Key deadlines at the start of your career: what counts in the first months. Starting your first job brings several deadlines that you should know before you sign or give notice. The rules on probation and termination are set in the German Civil Code (BGB) and apply regardless of the calendar year. This guide is therefore a checklist that does not depend on the year.
Short answer: During the probation period, which may last at most six months, the notice period is two weeks (§ 622 para. 3 BGB). After that, employees give four weeks’ notice to the 15th or to the end of a calendar month (§ 622 para. 1 BGB). The employer’s period rises with the length of employment. Last updated: November 2026.
The most important points at a glance
- The probation period may last at most six months. During it, the notice period is two weeks.
- After the probation period, you can give four weeks’ notice to the 15th or to the end of a month.
- The employer’s period rises with the length of employment, from one month after two years up to seven months after 20 years.
- Collective agreements and employment contracts can set certain periods differently.
- The special right of termination of your health insurer follows its own rules in the Social Code.
How long can the probation period last?
A probation period may last at most six months under § 622 para. 3 BGB. It must be agreed. The shortened notice period of two weeks applies only during this probation period. After the six months, the general periods apply.
Assumption: your job starts on 1 March 2027 and the probation period is six months. It then ends on 31 August 2027. Until then, either side can terminate with two weeks’ notice. From 1 September 2027 the general periods apply.
| Period | Notice period for employees | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Probation period, at most six months | two weeks | § 622 para. 3 BGB |
| After the probation period | four weeks to the 15th or to the end of a month | § 622 para. 1 BGB |
| Different agreement in the contract | only within the limits of the law | § 622 paras. 4 to 6 BGB |
How long is the notice period after probation?
As an employee you can give notice under § 622 para. 1 BGB with a four-week period to the 15th or to the end of a calendar month. This applies unless the contract or a collective agreement provides otherwise. Longer periods in the contract remain unaffected under § 622 para. 5 sentence 3 BGB.
A special rule concerns employees: your period may not be longer than the period for the employer (§ 622 para. 6 BGB). Check the contract to see whether a longer period for you has been agreed.
How long does the employer have to give notice?
For terminations by the employer, the period rises with the length of employment. Notice always takes effect at the end of a calendar month. All periods of employment count from 1 January 2019, including those before the age of 25.
| Length of employment | Employer’s period | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| from 2 years | one month, to the end of a month | § 622 para. 2 no. 1 BGB |
| from 5 years | two months, to the end of a month | § 622 para. 2 no. 2 BGB |
| from 8 years | three months, to the end of a month | § 622 para. 2 no. 3 BGB |
| from 10 years | four months, to the end of a month | § 622 para. 2 no. 4 BGB |
| from 20 years | seven months, to the end of a month | § 622 para. 2 no. 7 BGB |
Assumption: you have worked in the company for three years. The employer’s period is then one month to the end of a month. Only from five years does it rise to two months.
Which deviations are possible in the employment contract?
Collective agreements can deviate from the periods in § 622 paras. 1 to 3 BGB. Within their scope they also apply to parties who are not bound by them, if those parties have agreed to their application (§ 622 para. 4 BGB).
A shorter period in an individual contract is only allowed in two cases: for temporary help that does not continue beyond three months, and in small businesses with generally no more than 20 employees, where the period may not be below four weeks (§ 622 para. 5 BGB). Part-time staff count proportionally.
When can you use the special termination right of your health insurer?
The deadline for health insurance is not a termination date under employment law but a separate rule. If the insurer raises its additional contribution, you can terminate by the end of the month from which it is first charged or raised. The twelve-month binding period then does not apply (§ 175 para. 4 sentence 6 SGB V).
For a new graduate this matters, because the first salary often changes the health insurance arrangement too. More on contributions is in What changes in 2027 for insurance?.
Frequently asked questions
Must I give notice in writing?
Yes. Under German law, termination of an employment relationship requires written form, as set out in the German Civil Code. An email or an oral statement is not enough for this purpose. Keep a copy and proof of receipt.
Can the probation period be extended?
The shortened two-week period applies only during a probation period of at most six months. A longer arrangement is therefore not covered by the shortened period. After the six months the general periods apply again, even if the contract continues.
What happens at the end of the probation period?
At the end of the probation period the general periods of § 622 para. 1 BGB apply, unless the contract or a collective agreement provides otherwise. There is no automatic conversion to a permanent contract. Check the contract before you change anything after probation.
Does the two-week period apply to both sides?
During the probation period the two-week period applies to termination, regardless of whether the employer or you give notice. The employer’s period is therefore equally short during this time.
What to do now
- Enter the start and end of the probation period and the notice periods in your calendar.
- Check the employment contract and any collective agreement for different periods.
- Terminate only in writing and keep proof of receipt.
- Note the deadline for a possible special termination of your health insurer.
Related articles
- What changes in 2027? The full overview with all key dates
- Starting your career after university (in German)
- What changes in 2027 for new graduates?
- What changes in January 2027?
Sources: § 622 BGB, notice periods in employment (current version); § 175 SGB V, choice and binding period (current version).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
