Kindergeld Germany 2026: Child Benefit Guide

Kindergeld in Germany is the monthly child benefit that the state pays for every child, and in 2026 it is €259 per child. It has no income limit, and many expat families can claim it from the month their residence status qualifies. This guide explains the 2026 amount, who is eligible, how to apply at the Familienkasse, how far back you can claim, what changes when your child turns 18, and how Kindergeld compares with the child tax allowance. It is based on the law and on official sources, and it is general information, not advice for your individual case.

Quick answer: Kindergeld Germany 2026

Kindergeld Germany 2026: how much do you get?

Under §66 EStG, Kindergeld is €259 per month for each child in 2026. There is no sliding scale by income and no difference between the first, second or any later child.

Only one person can receive Kindergeld for the same child. It is paid on top of your salary. To see how your payslip works out, use our net salary calculator, and for the bigger picture read taxes in Germany.

Who is eligible for Kindergeld?

Under §62 EStG, you can claim Kindergeld for a child if either of these applies:

• you have a residence or your habitual abode in Germany, or
• you have neither, but you are fully taxable in Germany, or are treated as fully taxable on application (for example, certain cross-border commuters or employees posted abroad).

You must also be identified by your tax identification number (Steuer-ID). Under §63 EStG, the following children count:

• your own children, including adopted children and foster children as defined in §32 EStG,
• the children of your spouse that live in your household,
• grandchildren that live in your household.

Your income does not matter for the claim itself. That is the main difference to benefits such as Kinderzuschlag (see below). If you have just arrived, register your address first, because the Familienkasse will ask for it and for your residence permit.

Kindergeld for foreigners: EU, EEA and non-EU citizens

Your nationality does not decide the claim, but your residence status can. The rules differ for EU and EEA citizens and for citizens of other countries.

EU and EEA citizens

According to §62(1a) EStG, EU and EEA citizens who move to Germany have no entitlement for the first three months after they establish their residence. The waiting period does not apply if you prove that you earn income in Germany, for example as an employee or self-employed person. After the three months, you are entitled unless your right of free movement is limited under EU free-movement law.

Citizens of other countries

For people outside the EU and EEA who do not have free-movement rights, §62(2) EStG lists the permits that give a claim. The main ones are:

The exact conditions are detailed and depend on the purpose stated on your permit, so check the wording on your residence document and ask the Familienkasse if you are unsure. If you are planning your move, our visa guide explains the main permit types. Families who arrive on a Blue Card should also see the Blue Card family reunification section.

How to apply for Kindergeld at the Familienkasse

The Familienkasse is part of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit and is responsible for most employees and families in Germany. In some cases another office is responsible, so check which applies to you.

1. Collect the tax IDs. You need your own Steuer-ID and your child's. Your own tax ID is on your tax assessment or your payslip documents. If the child's ID is not known yet, you can submit it later, and under §63 EStG a later-assigned number applies retroactively to the months in which the conditions were met.
2. Gather your documents. Typically the birth certificate, your residence permit, proof of registration (Anmeldung), your bank details (IBAN), and, if your partner lives abroad or has income there, details about their situation.
3. Apply online. The Familienkasse offers an online application. According to the Bundesagentur für Arbeit, with a Bund-ID the form can be sent without a signature. Without it, you print and sign the form and send it by post.
4. Wait for the decision letter. The Familienkasse sends a notice (Bescheid) with your Kindergeld number. Keep it, because you will need the number for later contact and updates.
5. Report changes. Tell the Familienkasse when the child finishes school or training, drops out, moves out, or when you move.

Beware of unofficial websites that charge for an application. The Familienkasse application is free. If the paperwork feels heavy in German, an English-speaking adviser can help with the first application. A German bank account is needed for the payout.

Back-payment: the six-month limit

Kindergeld is paid from the month in which the conditions are met (§66 EStG), but §70 EStG limits retroactive payment: "Die Auszahlung von festgesetztem Kindergeld erfolgt rückwirkend nur für die letzten sechs Monate." In practice, you can be paid for the last six months before the month of your application and not further back, even if you were entitled earlier. The entitlement itself is not affected, it is the payout that is capped.

The practical advice is simple: apply as soon as your child is born or arrives, and send missing documents later.

Age limits and Kindergeld for children over 18

Under §32 EStG, a child counts up to the month before they turn 18. After that, Kindergeld continues only in defined cases:

The Bundesagentur für Arbeit adds the details for adult children:

• A first training or first degree qualifies without an income limit.
• A second training or degree qualifies only if the child works up to 20 hours per week. Earnings do not matter, and a minijob alongside does not disqualify the child.
• The gap between school and training or study is covered only up to four months.
• If the child has no training place, you must show that they are applying, for example through registration with the employment agency.

