The one-hour appointment pays for itself with the first payslip. Just settle one thing honestly beforehand: weddings and godparenthood — the only way back is formal re-entry.
The Exit: One Appointment at the Court or Registry
In person with your ID, a €25–60 fee depending on the state. The tax stops at the end of the exit month or the following one, depending on the state — permanently.
✓ Verified: 15/08/2026
WHAT TO DO
AUTHORITY
Standesamt
Municipal authorityMarriage, birth and death certificates, and leaving the church (in most states) all go through your town's Standesamt — often in the same Bürgerbüro.
Where to go in your city → DOCUMENTS 2
COSTS
- €Church exit €25–60
by state; Bremen free
› Details and tips
👨🏻💻
Max recommends:
The whole visit took 12 minutes, 35 € by card. I scanned the exit certificate immediately — it is your lifelong single proof and hard to replace.
👩🏼💼
Lea recommends:
Church tax was still on my payslip two months after leaving — the change simply had not come through ELStAM yet. One scan of the exit certificate to the tax office, and the months withheld too much came back with the next payslip.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Will my employer learn about it? ▾
They only see the KiSt line vanish via ELStAM — the system transmits no reasons. Whether you tell them is entirely your business.
Do I need an appointment? ▾
Depends on the city: Berlin district court takes walk-ins, Munich registry office requires booking. Check your court website; bring passport and registration certificate.
When exactly does the deduction stop? ▾
At the end of the exit month or the following one — your state's church tax act decides which. Your employer learns automatically via ELStAM — check the payslip after 1–2 months.
The real consequences? ▾
Church weddings and godparenthood are off (funerals: parish discretion); confessional Kitas and employers (Caritas, Diakonie) may take note. Civil rights are untouched.
Do I also have to exit in my home country? ▾
The German exit works for German tax. Membership back home follows its own rules — the Finanzamt only needs the German certificate.