Kindergeld and Elterngeld for parents in Germany

Germany offers generous family benefits. This guide helps you receive everything you are entitled to, before and after birth.

Main differences

	Kindergeld	Elterngeld	Elternzeit
Type	Monthly child benefit	Income replacement after birth	Job leave
Amount	255 euros/month (fixed)	65 to 100 percent (max 1800 euros)	Unpaid
Duration	Until 18 (or 25)	12 to 14 months	Up to 3 years
Payer	Familienkasse	Elterngeldstelle	Employer (return right)
Must apply	Yes	Yes	Yes, 7 weeks notice

All three at once is common.

Kindergeld, base benefit per child

Amount (2025)

• 255 euros/month per child (up from 250 euros January 2025)
• Same for first, second, third child
• Independent of parent income

Until what age?

• Until 18 unconditionally
• Until 25 in education or training
• Unlimited if child cannot support self due to disability

Who qualifies?

Parents with:

• Residence in Germany (Hauptwohnsitz)
• Suitable Aufenthaltstitel: §18, §18g, §9, §28
• Or EU/EEA citizenship

Students (§16) usually not, except special cases (e.g. German spouse).

How to apply

1. www.arbeitsagentur.de → "Kindergeld online beantragen"

2. Online or paper form

3. Attachments:

   • Birth certificate
   • Steuer-ID (parents and child)
   • Aufenthaltstitel
   • Anmeldung
   • IBAN

4. Processing: 2 to 6 weeks

5. Monthly payment

Important: Max 6 months retroactive. Each month delay = 255 euros lost.

Elterngeld, income replacement after birth

Basis-Elterngeld

• 67 percent net monthly income before birth
• Low income (<~1000 euros): up to 100 percent
• High income (>1200 euros): 65 percent
• Minimum: 300 euros/month
• Maximum: 1800 euros/month

Duration

• One parent: 12 months
• Both (Partnermonate): 14 months
• Single parent: 14 months

ElterngeldPlus

• Half amount, double duration
• Max ~900 euros/month, up to 28 months
• Better if working part-time with steady income

Partnerschaftsbonus

• 4 extra months ElterngeldPlus
• Condition: both work 24 to 32 hours/week simultaneously

Example calculation

Mother, 2500 euros net:

• Basis: 2500 × 65 percent = 1625 euros/month for 12 months
• Plus: ~812 euros/month for 24 months
• Bonus: ~812 × 4 = +3248 euros

Calculator: familienportal.de

Apply for Elterngeld

1. After birth (not before)

2. State Elterngeldstelle

3. Documents:

   • Birth certificate
   • 12 months salary (payslips or Steuerbescheid for freelancers)
   • Mutterschaftsgeld proof (employees)
   • Krankenkasse proof
   • IBAN
   • Father: Vaterschaftsanerkennung if not married

4. Processing: 2 to 8 weeks

5. Monthly payment

Max 3 months retroactive, apply early.

Elternzeit, leave from work

Legal right

• Up to 3 years per child
• Return to same job (not worse)
• Often 12 months used + 24 reserved (until age 8)

How to request

1. At least 7 weeks before start, in writing to employer

2. Specify:

   • Start and end dates
   • Part-time plan if desired

3. Employer cannot refuse

4. Protection from dismissal during Elternzeit

Working during Elternzeit

• Up to 32 hours/week allowed
• Or new employer
• Or self-employment

Mutterschutz (maternity protection)

For employed mothers:

• 6 weeks before + 8 weeks after birth (12 for multiples/disability)
• Full pay from Krankenkasse + employer
• Work forbidden in this period
• Dismissal protection from pregnancy notice until 4 months after birth

Critical points for parents from Iran

1. Birth certificate, first step

Register at Standesamt after birth (hospital helps). Documents:

• Parents' birth certificates (Iranian, translated)
• Marriage certificate (translated)
• Passports
• Anmeldung

Cost: ~40 euros for Geburtsurkunde

2. Vaterschaftsanerkennung

If not married (under German law): father must recognize paternity at Jugendamt. Otherwise:

• Not on birth record
• No custody
• Elterngeld for father difficult

Important: Iranian marriage without German recognition counts as "not married". Get marriage recognized at embassy or Standesamt.

3. Child's citizenship

Child born in Germany is not automatically German unless:

• One parent German, or
• One parent 8 years in Germany with Niederlassungserlaubnis (§4 StAG)

From 2024: dual citizenship possible (Iranian + German).

4. Kita, plan early

• Legal entitlement from age 1 (KiTa-Anspruch)
• Reality: 6 to 18 month wait in big cities
• Register during pregnancy
• Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt: often free, else income-based

5. Child Krankenkasse

Child free on family insurance (GKV, income below limit). Register within 2 weeks.

6. Kinderzuschlag (KiZ)

Low family income:

• Up to 292 euros/month extra per child
• Apply at Familienkasse

7. Local extras

• Berlin: Berlin-Pass
• Munich: München-Pass
• Hamburg: Hamburg-Pass
• Familienkarte in many states

8. Travel to Iran

After birth Iran trip possible:

• German passport for child from ~4 weeks at Bürgeramt (~60 euros)
• Child with German citizenship needs Iranian visa (without Iranian documents)
• Elternzeit in Iran does not block Elterngeld if Hauptwohnsitz stays Germany

Checklist

Before birth:

• Notify employer of Mutterschutz
• Search and register for Kita
• Plan Elternzeit (7 weeks before)
• Use Elterngeld calculator
• Have family documents translated

First days after birth:

• Standesamt → Geburtsurkunde
• Krankenkasse → family insurance
• Kindergeld (Familienkasse)
• Elterngeld (Elterngeldstelle)
• Optional: child Anmeldung

First months:

• Check Kinderzuschlag eligibility
• Use local family passes
• Check citizenship if eligible

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