Always report the end of training or a change of work hours.

Children living abroad

Under §63 EStG, children are counted if they live in Germany, in another EU member state, or in a state covered by the EEA Agreement. Children whose residence is outside the EU and EEA are generally not counted, with a narrow exception for some parents who are taxed in Germany under special rules. If your child lives in another EU country, the other country may also pay a family benefit, and EU rules decide which one comes first. For children in non-EU countries, expect a rejection unless a specific rule applies.

If your family lives in two countries, collect proof of residence of the child (such as a school certificate or registration) and ask the Familienkasse before you apply. The Familienkasse also handles cases with foreign child benefits, and foreign benefits are only offset to the extent they exceed the German amount, according to §31 EStG. If you move to or from Germany with your children, your tax return may also be affected, so keep your documents together.

Kinderfreibetrag vs Kindergeld: the Günstigerprüfung

German tax law protects a minimum for each child in one of two ways: through Kindergeld or through child allowances (Kinderfreibetrag). §31 EStG calls this the Familienleistungsausgleich. You do not apply separately. The allowances for 2026 under §32(6) EStG are:

How it works in practice:

• During the year, you receive Kindergeld each month.
• When you file a tax return, the tax office compares the tax saving from the allowances with the Kindergeld you received.
• If Kindergeld is worth more, nothing changes. If the allowances save more tax, they are deducted from your taxable income, and the Kindergeld you received for the year is added to your tax bill (§31 EStG).

The effect is that you only get the better of the two. Because tax savings rise with income, the allowances tend to win for higher earners and Kindergeld for lower and middle incomes. The tax office does this check automatically, so you do not have to calculate it, but keep your Kindergeld notices for your return. If your situation is complex, for example with a partner abroad, a tax advisor is worth a look.

Kinderzuschlag in brief

The Kinderzuschlag (child supplement) is a separate benefit for families that earn enough to cover their own needs but not those of their children. According to the Bundesagentur für Arbeit, you may qualify if you receive Kindergeld and have a low income. It is paid by the Familienkasse, and you apply separately, online, with the help of the KiZ-Lotse, which checks your chances first. The amount and the income thresholds change over time, so check the current figures on the Bundesagentur für Arbeit website instead of relying on older articles.

Children and health insurance

Kindergeld helps with the cost of a child, but health insurance is a separate matter, and the system you choose changes your family budget.

Family insurance has a catch for married couples (or registered partners) where one parent is privately insured. Under §10(3) SGB V, a child is not covered by family insurance if the spouse or partner who is not in the public system earns regularly more than one-twelfth of the annual income threshold and more than the publicly insured parent. In that case, the child needs its own cover. This is why family cover matters when you choose between public and private health insurance. Our family comparison of public and private goes through it, and the public health insurance guide explains family insurance in more detail. If your child needs private cover, see our private health insurance guide and the cost overview, and check current prices with the insurers.

Independent consultants such as MyHealthcareBroker compare insurers for families in English, free of charge for you. Related costs also change with children: see our sick pay guide for what happens when you are ill, and the long-term care insurance guide for how children affect care contributions. If a child is joining you from abroad, remember that a student or visa applicant often needs proof of funds and valid health insurance for the permit.

Kindergeld checklist for expat parents

As soon as your child is born or arrives

• Register your address and get the birth certificate.
• Find your tax ID and your child's tax ID.
• Apply for Kindergeld online within the first weeks, because of the six-month limit.
• Arrange health insurance for the child.

Every year

• Keep the Kindergeld notices and add the children to your tax return.
• Report school-leaving, training changes and changes of address.

When your child turns 18

• Send proof of school, training or study, or of job-seeking, to the Familienkasse.
• Check the health insurance status of your child at the same time.

FAQ

Sources

Figures checked on 16 October 2026. Always confirm your own case with the Familienkasse.

• Kindergeld of €259 per month: §66 EStG
• Entitlement, EU/EEA citizens and non-EU permits: §62 EStG
• Children, tax ID and children abroad: §63 EStG
• Age limits and allowances of €3,414 and €1,464: §32 EStG
• Familienleistungsausgleich and comparison of allowance and Kindergeld: §31 EStG
• Six-month retroactive payment limit: §70 EStG
• Family insurance for children: §10 SGB V
• Children over 18 and online application: Bundesagentur für Arbeit, Kindergeld ab 18 Jahren
• Overview and contact: Bundesagentur für Arbeit, Infos rund um Kindergeld
• Kinderzuschlag and KiZ-Lotse: Bundesagentur für Arbeit, Kinderzuschlag