How to register as unemployed after termination in Germany

Employees in Germany whose job is ending – whether through termination, a termination agreement, or the expiry of a fixed-term contract – must notify the Federal Employment Agency twice: first as “seeking work” and later as “unemployed”. These are two separate legal duties with separate deadlines. Missing even one of them can reduce or completely block your unemployment benefits. The obligation applies whether you agree with the termination, plan to challenge it in court, or expect to find a new job quickly. The moment you know the job will end, the deadlines start running. Our guide explains both registrations, the exact timing rules, how to file them, and the penalties for being late.

Key takeaways:

• Two separate registrations are required: first “seeking work”, then “unemployed”. One does not replace the other.
• Registration as “seeking work” must happen no later than 3 months before the last working day – or, if you learn about the termination later, within 3 calendar days of finding out.
• Late registration as “seeking work” = 1 week benefit suspension (Sperrzeit). You lose that week of unemployment benefits.
• Registration as “unemployed” must happen at the latest on day 1 of unemployment (can be done up to 3 months earlier).
• If you do not register as unemployed on time, the Job Agency is legally forbidden to pay you unemployment benefits until the day you finally register – no back payments.
• Both registrations apply even if you are fighting the termination in court or expect to win your job back.

First notification: “seeking work” (arbeitssuchend)

The first step is the early notification that you will soon be without a job. This is called the “work-seeking” registration. It applies in every situation where an employment contract has an end date: dismissal, termination agreement, non-renewal of a fixed-term contract, even the end of a probation period.
The purpose is simple: the Employment Agency wants time to support your job search before you become unemployed, ideally so unemployment never happens.

Even if you are absolutely sure you will find a new job on your own – or even if you are certain you will sue and win your case – you must still register. German social law treats the registration as a formal duty, not as a request for help.

When you must register as “seeking work”

The timing rule is strict and automated:

• If there are 3 months or more between the moment you learn that the job will end and the last working day → you must register no later than 3 months before the end date.
• If there are less than 3 months between knowledge and end → you must register within 3 calendar days from the moment you find out.

It does not matter whether the termination is “fair”, whether you signed anything, or whether you are still negotiating. The deadline is tied only to when you knew the job would end.

How you can register as “seeking work”

You can complete the notification in four different ways:

• Online via the website of the Federal Employment Agency (if you have digital identification)
• By phone via the free hotline 0800 4555500
• In writing by sending a simple letter (recommended with registered mail for deadline protection)
• In person at your local Employment Agency branch

Many people choose the online method, but it only works if you already have a valid digital ID login (BundID, eID, ELSTER certificate, etc.). If not, the quickest fallback is either the phone hotline or written notification.

Jobseeker: What happens if you register too late

If you miss the deadline for the “seeking work” notification, the Employment Agency will impose a one-week waiting period on your unemployment benefits. That week is not “shifted”, it is lost – you will simply receive one week less money overall. The payment start is also delayed accordingly.

Second notification: “unemployed” (arbeitslos)

If unemployment actually occurs at the end of the employment relationship because no new job has been found, the employee must additionally register as “unemployed”. This notification is essential for securing the right to unemployment benefits (Arbeitslosengeld).

When do you have to register as “unemployed”?

Employees can register up to three months before the end of their employment, but must do so no later than the first day of unemployment.
If the Employment Agency is closed on that day (e.g. Sunday, public holiday), the registration can be made on the next working day with retroactive effect.

How to register as “unemployed” in Germany

In Germany, you can only register as “unemployed” in two ways:

• Online: You can register through the Federal Employment Agency’s website. To do this, you need to verify your identity digitally – either with a German ID card that has the online ID function activated, an electronic residence permit, an eID card, or an EU/EWR ID that supports online identification.
• In person: You can also go to your local Employment Agency office and register at the counter. You’ll need an ID document (ID card or passport) and your registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung). You can look up the correct branch via the agency’s office finder.

Consequences of late unemployment registration

The registration as unemployed is a legal prerequisite for receiving unemployment benefits.
If the employee fails to register, or registers late, the Employment Agency is not allowed to pay benefits for the period before registration.

• No registration = no unemployment benefits at all
• Late registration = payment only begins on the day of registration

The unemployment registration also counts as the formal application for unemployment benefits. Once registered, the agency must process the claim.

Unemployment benefits: Requirements, duration and calculation

A person is entitled to unemployment benefits if all of the following apply:

• Unemployed: The employment relationship has ended.
• Registered as unemployed: The employee has completed the formal registration.
• Qualifying period fulfilled: Within the last 30 months, they have worked at least 12 months in an employment relationship subject to social insurance contributions. These 12 months do not have to be consecutive. It is sufficient that contributions were due, even if they were not actually paid.

Duration of unemployment benefits

Full months of employment	Age at end of employment	Benefit duration (months)
12	–	6
16	–	8
20	–	10
24	–	12
30	50+	15
36	55+	18
48	58+	24

Amount of unemployment benefits

• 67% of net salary if the claimant has at least one child
• 60% of net salary for all others

The relevant net salary is the average daily taxable salary during the last 12 months before leaving the job.

Applying for unemployment benefits

We are in Germany, so there is still more red tape. Because registering as unemployed does not trigger any payments on its own. To actually receive money, you still have to submit the formal benefit claim (“Leistungsantrag”). In practice, this is not a separate third appointment but simply the second step in the same process:

Online, you log in with your eID, confirm the unemployment status, and the system immediately offers to start the benefit application in the same session. You fill in bank details, health insurance information, upload the employer certificate, and the agency has everything it needs to calculate your entitlement.

Offline, the logic is identical. You take your ID to the Agentur für Arbeit, the clerk registers you as unemployed, and then either hands you the Leistungsantrag or completes it with you on screen. You sign before you leave, and both legal steps are finished.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)