Before you leave Germany, you will have do deal with some organisational matters:

• Cancel all your contracts (tenancy agreement, mobile phone, electricity, gas, water, health insurance etc.) and any subscriptions and memberships (newspapers, clubs etc.)
• Cancel your bank account. Consider leaving it open for 3 months after leaving to catch any delayed payments.
• Find out if you have to complete a tax declaration (see "Taxes")
• Arrange an appointment with an adviser at the "Rentenversicherungsanstalt" (pension scheme) (Essen, Duisburg or VBL) to discuss your pension entitlements, especially if you have been staying here with a work contract.
• Check with your personnel department/your fellowship provider well in advance whether you will receive your final salary/fellowship payment before you leave the country
• If you leave Germany, you need to de-register your residence with the city. If you just move to another German city, just register your residence there, you don't need to de-register in the former city of residence then
• You can de-register in Essen informally in writing at the earliest 7 days before moving out and at the latest 14 days after moving out. You can also use this form
• In Duisburg, you have to de-register in person, please make an appointment. EU citizens can de-register at the citizen's office. For non-EU citizens, de-registration has to be done at the Talent Center in person. You can request an appointment 6 weeks in advance and have to appear in person at the earliest 7 days before you leave:
  • https://www.etermin.net/qtermin-stadt-duisburg-abh-sued
  • Please choose “International Talent Center” and then “ITC – Abmeldung ins Ausland” and follow the instructions in the form. If there are no appointments available before your departure day even after trying for several days, please let us know
• For non-EU nationals: make sure that your residence permit is still valid when leaving the country to avoid issues at the border. If it expires shortly before your departure, please contact us to advise you on how to get a border crossing certificate
• Consider taking out the redirection service of Deutsche Post so that your mail will be forwarded to your new address