'Kindergeld in Germany: Who Is Eligible for Child Benefits, How Much Is
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Kindergeld is the basic child benefit in Germany. It is usually received by one of the parents or another person who actually supports the child and lives with them in the same household. In 2026, the payment amount is €259 per month for each child, regardless of whether the child is the first or subsequent child in the family.
Key questions to consider before applying: Does the child have a suitable place to live? Is the applicant eligible for Kindergeld? Who will be the recipient? And what documents need to be submitted to the Familienkasse?
Who is generally eligible for Kindergeld
The benefit is granted based on meeting the eligibility criteria, not on citizenship. In a standard situation, you can receive Kindergeld if:
- Is the child under 18 years of age or does he or she meet one of the criteria for adult children?
- The child lives in Germany, another EU country, the EEA, Switzerland, or, in some cases, is considered under German tax rules;
- The applicant lives in Germany or has a sufficient connection to the German tax and social benefits system;
- Is the child part of the applicant’s household, or is the applicant the primary provider?
- No other person is receiving Kindergeld for this child.
The recipient does not have to be a parent. Under certain conditions, the benefit can be claimed by adoptive parents, a stepfather or stepmother, a grandmother, a grandfather, a guardian, or another person, provided the child lives with them permanently.
Requirements for Parents and Foreign Nationals
Citizens of Germany, the EU, the EEA, and Switzerland are generally eligible for Kindergeld provided they meet the general requirements regarding residence and the child’s support.
For third-country nationals, the type of residence permit is important. In practice, the Familienkasse verifies whether the status grants the right to live and work in Germany, whether the stay is temporary and solely for the purpose of study or training, whether there is a connection to the German labor market, and whether the family receives a comparable benefit in another country.
Eligibility is most often determined based on the following:
- Niederlassungserlaubnis or other permanent residency status;
- Aufenthaltserlaubnis, which permits employment and is not limited to a short-term or study-related stay;
- protection status or humanitarian grounds, provided that additional conditions are met;
- employment in Germany, receipt of Arbeitslosengeld I or Krankengeld, or other situations explicitly recognized by the Familienkasse.
If you have just arrived on a national D visa, are enrolled in language courses, or are studying at a university, your entitlement to Kindergeld is not automatic. It is best to verify your specific status using official information from the Familienkasse or to submit an application with a complete set of documents and wait for a written decision.
Useful related topics: Residence permit in Germany, Permanent residence in Germany, Studying in Germany.
For what period can back payments be made?
If you were already eligible for Kindergeld but submitted the application late, the Familienkasse may issue a retroactive payment for past months. Important limitation: Retroactive payments are generally limited to no more than 6 months prior to the month the application was submitted.
Therefore, after the birth of a child, a move, or obtaining the appropriate status, you should not delay filing your application. If you do not yet have all the required documents, check with the Familienkasse to see if you can submit the application now and send the missing documents later.
Kindergeld Amount in 2026
In 2026, Kindergeld amounts to:
| Child | Monthly Payment |
|---|---|
| First child | 259 € |
| Second child | 259 € |
| Third child | 259 € |
| Each subsequent child | 259 € |
Until 2023, the amount depended on the number of children, but now a uniform amount applies to all children. Parents’ income alone does not reduce Kindergeld; however, the tax authorities may later compare the benefits from Kindergeld and the child tax credit (Kinderfreibetrag) through the Günstigerprüfung.
How to Apply for Kindergeld
The Familienkasse at the Bundesagentur für Arbeit is responsible for Kindergeld. You can apply online or in writing. Typically, you will need:
- the applicant’s tax identification number (Steuer-ID);
- The child’s tax ID, if one has already been assigned;
- the child’s birth certificate;
- Bank account information for payment;
- proof of residence, if requested;
- For foreign nationals: a copy of a valid residence permit;
- For children over 18 years of age—proof of enrollment in school, vocational training (Ausbildung), job search, volunteer service, or disability.
If the child was born abroad or does not live in Germany, the Familienkasse almost always requests additional documents: a birth certificate, proof of residence, proof of family composition, and proof of any benefits received in another country.
Excerpt from a child benefit application.
Who Receives the Money
Kindergeld is paid to only one recipient. If the parents live together, they decide among themselves who will be listed on the application. If the parents have separated, the money is usually paid to the parent with whom the child lives most of the time.
