Relieving Letter Template for Germany

A Relieving Letter serves as official proof that you've properly ended your employment with a German company. While not legally mandatory under German labor law, many employers provide this document to confirm you've completed all handover duties and settled any outstanding matters.

German businesses often require these letters when hiring, especially for roles in finance, technology, or regulated sectors. The letter typically includes your employment dates, role details, and confirmation that you've fulfilled notice period requirements under your arbeitsvertrag (employment contract). Having this document helps smooth the transition to your next job and protects both parties from future disputes.

Request a Relieving Letter when leaving your job in Germany, especially if you're moving to another position in finance, healthcare, or technology. Many German employers require this document from new hires to verify clean separations from previous roles and confirm proper handover of sensitive information or projects.

Having this letter ready streamlines your next job application process and prevents delays in background checks. It's particularly important if you've handled confidential data, managed key client relationships, or worked with regulated information. German companies often need this documentation for their compliance records and to meet industry-specific due diligence requirements.

• Basic Employment Confirmation: Standard Relieving Letter verifying dates of employment, role, and clean departure
• Detailed Project Handover: Extended version documenting transfer of specific responsibilities and ongoing projects
• Regulatory Compliance: Enhanced letter for regulated industries with additional certifications about confidentiality and data handling
• International Transfer: Specialized format addressing cross-border employment transitions within German multinational companies
• Technical Role Release: Specific variant for IT and engineering positions, confirming system access revocation and intellectual property obligations

• HR Departments: Draft and issue Relieving Letters, maintain documentation, and ensure compliance with German labor regulations
• Departing Employees: Request and receive the letter after completing handover duties and notice periods
• Future Employers: Review letters during hiring processes to verify clean separations and professional conduct
• Department Managers: Confirm project completion and proper handover of responsibilities
• Legal Teams: Review letter content to ensure alignment with employment contracts and German labor laws
• Works Councils: May review letters as part of employee separation procedures in larger German companies

• Employee Details: Gather full name, employee ID, position title, and department information
• Employment Timeline: Document exact start and end dates, including last working day
• Project Status: List all completed handovers and transferred responsibilities
• Company Assets: Confirm return of equipment, access cards, and other company property
• Compliance Check: Verify completion of notice period and any post-employment obligations
• Signatures Required: Identify authorized signatories from HR and department leadership
• Document Format: Use our platform's German-compliant template to ensure all mandatory elements are included

• Company Header: Official letterhead with full legal business name and registered address
• Employee Information: Complete name, role, department, and employee identification number
• Employment Period: Precise start and end dates of employment relationship
• Role Description: Brief outline of primary responsibilities and position held
• Clearance Statement: Confirmation of all duties completed and obligations fulfilled
• Data Protection: Reference to ongoing confidentiality requirements under GDPR
• Authorization: Signatures from HR director and department head, with company stamp
• Legal Compliance: Statement confirming adherence to German labor law requirements

A Relieving Letter differs significantly from an Employment Reference Letter (Arbeitszeugnis), though both relate to employment endings in Germany. While both documents play important roles during job transitions, they serve distinct purposes and have different legal requirements.

• Legal Status: Employment Reference Letters are legally mandatory in Germany, while Relieving Letters are voluntary but commonly expected
• Content Focus: Relieving Letters confirm proper handover and clearance, while Reference Letters evaluate performance and conduct
• Timing: Relieving Letters are issued immediately upon employment end, while Reference Letters can be requested up to three years after departure
• Purpose: Relieving Letters primarily serve administrative closure, while Reference Letters support future job applications
• Format Requirements: Reference Letters must follow strict German evaluation codes, while Relieving Letters have more flexible formatting