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Applying for Child Benefit: Where, How and When Does It Work?

You must apply for Child Benefit (Kindergeld) yourself, in writing or online, at the Family Benefits Office (Familienkasse) of the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) – it is not paid automatically. The easiest way is to apply online via the Familienkasse profile on arbeitsagentur.de or by post using form KG 1. Since January 1, 2026, Child Benefit is 259 € per child per month, the same amount for every child. Apply early: the Familienkasse pays at most 6 months retroactively.

As of: 25.07.2026 · Editorial team HalloAmt · General information, not legal advice (see note at the end).

Is the application too complicated for you, or hard to understand in German? The HalloAmt assistant will go through the questions with you in your language – it understands over 50 languages – and creates the finished PDF at the end. Start now →

Do you actually have to apply for Child Benefit – or does it come automatically?

No, Child Benefit does not come automatically. You have to submit an application yourself – even if you live in Germany and have a child. The birth alone does not trigger any payment.

Only one thing happens automatically: if you already receive Child Benefit and the amount increases, you don't have to do anything – the Familienkasse adjusts the amount automatically and pays out the new, higher amount. This does not apply to a new child or a new entitlement, though; that always requires its own application.

How much Child Benefit is there in 2026?

Since January 1, 2026, Child Benefit is 259 € per child per month. The amount is the same for the first, second and every further child. The Familienkasse pays the money monthly into your account.

Child Benefit is usually paid from birth until the 18th birthday. In certain cases – for example during training or studies – it can continue to be paid until the 25th birthday.

If your income is low, you may also be eligible for an Additional Child Benefit (Kinderzuschlag) of up to 297 € per child, on top of Child Benefit. For more on this, see our guide Applying for the Additional Child Benefit (Kinderzuschlag): Who, Where and How?.

Where do I apply for Child Benefit – and what is the Familienkasse?

The Family Benefits Office (Familienkasse) is responsible. This is the department within the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) that checks, determines and pays out Child Benefit. It is organized nationwide; which Familienkasse is responsible for you depends on where you live.

You have two options:

  • Online: via the Familienkasse profile in the online account of the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) on arbeitsagentur.de. With a Bund-ID, you no longer need to print out the online application – you can submit it directly to the Familienkasse without a signature.
  • By post: with the printed and signed form KG 1 (Application for Child Benefit) plus Anlage Kind (Child Annex) for each child.

If you have questions, you can reach the free service phone line of the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) at 0800 4 555530.

From when can I apply after the birth?

As soon as your baby is here. The entitlement begins with the month of birth. In practice, you need two things for the application: the birth certificate (or the special "certificate for Child Benefit" you get from the registry office) and the child's tax identification number.

The newborn's tax ID is sent automatically by post – usually a few weeks after the birth. Many parents also receive a welcome letter with a QR code that leads directly to an almost fully completed online application.

Don't wait too long: Child Benefit is paid at most 6 months retroactively (§ 66 Abs. 3 EStG). Anything further back than that is lost – even if the money would actually have been owed to you.

How do I apply for Child Benefit step by step?

For anyone who still finds dealing with authorities difficult – here is the process in simple steps:

  1. Gather the tax IDs. You need the tax identification number for yourself and for the child. You can find your own on your income tax assessment or a letter from the tax office.
  2. Choose how to apply. Online on arbeitsagentur.de (Familienkasse profile) or download form KG 1.
  3. Fill in the application. Details about the parents, the child and your bank account. One Anlage Kind (Child Annex) for each child.
  4. Attach the documents. Birth certificate / certificate for Child Benefit. If you have moved from abroad, also your residence permit (see below).
  5. Send it off. Submit it directly online (no signature needed with a Bund-ID) or by post to your Familienkasse – ideally with proof of postage.
  6. Wait for the decision. You will receive a written decision (Bescheid). After that, the Familienkasse pays out monthly.

It is important to state the tax identification number of both the applicant and the child – without it, the Familienkasse cannot process the application. For people who have just moved to Germany, the application with attachments can run to several pages.

Who can apply for Child Benefit – and how does this work with residence status?

