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German Mail Forwarding (Postweiterleitung)

Forward your German mail — 6 months

Companies keep sending to your old German address for months after you leave. Tax notices, bank statements, insurance renewals, pension correspondence — all land at an address you no longer check. The Deutsche Post Nachsendeauftrag (mail forwarding order) redirects them internationally. We set it up on your behalf and monitor the forwarding so it does not expire quietly.

40,000+ cases since 2014

ProvenExpert 4.9 / 5

Forwarding activates within 10 business days

99-day guarantee

What you miss when there is no forwarding

Your Abmeldung does not update your address in every database. The Finanzamt has a new address field — but uses it only if you filed a change-of-address form. Your bank uses whatever address it has on file until you call and correct it. The Rentenversicherung still sends annual contribution statements to your last German address. Your former health insurer mails the exit confirmation with instructions you need to act on.

The pattern we see: an expat leaves Germany in April, does the Abmeldung, and assumes all mail routing is sorted. In August, a Finanzamt letter arrives at their old Berlin flat — a time-sensitive tax assessment that requires a response within 4 weeks. By the time the new tenant mentions it or it gets returned, the deadline has passed and there is a penalty.

Set up forwarding before you leave:

The Nachsendeauftrag takes up to 10 business days to activate. Order it at least 2–3 weeks before your move-out date to avoid a gap where important letters go nowhere.

Pricing

Mail forwarding setup

Mail forwarding

Mail delivery to your new address abroad

64,90 €

instead of 69,90 € at launch

Book now

How it works

How it works

Three steps. Forwarding activates on your move-out date and runs for 6 months.

1. Tell us your details

Your old German address, move-out date, and forwarding address abroad. Takes 5 minutes. We confirm which forwarding duration makes sense for your situation.

2. We place the Nachsendeauftrag

We submit the Deutsche Post forwarding order with your verified identity, so you bypass the consumer portal entirely. Activation within 10 business days of your move-out date.

3. Mail arrives — we monitor

Your German post forwards internationally for 6 months. We track DPAG activation and set an expiry reminder so the forwarding does not lapse quietly.

What we handle

What the service covers

  • Deutsche Post Nachsendeauftrag set up on your behalf

  • International forwarding to 220+ countries for 6 months

  • Move-out date calibration so there is no gap in coverage

  • Expiry reminder 4 weeks before the forwarding lapses

What you should know about mail forwarding

Six things that catch people off guard the most.

Identity-verified Nachsendeauftrag

Deutsche Post requires identity verification against the registered address. We submit through our verified operator channel — you do not need a German phone number or POSTIDENT appointment.

International forwarding, not just EU

The DPAG Nachsendeauftrag forwards internationally to 220+ countries. Some destinations add per-item postage costs (especially parcels) — we give you a cost estimate upfront for your destination.

Move-out date calibration

The forwarding start date has to match your actual move-out date, not when you ordered. We sync the Nachsendeauftrag start date with your deregistration to avoid gaps where mail goes nowhere.

What the Nachsendeauftrag cannot forward

We give you a clear list upfront: parcels above 1 kg, registered letters in some cases, mail to businesses at the address. Prevents the unpleasant surprise of an important package sitting uncollected.

Extension before lapse

The forwarding period ends silently — Deutsche Post does not chase you. We set a reminder 4 weeks before expiry and can handle the renewal so the coverage does not disappear on you.

Address update checklist

Mail forwarding is a bridge, not a permanent solution. We include a prioritised list of German senders you must update directly — Finanzamt, Rentenversicherung, bank, insurer, former employer — before the forwarding expires.

Why work with us

Forwarding is a bridge — we keep it from collapsing

Setting up a Nachsendeauftrag looks trivial, which is exactly why it backfires. We submit it through our verified operator channel against the registered address, so you skip the consumer online portal entirely — no German phone number, no POSTIDENT appointment, no TAN sent to a number you no longer have.

The part people get wrong is timing and coverage. Forwarding has to start on your actual move-out date, not the day you ordered, or the first weeks of post go nowhere. And the Nachsendeauftrag does not catch everything — parcels above 1 kg, some registered letters, business mail. We calibrate the start date to your deregistration and tell you upfront what falls outside it.

Forwarding also ends silently — Deutsche Post never chases you. We set a reminder 4 weeks before expiry and hand you a prioritised list of senders to update directly (Finanzamt, Rentenversicherung, bank, insurer) so nothing important lands at an address you no longer occupy.

What customers say

4.9 out of 5 stars — from over 300+ reviews

Deregistration from Berlin and the radio tax were handled quickly and efficiently. I got regular email updates throughout the process. All I had to do was provide the info, they took care of the rest. Would definitely use this service again!

Christopher Cauchi

June 2025 · Google

Excellent service from Deregistration.de in helping me obtain my deregistration certificate from abroad. I would highly recommend.

Nadia Junge

May 2025 · Google

I loved their service. Got me my deregistration certificate in less than a week.

Simran Deep

June 2025 · Google

Still wondering?

Common questions about the service

How much does the Deutsche Post Nachsendeauftrag cost on its own?
Deutsche Post charges EUR 32.99 for 6-month international forwarding (2026 rate). This is the DPAG fee — separate from our service fee. We tell you the exact DPAG fee upfront.
What exactly gets forwarded?
All standard letters and small packets (up to 1 kg) addressed to you at the registered address. The Nachsendeauftrag does not cover: parcels above 1 kg, registered post (Einschreiben) in some configurations, post addressed to previous tenants, and mail marked 'an Empfänger persönlich' (personal delivery only). Larger parcels require a separate arrangement with the sender.
What about parcels and packages?
Parcels above 1 kg are NOT covered by the standard Nachsendeauftrag. Deutsche Post will attempt delivery and leave a notice — but since you have left, the parcel returns to sender after 7 days. The practical solution: notify all online shops and parcel senders of your new address directly, or use a parcel forwarding service alongside the Nachsendeauftrag.
Can I set up forwarding after I have already left Germany?
Yes, with a minor catch. The Nachsendeauftrag requires identity verification — Deutsche Post checks the setup against the registered address. If you set it up online from abroad, they may require a TAN sent to your old German phone number. We set it up on your behalf using our registered process, which bypasses the consumer online portal entirely. You do not need a German phone number.
How long before my move-out date should I set it up?
At least 2 weeks before your move-out date. Deutsche Post needs up to 10 business days to activate the Nachsendeauftrag after the order is confirmed. If you order it the week before you leave, the first few days of mail after your departure may go to the old address before the forwarding kicks in. We recommend ordering 3 weeks before your move-out date.
What happens to mail that arrives after the forwarding period ends?
After the Nachsendeauftrag expires, mail goes back to being delivered at your old German address — which you no longer occupy. Update your address directly with all important senders before the forwarding period ends: bank, Finanzamt, pension authority, insurers.
Can I extend the forwarding period?
The forwarding period is 6 months. If you need longer, you place a new order before it ends — Deutsche Post does not auto-renew. We set a reminder 4 weeks before expiry and can handle the new order for you, so the coverage does not lapse.
Does mail forwarding work for companies registered at my old address?
No. The Nachsendeauftrag is for private individuals only. If you had a Gewerbeanmeldung (business registration) at your home address, you need to update the registered address with the Finanzamt and Gewerbeamt separately. We handle this as part of the business deregistration service.
What if I want to use a German receiving address rather than forwarding directly?
That is the receiving-address option (Empfangsservice). Instead of forwarding directly to your abroad address — which can be slow and expensive for international post — we use our German receiving address, scan each letter, and notify you the same day. Physical originals available on request.

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