Brexit did not close the door to Germany. It changed the sign on it. Where a French or Italian neighbour walks in and registers an address, a British newcomer has an extra step: a residence title. The good news is that Germany lets you apply after you arrive, and a lot of daily life works exactly as for everyone else. This is what you need to do when moving to Germany from the UK.
Do you need a visa when moving to Germany from the UK?
No visa is required to enter. Under § 41 of the residence ordinance (AufenthV), British citizens can enter without a visa and apply for the residence title from inside Germany. The deadline is 90 days from entry. The application goes to the Ausländerbehörde (foreigners' office) of the town you live in, and book early: in big cities it can take a while to get an appointment.
The title depends on the reason you give: employment, self-employment, family, study and so on. The rules for each are the same as for any non-EU national, and they are decided at the foreigners' office, not by us. If you already have a job offer, ask whether your employer can help with a fast procedure. A British citizen cannot just show up and look for work in the way an EU citizen can.
What if you were already living in Germany before 2021?
If you settled in Germany on or before 31 December 2020, you are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement. You should have contacted the foreigners' office before 30 June 2021 to receive an Aufenthaltsdokument-GB, a residence document that is usually valid for ten years and allows any activity. Late applications are still accepted, though Berlin warns that a late notification can make it harder to prove your lawful stay.
Nobody can acquire those rights today, with one exception: children born or adopted after the cut-off date. For the rest, the Withdrawal Agreement protects those who were there at the time, not those who arrive now.
How does the Anmeldung work for British citizens?
Exactly as for everyone else. Within two weeks of moving in, you register your address at the Bürgeramt with a signed landlord's confirmation and your passport. That is a duty regardless of nationality. It also triggers your tax ID. See our guide to the Anmeldung. The residence title is a separate step that comes after, at the foreigners' office.
If you are unsure which residence title fits your situation, or whether the Withdrawal Agreement covers you, the answer decides your rights on work, family and travel. Moovy can explain the options in plain English and what to prepare for the appointment. It cannot apply for the title for you.
What about health insurance?
Everybody living in Germany needs health insurance. Brexit did not change this, and the UK-EU trade agreement keeps health coordination in place. For a temporary stay, your UK GHIC or EHIC is valid. Once you live here, a person insured in the UK registers with a German fund (Krankenkasse) of their choice, as a European would. Employees are insured through the statutory system, with the contribution split with the employer. See health insurance in Germany for expats.
If your only pension is the UK State Pension, the UK government says you may be entitled to an S1 form, requested from the NHS Overseas Healthcare Services and registered with a German fund, which gives you the fund's card. Long-term care insurance is not covered by the agreement. Check the conditions on GOV.UK before you move, because they depend on when you settled.
Can you drive on your British licence?
Yes, for six months from the date you settle in Germany (when you have your usual residence here). An extension of up to six months is possible only if you prove you will stay no more than twelve months. Before the deadline, exchange your licence at the local licensing office. Germany exchanges British licences without a theory or driving test, and a vision test can be requested. In Berlin, the exchange costs €37.50 in 2026, according to the city's service portal. If you miss the deadline, you are driving without a valid licence in Germany. We explain the process in driving in Germany.
How does tax work for British citizens in Germany?
German tax rules do not depend on your nationality. If you keep a home in Germany or stay more than six months, you are a tax resident and taxed on your worldwide income. The Germany-UK double taxation treaty of 30 March 2010, amended by protocols in 2014 and 2021, decides who can tax what. Employment income is generally taxed where you work, with an exception for short assignments. A private pension is generally taxed in the country where you live, while a state pension paid under social security, such as the UK State Pension, is taxable only in the country that pays it (article 17). Because this is a high-stake area, have a tax adviser check your case.
What else changes for Britons?
- Online ID. The EU eID card for non-German EU citizens is not available to you. A residence permit card can carry an online identification function instead.
- Banking. A UK account does not enjoy the EU protection against IBAN discrimination, so open a euro account in Germany.
- Schools and nurseries. Your children's rights are the same as for any child living in Germany, whatever the nationality. See schools in Germany.
What is the timeline when moving to Germany from the UK?
- Before you go: decide your reason for staying (job, family, study, retirement), because it sets the residence title. Ask about an S1 if you live on a UK State Pension. Check that your UK licence is valid.
- First two weeks: register your address and ask the landlord for the confirmation.
- First weeks: open a euro bank account, choose a Krankenkasse, and book the appointment at the foreigners' office.
- Within 90 days of entry: apply for the residence title.
- Within six months: exchange your UK driving licence.
- Within a year: if you brought a car, register it in Germany and deregister it in the UK.
Moving to Germany from the UK is therefore a sequence of deadlines, not a single event. Put them in your calendar before you leave.
Can you work, set up a business or study?
Work is possible once you hold a residence title that allows it, or if the Withdrawal Agreement covers you. For employment, the foreigners' office checks the type of job. For self-employment, it looks at the business. Studies follow their own conditions. Ask the office of your city for the list of documents, since they vary by purpose and place. Our working in Germany guide covers what happens once you have the right to work.
For family reasons (a German or EU spouse, for example), the rules differ again. Do not assume that your situation is the same as a friend's. The title you hold sets how long you can stay and what you may do.
Why does your arrival date matter so much?
The Withdrawal Agreement protects people who were already settled in Germany on 31 December 2020. Anyone who arrives later follows the ordinary rules for third-country nationals. That is why advice from a friend who moved in 2019 may be useless to you. If you have any doubt about which category you belong to, ask the foreigners' office in writing and keep the answer.