contact you in the future if necessary.
On the date of your departure
  • Write down in the handover protocol the counter readings from your electricity, gas and water meters and have your lessor sign them.
  • Depending on the requirements of your lessor, you might be expected to clean your apartment/room/house before you move out.
  • Return your keys and hand over your empty apartment/room/house to your lessor.