What is Kindergeld and how much is it?
Kindergeld is Germany's universal child benefit — a monthly payment made to one parent per child regardless of their employment status, income level, or tax class. It is administered by the Familienkasse, which is part of the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit).
Amount (as of 2025):
- €255 per month for each child
The flat rate applies to all children equally — the second child receives the same amount as the first, the third the same as the second. This was changed in 2023 (previously the amount increased per additional child); since 2023, all children receive the same flat monthly amount.
Kindergeld is paid to one parent — not split between two. You decide which parent applies. The payment is independent of your salary, your tax class, and whether you work full-time or part-time. It does not reduce any other benefits you receive (with some specific exceptions for certain income-replacement benefits).
Important: Kindergeld and the child tax allowance (Kinderfreibetrag) are alternatives, not additions. At lower and medium incomes, Kindergeld is financially more advantageous. The tax office automatically checks at year-end whether the child tax allowance would have been better — if so, they adjust retroactively. You do not need to calculate this yourself.
Who qualifies — EU citizens, non-EU workers, and residency rules
The key requirement is that you must have your primary residence or habitual abode in Germany and be subject to German income tax (unbeschränkt einkommensteuerpflichtig). This sounds complex but in practice means: if you live and work in Germany, you almost certainly qualify.
EU/EEA citizens and Swiss nationals: If you are an EU/EEA citizen or Swiss national living in Germany — whether employed, self-employed, or following a German partner — you are entitled to Kindergeld on the same basis as German citizens. Your Anmeldung establishes your habitual abode.
Non-EU citizens: You are eligible if you hold a residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) that either:
- Allows you to work (a Blue Card, skilled worker visa, ICT permit, etc.)
- Does not limit you to a temporary stay in a specific sense
In practice, the following permit holders ARE entitled:
- EU Blue Card holders ✅
- Skilled worker (Fachkraft) visa holders ✅
- Permanent residence (Niederlassungserlaubnis / Daueraufenthaltsrecht) ✅
- Settlement permit holders ✅
- Family reunion visa holders working or with their spouse working ✅
The following are generally NOT entitled until they switch to a qualifying permit:
- Holders of §16a/b study visa (student visa) — unless they have started employment
- Short-term/tourist visa holders
- Asylum seekers in the first months (different rules apply — consult a specialist)
The child's residency: the child must also have their primary residence or habitual abode in Germany. If your child lives in another country, you may be entitled to a different amount (or the benefit may be adjusted under EU coordination rules). Kindergeld for children abroad involves complex rules — contact the Familienkasse directly if your child does not live in Germany.
How to apply: Familienkasse and the KG1 form
Step 1: Find your responsible Familienkasse The Familienkasse is a division of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit. Your application goes to the Familienkasse responsible for your residential district, not your employer's district. Find yours at: arbeitsagentur.de → Familienkasse.
Step 2: Complete form KG1 The main application form is KG1 ("Antrag auf Kindergeld"). Download it from the Familienkasse website or pick it up in person. Since 2024, you can also apply online via Mein ELSTER (if you have an ELSTER account) or via the Familienkasse's online portal.
Step 3: Attach required documents (see next section)
Step 4: Submit You can submit by post, in person at the Familienkasse office, or online. Postal submission to the Familienkasse responsible for your area is the most common route.
Important: Kindergeld can be backdated by a maximum of 6 months from the date of your application. If your child was born 2 years ago and you are only applying now, you will not receive the last 2 years of payments — only the last 6 months. Apply as soon as your Anmeldung is complete.
Documents you need
For all applications:
- Completed KG1 form
- Birth certificate of each child (original or certified copy — if not in German, you need a certified translation)
- Proof of your address registration: Meldebestätigung (Anmeldung certificate)
- Your residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) — for non-EU applicants
- Your IBAN (German bank account details for payment)
- Your tax ID (Steueridentifikationsnummer) for both the applying parent and each child
Additional documents depending on situation:
Child lives with only one parent Custody decision or written agreement Child aged 18–25 in education Proof of enrolment or apprenticeship contract Child in vocational training Training contract (Ausbildungsvertrag) Non-EU applicant Copy of work permit/residence permit Child born abroad Foreign birth certificate + certified translation Child previously lived abroad School records or proof of move-in dateChildren's tax IDs: every child who was born in Germany or has registered their address in Germany has a tax ID (Steueridentifikationsnummer) allocated automatically by the Bundeszentralamt für Steuern. If your child was born in Germany, their tax ID arrives by post within a few weeks. If it has not arrived, you can request it from the Finanzamt.
Timeline: when payments start and backdating
Processing time: the Familienkasse typically processes applications within 4–8 weeks in most regions, though busy periods (e.g., January) can extend this to 12 weeks.
Backdating maximum: 6 months from the date the Familienkasse receives your application. This is a hard limit — you cannot claim payments older than 6 months, regardless of when your entitlement started. Always apply promptly after Anmeldung.
First payment: once approved, the payment is made monthly to your German bank account (IBAN). Payments are made at the beginning of the following month for the current month.
Retroactive payments: if your application is approved after several months of processing, the Familienkasse pays the backdated months (up to the 6-month limit) in a lump sum with the first payment.
Example timeline:
- You register your address (Anmeldung) on 1 April
- You submit your Kindergeld application on 15 April
- The application is approved on 1 July
- Your first payment covers April–July retroactively, then continues monthly
If you had waited until September to apply, you would only receive payments from March (6 months back from September) — losing April–August.
What affects your entitlement
Multiple children: each qualifying child receives €255/month. The amount does not change based on birth order (since 2023). You apply once with all children listed.
Age limits: Kindergeld is paid until the child's 18th birthday automatically. It continues up to the child's 25th birthday if the child is:
- In education (school, university, vocational training)
- Doing a voluntary social or ecological year (FSJ/FÖJ)
- Registered unemployed and seeking work (limited)
- In military service (but not for the duration of service)
After age 25: no more Kindergeld, regardless of circumstances.
Child's income: since 2012, the child's own income no longer affects the parents' Kindergeld entitlement for children under 25. Even if your student child works and earns well, you still receive Kindergeld.
Your income: Kindergeld is not means-tested — your income level does not affect entitlement.
Two parents: only one parent can receive Kindergeld per child. Both parents cannot claim simultaneously. Typically the parent with the higher income claims it (as it interacts with income tax), but you can choose. If parents separate, Kindergeld is paid to the parent who primarily lives with the child (can be redirected to the other parent by the Familienkasse if ordered by a court).
After applying: what to expect and what to report
Familienkasse letter: you will receive a Bescheid (decision letter) confirming your entitlement, the amount, and the start date.
You must report changes: You are legally required to notify the Familienkasse promptly if:
- Your child moves out of Germany or changes residency
- Your child turns 18 and leaves education/training
- Your child finishes university or drops out
- You leave Germany
- Your child reaches age 25
Failure to report changes can result in repayment demands with interest. The Familienkasse cross-checks data with tax authorities, schools, and universities periodically.
Kindergeld and Elterngeld: Kindergeld and Elterngeld (parental leave benefit) are different benefits. You can receive both simultaneously for the same child.
Kindergeld and Unterhalt: if you pay child support (Unterhalt) to an ex-partner for a child living with them, Kindergeld is offset against the Unterhalt obligation — it reduces what you owe, not what you receive.
If you disagree with the decision: you have 1 month from the Bescheid date to file a formal objection (Widerspruch) in writing.