To quit your job in Germany, you must give a resignation letter (Kündigungsschreiben or Kündigungserklärung) to your employer. Your resignation is only official when your employer receives this letter.
How to write a resignation letter
Use my German resignation letter generator:
{{ recipientFullName[language] }}
Name: {{ fullName }}
Date: {{ currentDate.toLocaleDateString("en-US") }}
Employee number: {{ employeeNumber }} Name: {{ fullName }}
Datum: {{ currentDate.toLocaleDateString("de-DE") }}
Personalnummer: {{ employeeNumber }}
Subject: Termination of my employment contract
Employee number: {{ employeeNumber }}
Betreff: Kündigung meines Arbeitsvertrages
Personalnummer: {{ employeeNumber }}
{{ salutations[language] }},
I hereby terminate my employment contract with due notice as of the earliest possible date.
hiermit kündige ich mein Arbeitsverhältnis fristgerecht zum nächstmöglichen Termin.
Please confirm in writing the receipt of this termination letter and the termination date of my employment contract.
Bitte bestätigen Sie mir den Erhalt dieser Kündigung und das Kündigungsdatum meines Arbeitsverhältnisses schriftlich.
Additionally, please promptly send me the following documents:
Zusätzlich, senden Sie mir bitte umgehend die folgenden Dokumente:
- a letter of reference (Arbeitszeugnis)
- a qualified letter of reference (qualifiziertes Arbeitszeugnis)
- a vacation certificate (Urlaubsbescheinigung)
- Arbeitszeugnis
- qualifiziertes Arbeitszeugnis
- Urlaubsbescheinigung
Best regards,
{{ fullName }}
Mit freundlichen Grüßen,
{{ fullName }}
{{ language === 'en' ? 'Signature' : 'Unterschrift' }}
Your resignation letter must be short and precise. Don’t add unnecessary information; it could be used against you.2
Your resignation letter must include:
- Your full name and address
- Your employee number (if you have one)
- Your employer’s full name and address
- The date of your resignation
- The word Kündigung in the subject line
- The correct addressee – This is usually your manager, or the human resources department.7
- Your signature – Sign the letter by hand. A digital signature, a scanned signature, initials or a stamp are not enough.3
Your resignation letter can include:
- Your contact information – in case your employer needs to contact you later
- A request for a reference letter (Arbeitszeugnis)
- A request for an Urlaubsbescheinigung
- A note to thank your employer and your team
Your resignation letter should not include:
- Why you quit your job6
- What you plan to do next
- Feedback for your employer or your team
Language of your resignation letter
If you work in an English-speaking office, you can write your resignation letter in English. It’s safer to write it in German.9
How to give your resignation letter
Your resignation letter must be printed and signed. An email, a fax, an instant message or a conversation is not enough.1 Your resignation is only official when your employer receives your resignation letter.
There are two ways to give your resignation letter.
- In person (recommended)8
Give your resignation letter to your employer in person. Bring a witness that can confirm that it happened.5 This is the best option, because you can guarantee that your employer received your resignation. It’s also more polite. - By post
Send your resignation letter by registered mail. Your notice period begins when your employer receives your resignation, not when you send it.4 This can delay your resignation.
Your employer does not need to confirm or accept your resignation.
Who should receive the letter
Ask your employer. You usually give the resignation letter to your manager, or to the human resources department.
What happens next
When your employer receives your resignation letter, your notice period (Kündigungsfrist) begins.
Keep a copy of your resignation letter. The Agentur für Arbeit asks for it when you apply for unemployment benefits.10
How to quit your job in Germany ➞
Sources and footnotes
-
ArbeitNow, roberthalf.com, karrierebibel.de, peopleatventure.de ⤴
-
Rotwang Law (June 2023) ⤴
-
Interview with an unemployed person (July 2023) ⤴