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Kindergeld — Child Benefit

Kindergeld (child benefit) is a monthly payment of €259 per child, regardless of family income. Paid by Familienkasse (family fund) at Bundesagentur für Arbeit. All families with children under 18 living in Germany are entitled to Kindergeld.

Amount (2026)​

€259 per month per child.

Who Receives​

  • Parents of children under 18
  • Until 25 if child is studying
  • Until 21 if registered as job-seeking at Arbeitsagentur
  • Until 25 during transition between education phases (up to 4 months)

Conditions​

  • Child lives in Germany or EU
  • Parent is German tax resident

How to Apply​

  1. Submit application to Familienkasse
  2. Attach:
    • Parent's tax ID (Steuer-ID)
    • Child's tax ID (Steuer-ID)
    • Proof of registration
    • Birth certificate (in special cases, e.g. foreign births)

Application can be submitted online: arbeitsagentur.de

Apply Immediately

Kindergeld is paid retroactively for a maximum of 6 months. If you apply a year after moving, you'll lose payments for the first 6 months.

Deadlines​

  • Starts from month of birth
  • Can apply retroactively (up to 6 months)
  • Payment — throughout the month (date depends on last digit of Kindergeldnummer)

Kindergeld vs Kinderfreibetrag​

Two options:

  1. Kindergeld — monthly payment
  2. Kinderfreibetrag — tax deduction (€9,756/year per child (for both parents combined, €4,878 each))

Tax office automatically chooses the beneficial option when filing return.

IncomeMore Beneficial
Low/mediumKindergeld
High (~€85,000+ zu versteuerndes Einkommen (taxable income))Kinderfreibetrag

Threshold depends on individual situation (number of children, marital status).

With High Income

If Kinderfreibetrag is more beneficial, you still receive Kindergeld, but it's deducted from Freibetrag savings. You get the maximum of both options.

Special Situations​

Divorce​

Kindergeld goes to parent the child lives with.

Working Abroad​

If working in another EU country, rules may differ. Possible to receive the difference.

For Immigrants​

  • Blue Card holders, work permit holders and permanent residents are entitled to Kindergeld
  • Refugees with recognized status are entitled
  • Student visa — generally no entitlement to Kindergeld

FAQ​

Kindergeld rejected because of my visa type. Why?​

Kindergeld eligibility for non-EU citizens depends on the specific paragraph of your Aufenthaltsgesetz (Residence Act) permit. Usually approved: §18a–d (qualified employment), Blue Card, Niederlassungserlaubnis (permanent residence). Usually rejected: student visa, §20 AufenthG (researchers), Aufenthaltsgestattung (asylum seeker status). Exception: citizens of Turkey, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Serbia qualify if employed — based on bilateral agreements. You can file a free Einspruch (objection) with the Familienkasse within one month of rejection.

Can I get Kindergeld retroactively for the full period since my child was born?​

No — the maximum retroactive period is 6 months before the Familienkasse receives your application (since 2018; previously 4 years). The key date is when the Familienkasse receives your application, not when you became eligible. If your documents are not ready, The application can be submitted even without a complete document set — missing documents can be sent later. There is no special form for retroactive claims; the standard application applies.

I applied months ago and heard nothing. How long does it take?​

Standard processing is 4–8 weeks, but delays of 3–7 months are not uncommon, especially with non-standard residence permits. If more than 8 weeks have passed: (1) a written Sachstandsanfrage (status inquiry) can be sent to Familienkasse; (2) find your assigned Familienkasse by postal code at arbeitsagentur.de; (3) after 6+ months of silence, you can file an Untätigkeitsklage (inactivity complaint) with the Finanzgericht.

After divorce — who receives the Kindergeld?​

Kindergeld goes to the parent the child primarily lives with. Only one parent can be the recipient — not both. If time is split roughly equally, parents must jointly submit a Berechtigtenbestimmung (determination of entitlement). If they cannot agree, a court decides. Familienkasse requires immediate notification of separation or divorce.

Kindergeld vs. Kinderfreibetrag — which is better?​

The Finanzamt automatically checks both options when you file a tax return (Günstigerprüfung). Kindergeld: €259/month = €3,108/year. Kinderfreibetrag: €9,756/year (2026) — a tax deduction, not a payment. At a combined household income of roughly €80,000+, Kinderfreibetrag becomes more advantageous. You always receive the maximum of both options — no choice needed.

Sources​