German Mail Forwarding (Postweiterleitung)
Forward your German mail — 6 or 12 months, internationally
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, cover the DPAG fee on Comfort and above, 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.
How it works
Three steps. Forwarding activates on your move-out date and runs for 6 or 12 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 or 12 months. Comfort and All-Inclusive: we track DPAG activation and set an expiry reminder so the forwarding does not lapse quietly.
What every Starter package includes
Six things beyond just placing the DPAG order. Comfort and All-Inclusive add the DPAG fee and long-term monitoring.
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 handle the renewal (Comfort and All-Inclusive) 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.
Pricing
Three packages. All include the Nachsendeauftrag setup. Comfort and above include the DPAG fee.
Starter
We set up the Nachsendeauftrag. DPAG fee billed separately.
EUR 69,90 one-off
- Nachsendeauftrag placed with Deutsche Post
- 6 or 12 months international forwarding
- Email support throughout the process
- Activation confirmation from DPAG
Comfort
Setup + DPAG fee included + expiry monitoring
EUR 109,90 one-off
- Everything in Starter
- DPAG fee covered (6-month forwarding)
- Expiry reminder 4 weeks before end
- Extension handled on your behalf
All-Inclusive
Full mail management for your first year abroad
EUR 199,90 one-off
- Everything in Comfort
- 12-month DPAG fee covered
- Parcel forwarding setup guidance
- German receiving address for sensitive mail
Deutsche Post charges EUR 32.99 for 6-month and EUR 49.99 for 12-month international forwarding (2026). This fee is included from the Comfort package upwards.
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
Common questions
Specifically about the Nachsendeauftrag — costs, coverage, parcels, and timing.
How much does the Deutsche Post Nachsendeauftrag cost on its own?
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Deutsche Post charges EUR 32.99 for 6-month international forwarding and EUR 49.99 for 12-month international forwarding (2026 rates). These are the DPAG fees — separate from our service fee. The DPAG fee is included in the Comfort and All-Inclusive packages; for Starter, you pay it directly through the order process we set up for you.
What exactly gets forwarded?
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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?
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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. We can include this setup in the All-Inclusive package.
Can I set up forwarding after I have already left Germany?
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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 (via ihrer website) 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?
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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?
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After the Nachsendeauftrag expires, mail goes back to being delivered at your old German address — which you no longer occupy. Most importantly: the new tenant can legally open mail addressed to you that arrives after you leave (the law is nuanced here — they can open it if they believe it concerns the address). Update your address directly with all important senders before the forwarding period ends: bank, Finanzamt, pension authority, insurers.
Can I extend the forwarding period?
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Yes. The maximum single order is 24 months internationally. You can extend before the period ends. Deutsche Post requires a new order — it does not auto-renew. We set a reminder 4 weeks before expiry and handle the extension automatically under the Comfort and All-Inclusive packages.
Does mail forwarding work for companies registered at my old address?
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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 Deregister Your Business service.
What if I want to use a German receiving address rather than forwarding directly?
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That is the Empfangsservice add-on. Instead of forwarding directly to your abroad address — which can be slow and expensive for international post — we use our German receiving address. We scan each letter, attach the PDF to your portal, and notify you same day. Physical originals available on request. Add this to any package for EUR 29.90/month.
Set up your mail forwarding
Important letters keep arriving at your old address for 6–12 months after you leave. The Nachsendeauftrag catches them. Set it up before you go — 5 minutes online, forwarding active from your move-out date.
Start nowFrom EUR 69.90. Forwarding activates within 10 business days.