The notice period (Kündigungsfrist) is the time that must pass between notice being given and the end of the employment relationship. It applies to employees and employers, but not to the same extent. It matters especially at the start of your career, because different periods apply during the probation period than afterwards.
Short answer: As an employee, you give notice with a four-week period to the 15th or to the end of the month. The employer’s period becomes longer the longer you have been employed. During the probation period, which may last at most six months, both sides have two weeks. The legal basis is § 622 BGB, accessed October 2026. Last updated: October 2026.
The essentials at a glance
- As an employee, you give notice with four weeks to the 15th or to the end of the month (§ 622 para. 1 BGB).
- For the employer, the period increases with the length of employment (para. 2).
- During a probation period of at most six months, both sides have two weeks (para. 3).
- Collective agreements can set different periods (para. 4). Individual contracts may only shorten them in narrow exceptions (para. 5).
- The period for employees may not be longer than the period for the employer (para. 6).
The statutory periods at a glance
For employees, there is a fixed basic period. For the employer, it grows with length of service. What counts is the duration of the employment relationship, and all periods of employment count, including those before the age of 25 (§ 622 para. 2 BGB). Older guides still state the former rule that periods before age 25 are disregarded. That rule could not be applied because of age discrimination (CJEU, judgment of 19 January 2010, C-555/07 Kücükdeveci) and has been repealed since 1 January 2019.
| Length of service | Notice period for the employer |
|---|---|
| Probation period, at most 6 months | 2 weeks (para. 3) |
| Up to 2 years, outside probation | 4 weeks to the 15th or to the end of the month (para. 1) |
| From 2 years | 1 month to the end of the month |
| From 5 years | 2 months to the end of the month |
| From 8 years | 3 months to the end of the month |
| From 10 years | 4 months to the end of the month |
| From 12 years | 5 months to the end of the month |
| From 15 years | 6 months to the end of the month |
| From 20 years | 7 months to the end of the month |
Assumption: You have worked for the same employer for three years, and the probation period is over. If the employer gives notice, a period of one month to the end of the month applies. If you give notice yourself, it is four weeks to the 15th or to the end of the month.
What applies during the probation period
The probation period may last at most six months (§ 622 para. 3 BGB). During this time, both sides can give notice with a period of two weeks. Whether a probation period applies is stated in your employment contract. Without one, the regular periods apply from the start. More on this is in the glossary entry on the probation period.
Why collective agreements and employment contracts matter
Collective agreements can deviate from the statutory periods (§ 622 para. 4 BGB). That is why it is worth checking your employment contract and the applicable collective agreement. A contract may not make your period longer than the employer’s (§ 622 para. 6 BGB).
Frequently asked questions
Do I always have to observe the notice period?
For an ordinary termination, yes. An extraordinary termination without notice is only possible for good cause (§ 626 BGB), for example serious misconduct. Whether such good cause exists is assessed case by case.
Do my jobs as a working student before the age of 25 count?
Yes. What matters is the employment relationship with the same employer, and all periods of employment within it count, including those before your 25th birthday (§ 622 para. 2 BGB). Older guides still say these periods are disregarded. That rule could not be applied and has been repealed since 1 January 2019.
What is a termination agreement?
A termination agreement (Aufhebungsvertrag) ends the employment relationship on a date agreed freely. It is not a notice of termination, so the periods do not apply. Do not sign one in haste, because it can cause disadvantages for your protection against dismissal or for unemployment benefit.
Does the period apply even if I was only briefly at the company?
Yes, unless something else has been agreed. During probation, two weeks apply; afterwards, your basic period of four weeks applies. The graduated periods for the employer only start once the employment has lasted at least two years.
Related reading
- Unemployment Benefit After Studies: Eligibility and Registration
- Glossary: Payroll Tax Class Explained
- Glossary: Probation Period Explained
- Glossary: Collective Agreement Explained
Sources: Civil Code (BGB) § 622, accessed October 2026, Civil Code (BGB) § 626, accessed October 2026.
Last updated: October 2026. This guide provides general information, not individual advice.
