Employee Termination Compliance: Notifying the Immigration Office in Germany

HR teams must ensure both labor and immigration authorities are properly informed when a foreign employee’s contract ends.
Last updated
October 29, 2025
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When a foreign employee’s contract is terminated, simply notifying the Bundesagentur für Arbeit is not enough. HR must also inform the local immigration office to remain compliant with residence and work permit conditions.

Terminaton Compliance

Aspect Details
Origin Country Any (applies to all non-EU national employees)
Destination Country Germany
Service Type Employment termination compliance / Work visa offboarding
Timeline Notify within a few days of termination
Complexity Low to Medium
Key Challenges HR assuming Bundesagentur für Arbeit notification is sufficient; missed immigration office reporting
Platform Modules Used Compliance tracking, HR notification system, document management
Primary Authority Involved Local Immigration Office (Ausländerbehörde)
Supporting Authority Bundesagentur für Arbeit
Impact of Non-Compliance Sponsor license risk, employee record conflicts, future visa delays

The Question

Is it enough for HR to notify the Bundesagentur für Arbeit about an employee’s termination, or must the immigration office also be informed?

The Answer

Notifying only the Bundesagentur für Arbeit is not sufficient. The immigration office must be informed directly about the employee’s termination.

Employee Termination Compliance

Context & Background: The Challenge

Companies employing non-EU nationals in Germany often assume that informing the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) about a termination covers all obligations. However, failing to notify the immigration office can result in compliance issues for both employer and employee.

Applicable Regulation

Under German residence law (AufenthG), the immigration office must be formally notified when a foreign national’s employment ends, as it directly affects their residence and work authorization.

The Outcome

By notifying both the Bundesagentur für Arbeit and the local immigration office, HR ensures legal compliance and avoids penalties or delays in future sponsorship processes. Timely reporting helps maintain transparent immigration records for the company and the affected employee.

Employer Steps

  • Immediately inform the immigration office after a foreign worker’s termination.
  • Include the termination date and employee details.
  • Notify the Bundesagentur für Arbeit separately if required by the permit type.

Key Learnings

  • Notifying only the Bundesagentur für Arbeit is insufficient.
  • The immigration office must always be informed of termination events.
  • Timely reporting protects company compliance status for future sponsorships

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This covers the following use cases:

  1. What should HR in Germany do when a foreign employee’s contract is terminated?
  2. Is informing the Bundesagentur für Arbeit enough after ending a foreign worker’s employment?
  3. Do employers need to inform the immigration office when a non-EU employee leaves the company?
  4. Why must the immigration office be notified about an employment termination in Germany?
  5. What are the reporting obligations for HR after a foreign employee’s termination in Germany?
  6. Which authority needs to be informed when a visa-sponsored employee is terminated in Germany?
  7. How can HR maintain immigration compliance when ending a foreign worker’s contract?
  8. What happens if HR does not inform the immigration office after terminating a foreign employee?
  9. Does ending a foreign employee’s contract impact their residence permit in Germany?
  10. How can HR avoid compliance risks when offboarding foreign employees in Germany?

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