Usually, the parent the child lives with applies for Child Benefit. Important: the child must live in Germany, the EU, the EEA or Switzerland. For parents without a German passport, entitlement depends on residence status.

EU/EEA citizens and Swiss citizens have freedom-of-movement rights (meaning they are allowed to live and work freely in Germany) and are generally entitled in the same way as German citizens.

Other nationals are only entitled with certain residence permits – and the permit must be valid, so remember to apply for an extension in good time. Under § 62 Abs. 2 EStG, simplified:

Residence permitChild Benefit?
Settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) or EU long-term residence permitYes, directly
EU Blue Card, ICT CardYes
Temporary residence permit that allows employment (at least 6 months)Yes
Residence permit for humanitarian reasonsOnly under additional conditions (e.g. length of stay, employment)
Fictional certificate (Fiktionsbescheinigung) aloneNo

Attach a copy of your residence permit to the application. Which permit is sufficient in an individual case can sometimes be disputed – if in doubt, the Familienkasse or a migration counseling service can help.

I have a settlement permit and a permanent job – how do I proceed?

With a settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) you have full entitlement – just like German parents. Follow the steps above:

  1. Have the tax IDs ready.
  2. Fill in form KG 1 plus Anlage Kind.
  3. Attach the birth certificate and a copy of the settlement permit.
  4. Send it to the Familienkasse online or by post.

You don't need proof of employment for the settlement permit, because this permit already grants unlimited residence rights.

We fled from Ukraine – can we receive Child Benefit?

Yes, under certain conditions. What matters is the residence permit under § 24 Aufenthaltsgesetz. Since June 1, 2022, the entitlement to Child Benefit for people with this permit no longer depends on employment – so you don't need to prove that you work.

Having the right permit is important: a fictional certificate (Fiktionsbescheinigung) is not enough here. In addition, the child must live in Germany (or another EU/EEA country).

For the application, you need:

  • the residence permit under § 24 AufenthG
  • the tax IDs of the parent and the child
  • the child's birth certificate
  • your bank details

The translated Ukraine pages of the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) include explainer videos in Ukrainian and Russian that show the application process step by step.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to apply for Child Benefit myself, or is it paid automatically?

You have to apply for it yourself. Child Benefit (Kindergeld) is never paid automatically, not even after a birth. Only the yearly increase in the amount is adjusted automatically by the Family Benefits Office (Familienkasse) if you already receive it.

From when can I apply after the birth?

As soon as the child is born and you have the birth certificate and the child's tax identification number. The entitlement starts from the month of birth, no matter when you submit the application.

Where do I submit the Child Benefit application?

At the Family Benefits Office (Familienkasse) of the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit). The fastest way is online via the Familienkasse profile on arbeitsagentur.de; alternatively by post with form KG 1.

How far back can Child Benefit be paid retroactively?

At most 6 months retroactively from the month in which your application is received by the Familienkasse (§ 66 Abs. 3 EStG). If you wait longer, you lose money – so apply early.

Can refugees from Ukraine receive Child Benefit?

Yes, with a residence permit under § 24 Aufenthaltsgesetz. Since June 1, 2022, employment is no longer required for this. However, a mere fictional certificate (Fiktionsbescheinigung) is not enough.

How much Child Benefit is there in 2026?

259 € per child per month, the same amount for every child, since January 1, 2026. It is paid out monthly.

Fill in the Child Benefit application now

You now know the process, the deadline and the required documents – all that's missing is the completed form. The HalloAmt assistant asks you the right questions for KG 1 and Anlage Kind, in over 50 languages, and generates the finished PDF at the end, ready to print or submit digitally.

Fill in the Child Benefit application with HalloAmt →

Also useful: Applying for the Additional Child Benefit (Kinderzuschlag) – the extra benefit for families with a low income.

This guide is general, carefully researched information (as of 25.07.2026) and does not replace legal or official advice. Amounts, deadlines and rules may change; the responsible Familienkasse decides individual cases. For binding information, contact the Familienkasse, a migration counseling service or a lawyer. We cannot guarantee completeness or that the information is up to date.

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