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Claim your German childcare benefits

Helping foreigner workers in Germany to claim Kindergeld – the state benefit given to parents.

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Childcare benefits in Germany

Kindergeld is the state benefit given to parents of children in Germany. This benefit is worth €250 per child per month. Fortunately, foreigners living in Germany can also apply for Kindergeld, provided they have a valid residency permit. Residents of EU/EEA countries do not need a permit to apply for Kindergeld.

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Who can claim Kindergeld?

Kindergeld is paid by the German state to parents working in Germany. It is also paid even when the child is residing abroad in any EU/EEA country. All children in Germany are entitled to receive child benefit starting from their birth until the age of 18.

You may be due Kindergeld if you…

  • worked in Germany
  • are an EU/EEA citizen
  • have a permanent residency permit
  • worked and lived in Germany but your child/children did not
  • are residents of an EU or European Economic Area country
  • are residents in Switzerland

Kindergeld FAQs

Any parent working in Germany should investigate whether they’re entitled to claim Kindergeld. In short, Kindergeld is the system of childcare benefit in Germany. It is paid parents who are working in Germany, even when their child is residing abroad in any EU/EEA country.

The current amount of Kindergeld is €250 per child per month.

Typically, in order to claim childcare benefit payments in Germany, the child in question must be 18 or younger.
This age limit is increased to 25 where the young person:
• is involved in education or training and hasn’t completed their first degree or qualification and doesn’t work more than 20 hours per week
• is doing a year of voluntary or environmental service under the Youth Voluntary Service Act (Jugendfreiwilligendienstgesetz)
• is taking part in the Federal Voluntary Service Act (Bundesfreiwilligendienstgesetz)
• didn’t get a training place for their vocational training

The age limit is also extended to 21 where the young person is unemployed and registered as a jobseeker with an employment agency.

For Kindergeld applications, we charge €150. Fee payment is required upfront.

A Kindergeld application can take up-to 6 months to be processed. You will receive notification of the application’s result to your postal address.

Kindergeld can be claimed by

  • Anyone living in Germany with a child
  • Foreign citizens with a valid permanent residence permit or a temporary purpose specific residence permit
  • Nationals of Switzerland, the European Union, and European Economic Area are entitled to child benefit without permanent residence permit or residence permit
  • Non-EU citizens: Other foreigners need to have a permanent residence permit or residence permit to avail of the benefit You can also claim the benefit for:
  • A spouse’s child that lives with you
  • Foster children that live in your household (who are long term members of your household and their biological parents no longer have custody of them)
  • Grandchildren you have taken into your household
    • *Note: As of 1 January 2018, individuals can claim Kindergeld for the prior 6 months only. The date of receiving your application will be taken in consideration. Therefore, the later you send your application, the later it will be received by the German authorities. As a result, you’ll have fewer months to apply for.

In this case, the child benefit is paid to the parent that the child lives with.

Kindergeld is paid through a bank transfer to the personal bank account of the applicant or his/her spouse. Childcare benefits due for previous periods will be paid as a lump-sum and monthly payments will follow as long as the applicant meets the requirements.

In order to apply, you will need the following documents:
• Copy of the birth certificate of your child and translations of them if they are not in German
• Copy of your marriage certificate and translations of it if it is not in German
• Copy of your and your spouse’s ID
• Proof of unlimited tax liability or tax assessment (Steuerbescheid)
• Certificate of residence and marital status (Wohnsitz-und Familienstandsbescheinigung)
• Statement of children’s money received in the country of residence
• Copy of your annual payment documents or final payslips
• Copy of your last German address registration

Did you know? We can also help you claim your German tax refund!

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