As a European state with one of the strongest social security systems, Germany treats the well-being of children seriously and provides financial support to parents/guardians, including expats who work and pay taxes there. The most common option is child allowance, or Kindergeld. In Germany, this is an amount paid monthly for each child. In this article, we explain what Kindergeld in Germany is, which rules you need to know about, how to apply for Kindergeld in Germany, and what alternatives there are.
What is Kindergeld in Germany?
Who is eligible for the child benefit in Germany?
How much is Kindergeld in Germany in 2025?
How to apply for Kindergeld in Germany?
When is the German child allowance paid?
What are other types of child benefits in Germany?
FAQ: Kindergeld in Germany
What is Kindergeld in Germany?
Kindergeld is one of the family benefits in Germany available to parents of underage children. Importantly, any child who is officially in your care and lives with you entitles you to receive Kindergeld in Germany, including:
- Biological children
- Adopted children
- Foster children
- Stepchildren
- Grandchildren.
In most cases, Kindergeld in Germany is paid until the child turns 18. The period can be extended up to 21 if the child is registered as unemployed and up to 25 if they continue their studies, including vocational training.
If the child has two parents/guardians, only one of them can receive the German child allowance. If they are separated/divorced, the allowance goes to the one in whose care the child is.
More tips for expats in Germany:
Who is eligible for the child benefit in Germany?
Any legal resident who pays taxes and has children is eligible for a German child allowance if they meet certain requirements. As mentioned above, the child must be underage (with some exceptions) and be living in your care in Germany or another EEA country (the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland).
The parent/guardian must also be one of the following:
- A German national.
- A national of another EEA country.
- A German residence permit holder allowed to work in Germany for 6 months or more.
- A national of Algeria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Morocco, Montenegro, Serbia, Tunisia or Turkey legally employed in Germany and paying social security contributions.
How much is Kindergeld in Germany in 2025?
In 2025, the amount paid for each child is €255 per month. As of January 1st, 2026, the monthly child benefit in Germany increases by €4, to €259.
Note that if parents are separated/divorced and one of them pays child maintenance, half of the allowance will be covered by the payments.
The child benefit can be paid retrospectively for up to a six-month period.
An important question is whether Kindergeld is taxable in Germany. No, it is not, but if you are a high-earning parent/guardian, you might benefit from an alternative tax allowance (more on this later).
How to apply for Kindergeld in Germany?
The allowance is not paid automatically, you must apply in writing to become a beneficiary. This can be done online, by mail, or in person at a local Familienkasse (Family Benefits Office) branch. You can find the branch you should visit by entering your postal code on this website.
The application for this family benefit in Germany should be filed immediately after the birth of the child or once you arrive in the country (the residency requirements listed above apply).
The documents necessary to receive Kindergeld in Germany include:
- Application forms
- Child’s and parent’s/guardian’s individual tax number
- Birth certificate for children born outside Germany or living in another EEA country (translated into German if in a different language)
- Passport or residence permit
- Household certificate (Haushaltsbescheinigung) from a local registration office.
All the necessary application forms can be downloaded from the Federal Employment Agency's (Agentur für Arbeit) website. Conveniently, the forms are available in many languages, including English, Turkish, French, Ukrainian and so on.
If the Familienkasse ask for any other supporting documents required for Kindergeld in Germany, they will contact you by phone or mail.
The processing of your application for Kindergeld in Germany, as a rule, takes up to six weeks. If there is no update by then, you may contact the authorities through a free hotline at 0800 4 555530. Keep in mind, however, that the communication will be in German.
As soon as the application is approved, you will start receiving the child benefit in Germany as a deposit to your bank account in a German bank. If you are an expat in Germany who still does not have a bank account, you should open one as soon as possible. Many state services are linked to your bank account, plus it opens other opportunities for you; for example, you will be able to send money home at hot rates via Profee.
When is the German child allowance paid?
Kindergeld in Germany is paid once a month, but not on the same day for everyone. The date depends on the last digit of the Kindergeld number, whose format is xxxFKxxxxx0. Roughly, if the last digit is 0, the payment is made at the beginning of the month, and if it is 9, then closer to the end. The table below shows the payout dates for 2026, but keep in mind that these are approximate and delays of up to several days are considered normal.
Payments of Kindergeld in Germany in 2026
| Kindergeld number’s last digit | Payout dates |
|---|---|
| 0 |
January 8th February 4th March 4th April 8th May 6th June 3rd July 3rd August 5th September 3rd October 5th November 4th December 3rd |
| 1 |
January 8th February 6th March 5th April 9th May 7th June 8th July 6th August 6th September 7th October 6th November 5th December 4th |
| 2 |
January 9th February 10th March 6th April 13th May 8th June 9th July 7th August 7th September 8th October 8th November 6th December 7th |
| 3 |
January 13th February 12th March 9th April 14th May 12th June 10th July 9th August 10th September 10th October 9th November 10th December 8th |
| 4 |
January 14th February 13th March 10th April 15th May 13th June 12th July 10th August 12th September 11th October 12th November 11th December 9th |
| 5 |
January 15th February 16th March 11th April 16th May 18th June 15th July 13th August 14th September 15th October 13th November 12th December 10th |
| 6 |
January 16th February 17th March 12th April 17th May 19th June 16th July 14th August 17th September 16th October 15th November 13th December 11th |
| 7 |
January 19th February 18th March 16th April 20th May 20th June 17th July 17th August 18th September 17th October 16th November 16th December 14th |
| 8 |
January 22nd February 19th March 17th April 21st May 21st June 18th July 20th August 19th September 18th October 19th November 17th December 15th |
| 9 |
January 23rd February 20th March 20th April 23rd May 22nd June 22nd July 21st August 21st September 21st October 20th November 20th December 16th |
Any changes to the schedule above can be tracked through the Agency’s website. This is useful to know if you need to plan your budget or regularly send money to your family back home.
What are other types of child benefits in Germany?
Kinderfreibetrag: tax benefit
Kindergeld in Germany is not taxable, but there is a tax-related alternative to it in the form of a tax allowance (Kinderfreibetrag). It is the amount deducted from the parents’/guardians’ taxable income so that they pay less tax (not applicable to tax classes 5 and 6). The tax allowance is per child and is divided equally between parents/guardians. In 2025, the amount is up to €9,600 depending on the child’s needs. In 2026, it increases to €9,756. Each parent/guardian can benefit from either Kindergeld or Kinderfreibetrag. It is up to the tax authorities to decide which format to apply in which case (usually, the one that leaves more money for the child is the preferred option).
The essential difference between the two is that Kindergeld in Germany is a monthly payment to your account, while Kinderfreibetrag allows for lesser payments towards your annual tax obligations; in other words, it saves you money within a year.
Kinderzuschlag: additional child benefit
This is an extra family benefit in Germany for low-income households with children. The maximum monthly amount is up to €292 per child.
Leistungen für Bildung und Teilhabe: educational package
This allowance is not paid to the parent but instead is provided in kind, as free school lunches, discounted school supplies, and such.
As you can see, anyone caring for a child in Germany has a robust state-sponsored safety net. However, if your family back home does not have this kind of assistance and needs your financial support, remember that with Profee, you can send them money instantly and at great rates. Check out www.profee.com or get the app from the Apple Store or Google Play to unlock all the benefits.
FAQ: Kindergeld in Germany
Can foreigners get Kindergeld in Germany?
Yes, they can if they are legally allowed to work in Germany, pay taxes, and have children aged under 18 years (or up to 25 years in some cases) who live in their household in one of the EEA countries. The child's nationality can be any.
How much is Kindergeld in Germany now?
In 2025, Kindergeld is €255 per month per child, irrespective of the number of children the beneficiary has.
Will Kindergeld in Germany increase in 2026?
Yes, it will. On 1 January 2026, the amount of the German child allowance increases to €259 per month per child.
Can I apply for Kindergeld online?
Yes, you can apply for the child benefit in Germany online as well as by mail or in person at a local branch of the Federal Employment Agency's Family Benefits Office (Familienkasse). An online application is made on the Agency’s website, where you can also find application forms in multiple languages and other documents required for Kindergeld in Germany.
