Berlin's €30 fee for leaving religion sparks reform calls in 2025
Leaving a religious community in Berlin comes with a €30 fee and a trip to the district court. In 2025 alone, 17,681 residents formally exited their faith groups, with most departing the Protestant and Catholic churches. Now, calls are growing to scrap the charge and streamline the process.
Over the past five years, around 145,000 Berliners have left their religious communities. Of these, 85,000 were from the Protestant Church, 55,000 from the Catholic Church, and smaller numbers from Jewish, Muslim, and Orthodox groups. The procedure remains strict: applicants must sign a declaration in person at one of the city's ten district courts. Online withdrawals are not permitted, though a notarised statement can be submitted for an extra cost.
The current system places a notable workload on the courts. Handling these requests takes up the equivalent of 3.88 full-time positions across Berlin. Meanwhile, neighbouring Brandenburg allows residents to leave their religious communities without any fee.
Political pressure is building to change the rules. The SPD has proposed abolishing the €30 charge and introducing an online withdrawal option. Supporters argue this would simplify the process and reduce administrative burdens.
The fee and in-person requirement remain in place for now. If the SPD's proposal succeeds, Berliners could soon leave their religious communities more easily—and at no cost. The outcome may also ease the workload on the city's district courts.
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