In cases of complex living arrangements, disputes between parents, or shared custody, it is best not to rely on verbal agreements. The Familienkasse’s decision and family law issues regarding the offsetting of Kindergeld against child support may vary, so it is advisable to clarify contentious situations in writing.
Kindergeld after age 18
After the child turns 18, the benefit does not continue automatically “simply because the child is still young.” The Familienkasse reviews the eligibility criteria.
Kindergeld can generally continue:
- up to age 21, if the child is registered as a job seeker;
- up to age 25, if the child is in school, undergoing an Ausbildung, is between two stages of education with a short break, or is performing recognized voluntary service;
- There is no standard age limit in certain cases of disability, provided the conditions arose before the age specified by law.
Related topics: Ausbildung, voluntary service, Minijob, Au-pair.
Employment of an Adult Child
If the child is pursuing their first education or vocational training, part-time work generally does not affect Kindergeld eligibility. After completing their first vocational training or first higher education degree, stricter employment checks apply: regular work exceeding 20 hours per week may result in the loss of eligibility for the benefit. Minijobs and employment that is part of the Ausbildung itself are usually assessed differently.
If the situation is borderline, don’t take a guess. Send the education contract, a certificate from the university, the employment contract, and a description of your employment to the Familienkasse to receive a decision on your specific case.
Payments Abroad and to Multiple Countries
Eligibility for Kindergeld may also apply to international families: for example, if one parent works in Germany while the child lives in another EU country, or if the family receives a similar benefit abroad. In such cases, the Familienkasse determines which country’s benefits take precedence.
The following are usually required:
- where the parents work;
- Where does the child live permanently?
- In which country is the family already receiving child benefits?
- Does the applicant have German tax obligations or social insurance?
If entitlement exists in two countries, Germany may pay the full amount or only the difference between German Kindergeld and the payment from the other country. Such cases require careful documentation, because any overpayment must be repaid later.
When and How Kindergeld Is Paid
Once approved, the Familienkasse assigns a Kindergeldnummer to the case. The last digit of the number determines which part of the month the payment is made. For example, numbers with a low last digit usually receive the payment earlier, while those with a high last digit receive it later.
The full payment schedule changes every year, so it’s best to check it on the official Familienkasse website using the last digit of the Kindergeldnummer. The date the payment is credited to the account may differ from the transfer date if there are weekends or bank processing delays in between.
The money is deposited once a month into a Girokonto. If there are several children in the family, the payment is usually made as a lump sum.
What You Need to Report to the Familienkasse
The Kindergeld recipient is required to promptly report anything that could affect eligibility for the benefit. It is especially important to notify the Familienkasse if:
- the family changes its address or bank account;
- the child is moving to live with the other parent or abroad;
- the parents are getting divorced or the primary caregiver for the child is changing;
- the applicant or the other parent begins working abroad;
- the family receives a similar benefit in another country;
- a change in residence status;
- A child over 18 years of age graduates, drops out of an Ausbildung program, changes universities, starts working more than usual, or gets married;
- The child is no longer looking for work or registered as a job seeker (arbeitssuchend) or unemployed (arbeitslos).
If the Familienkasse learns of these changes later, it may send an Aufhebungsbescheid (cancellation notice) and an Erstattungsbescheid (reimbursement notice) regarding the overpayment. Refunds are usually processed through the Inkasso-Service of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit.
Letters and Verifications from the Familienkasse
The Familienkasse may send out forms and requests for documents. Their letters often ask whether the child lives with the recipient, whether the child is still in school, whether the address has changed, and whether the child is receiving benefits from another country.
You must respond to such letters by the deadline. If you do not respond, payments may be suspended until the circumstances are clarified. If you disagree with the decision, you can file an objection (Einspruch/Widerspruch, depending on the type of decision and the legal basis). The deadline and address are usually specified in the letter itself.
A Quick Checklist Before Applying
- Check who in the family will be the sole recipient of Kindergeld.
- Prepare the parent’s and child’s Steuer-ID.
- Make sure that foreign applicants have a valid residence permit.
- For children over 18, gather proof in advance of their enrollment in school, vocational training (Ausbildung), job search, or other relevant circumstances.
- If there is a connection to another country, prepare information about the parents’ employment and any foreign benefits.
- Keep a copy of the application and all documents you submit.
