Duty to give notice of residence
Residence for citizens without a Aufenthaltskarte or Daueraufenthaltskarte must be notified within six months after expiry of the transition period, i.e. by 30 June 2021. The right of residence as of 1 January 2021 is based on the joint withdrawal agreement concluded between the United Kingdom and the European Union. Please contact the immigration office responsible for your place of residence.
If the option of online registration, which was set up by December 31, 2020, was used by British citizens living in Hamburg, no further notification needs to be submitted - the registration will be regarded as a notification of residence.
Information for UK nationals who have entered the country for the first time after January 1, 2021
British nationals who enter Germany for the first time after January 1, 2021 and have never previously been in Germany with freedom of movement cannot derive any rights from the withdrawal agreement. They are considered to be third-country nationals within the meaning of the Residence Act and must apply for a residence permit at the competent foreigners' office in the district office responsible for their place of residence.
If British citizens were entitled to free movement in Germany before January 1, 2021 and did not stay outside Germany for more than six months (or longer in exceptional cases) by June 30, 2021, a right of residence under the Withdrawal Agreement can also apply. In this exceptional case, please also contact the responsible immigration office in your local district office.
Detailed information on nationwide regulations on residence law
The competent Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Home Affairs (BMI) provides information on its website about the basic regulations on residence law and special cases. These are clearly explained using example cases. The information is also summarized in a brochure and is available for download as a PDF file: