Will I lose my permanent residence if I do an abmeldung when married?
Will I lose my permanent residence if I do an abmeldung when married?
I'm planning to leave Germany. I've got a permanent residence through a Blue Card. I'm married to a German citizen.
If I do an abmeldung and register in another non EU country as a fiscal resident as well. Would I lose my permanent citizenship?
Thanks!
If I do an abmeldung and register in another non EU country as a fiscal resident as well. Would I lose my permanent citizenship?
Thanks!
- bethannbitt
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Re: Will I lose my permanent residence if I do an abmeldung when married?
My understanding is that retaining a permanent "residency" permit is contingent upon "residing" here, which you clearly aren't planning on doing. Citizenship confers the benefit of allowing one to reside wherever one chooses to and coming and going as one pleases. But I am not a lawyer or an immigration expert, simply a US citizen who has a permanent residency here in DE. I suppose the final word can be found by writing to the office that issued your permanent residency permit. And I'ld wanna know the answer before I change my residency rather than after. Best of luck to you.
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Re: Will I lose my permanent residence if I do an abmeldung when married?
Yes, after 6 months of having left Germany, please see here: https://www.berlin.de/einwanderung/aufe ... titeln/#NE
- Fraufruit
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Re: Will I lose my permanent residence if I do an abmeldung when married?
I don't think you have citizenship unless you have a German passport. I may be wrong.
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Re: Will I lose my permanent residence if I do an abmeldung when married?
IMHO its the other was around: you don't get to have a German passport without having citizenship.
Re: Will I lose my permanent residence if I do an abmeldung when married?
Sorry I made a mistake in the last part of the question. I didn't meant citizenship but only residence.
According to this page, it says: https://www.berlin.de/einwanderung/aufe ... titeln/#NE
Eine Niederlassungserlaubnis erlischt auch bei einem längeren Aufenthalt im Ausland nicht
bei einer ehelichen Lebensgemeinschaft oder eingetragenen Lebenspartnerschaft mit einem deutschen Staatsangehörigen
So that's why I'm asking. According to that, I won't lose my residence. But I've heard different things from other people.
According to this page, it says: https://www.berlin.de/einwanderung/aufe ... titeln/#NE
Eine Niederlassungserlaubnis erlischt auch bei einem längeren Aufenthalt im Ausland nicht
bei einer ehelichen Lebensgemeinschaft oder eingetragenen Lebenspartnerschaft mit einem deutschen Staatsangehörigen
So that's why I'm asking. According to that, I won't lose my residence. But I've heard different things from other people.
- bethannbitt
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Re: Will I lose my permanent residence if I do an abmeldung when married?
I wouldn’t assume you won’t lose your residence based on what you’ve read. It’s only part of the whole story. I hear you talking about picking up and residing somewhere else. For example: suppose I, age 67, need go to the US to take care of my 88 year-old mother and it ends up being an 8-month stay. Meantime, my apartment is here, my health insurance is here, my husband is here, … I‘m just gonna be asking the powers that be for permission to stay away longer, and for a very good reason. I’m still residing here and paying taxes and planning on returning as soon as possible. IMO you should be asking this question of someone at the Amt that deals with this stuff. Why trust us?chaso123 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 31, 2025 10:16 am Eine Niederlassungserlaubnis erlischt auch bei einem längeren Aufenthalt im Ausland nicht
bei einer ehelichen Lebensgemeinschaft oder eingetragenen Lebenspartnerschaft mit einem deutschen Staatsangehörigen
So that's why I'm asking. According to that, I won't lose my residence. But I've heard different things from other people.

Re: Will I lose my permanent residence if I do an abmeldung when married?
OT not saying how long will stay outside Germany.
I thought if staying outside Germany longer than 6 months, then yes will lose the right to reside in Germany. If shorter than 6 months, then no.
I thought if staying outside Germany longer than 6 months, then yes will lose the right to reside in Germany. If shorter than 6 months, then no.
Re: Will I lose my permanent residence if I do an abmeldung when married?
I think you are wrong.bethannbitt wrote: ↑Sun Aug 31, 2025 9:34 pmsuppose I, age 67, need go to the US to take care of my 88 year-old mother and it ends up being an 8-month stay. Meantime, my apartment is here, my health insurance is here, my husband is here, …chaso123 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 31, 2025 10:16 am Eine Niederlassungserlaubnis erlischt auch bei einem längeren Aufenthalt im Ausland nicht
bei einer ehelichen Lebensgemeinschaft oder eingetragenen Lebenspartnerschaft mit einem deutschen Staatsangehörigen
So that's why I'm asking. According to that, I won't lose my residence. But I've heard different things from other people.
I "think" if you stay out this long, you will lose your permanent residents hip.
I hope I'm wrong.
Re: Will I lose my permanent residence if I do an abmeldung when married?
But if your spouse is s German, is it not straightforward getting a (new) residence permit in Germany if/when you return (of course, you will have to reside together).
Sure it'll be years before your (new) permit will become permanent. Still not too bad I'd think.
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Re: Will I lose my permanent residence if I do an abmeldung when married?
@babitt said:
suppose I, age 67, need go to the US to take care of my 88 year-old mother and it ends up being an 8-month stay. Meantime, my apartment is here, my health insurance is here, my husband is here, …
@alberto said:
I think you are wrong.
I "think" if you stay out this long, you will lose your permanent residents hip.
I hope I'm wrong.
@babitt says:
Read the link and you‘ll see that the very case I’ve listed is one in which an exception to the 6th month rule is possible. Of course, one needs to be in touch with the powers that be.
Forgive me Alberto. I’m a ditz with the quote thing.
suppose I, age 67, need go to the US to take care of my 88 year-old mother and it ends up being an 8-month stay. Meantime, my apartment is here, my health insurance is here, my husband is here, …
@alberto said:
I think you are wrong.
I "think" if you stay out this long, you will lose your permanent residents hip.
I hope I'm wrong.
@babitt says:
Read the link and you‘ll see that the very case I’ve listed is one in which an exception to the 6th month rule is possible. Of course, one needs to be in touch with the powers that be.
Forgive me Alberto. I’m a ditz with the quote thing.
