Before you move
Time
1 to 3 hours
Cost
Usually free
Difficulty
Easy
What to bring
Your new address, or a temporary one, for correspondence
Your departure date
Your options
Notify your bank directly
Update your address, or ask about non-resident account rules
Free
Ask if you can keep the account as a non-resident. Do it before you fly.
Cross-border tax advisor
For anyone with property, investments, or self-employment income back home
€150 to 500
Worth it if you own property or had self-employment income back home.
Prices checked August 2026
Do it
- 1
Tell your bank you're moving abroad
Some banks restrict services or close accounts for non-residents, ask whether you can keep the account, and update your correspondence address either way. Ask specifically about the mobile app and card delivery: the common surprise is an account that still works but can neither post you a replacement card nor verify a foreign number.
- 2
Notify your tax authority of your departure
Many countries (UK, US, Canada, Australia, most EU states) have a formal "leaving the country" tax form or notification, search your tax authority's site for the leaver's process since requirements differ sharply by country.
- 3
Check if you still need to file
US citizens generally still need to file taxes wherever they live; most other nationalities stop owing home-country tax once they're a non-resident. Confirm your situation, ideally with a cross-border tax advisor if it's not straightforward.
- 4
Update your registered address everywhere official
Electoral roll, pension provider, and any government correspondence you still want to receive.
Common questions
Do I still owe tax at home once I've moved?
It depends entirely on your home country's residency rules. Most countries stop taxing your worldwide income once you're a non-resident, but a few, notably the US, tax citizens regardless of where they live.
Full checklist tracking and task completion live in the Ternli app for Berlin.