Withdraw from the church

Resignation directly at the respective churches

You can declare your resignation in person directly to the respective churches.

• Bremen Protestant Church:
  
  • Haus der Kirche
    Franziuseck 2-4
    28199 Bremen
    Phone: +49 421 5597 0
    You can make an appointment easily and conveniently online.
• Catholic Church:
  
  • Info point URBI
    Hohe Straße 8/9
    28195 Bremen
    Phone: +49 421 3694 0
  • In Bremen-North also at the respective Catholic parish offices in Bremen-North.

Further information from the churches on leaving the church can be found under "Further information".

Notarization of your signature on the declaration of withdrawal
Alternatively, you can have your signature notarized on a declaration of withdrawal:

• by notaries
• at your local registry office
  
  • Bremen-Mitte registry office if your zip code begins with the digits 281, 282 or 283 and
  • Bremen-Nord registry office if your zip code begins with the digits 287
    
    • You must make an appointment to have your signature certified at the registry offices.
    • Registry office Bremen-Mitte: Online appointment booking.
    • Registry office Bremen-Nord: Appointments can be made by e-mail.
    • You can fill out the declaration of withdrawal in advance.
    • You must sign it at the registry office on presentation of your identity card. You can find the relevant declaration of resignation under "Forms".
    • The signature will be notarized for a fee.
    • The declaration of resignation will be handed over to you.
    • You must send the declaration by post to the relevant church. Withdrawal from the church only becomes effective upon receipt by the church. Members of the Roman Catholic Church who live in Bremen-North should send the declaration of resignation to the relevant parish office, as Bremen-North belongs to the diocese of Hildesheim.

More information

The obligation to pay church tax ends at the end of the calendar month in which the declaration of leaving the church became effective.

• Identity card or passport

• Online appointment booking at the registry office Bremen Mitte
  

• Online appointment booking Bremische Evangelische Kirche
  

• Declaration of withdrawal from the church catholic - Bremen Mitte (pdf, 284.7 KB)
  

• Declaration of withdrawal from the church catholic - Bremen Nord (pdf, 144.2 KB)
  

• Declaration of leaving the church evangelical - Bremen North (pdf, 208.3 KB)
  

• Declaration of withdrawal from the church evangelical - Bremen Mitte (pdf, 234.5 KB)
  

5,50 EUR for the notarization of signatures at the registry offices

The costs for notarization of signatures by notaries may vary.

What deadlines must be paid attention to?

You do not have to observe any deadlines.

How long does it take to process

The signature is notarized immediately.

• § 10 Gesetz über die Erhebung von Steuern durch Kirchen, andere Religionsgemeinschaften und Weltanschauungsgemeinschaften in der Freien Hansestadt Bremen (Kirchensteuergesetz - KiStG -)

• Bremische Evangelische Kirche, Kirchenaustritt
• Katholischer Gemeindeverband in Bremen, Kirchenaustritt