Kindergeld in Germany: child benefit and how to apply

Child benefit supports families every month

If the requirements are met, the Familienkasse pays child benefit for children.

• •MeaNext cannot automatically confirm your personal entitlement, because for international families residence law, employment and cross-border situations can matter.

How much is child benefit?

In 2026 child benefit is €259 per month and child.

• •Child benefit does not depend on the parents' income.
• •With a low income the child supplement (Kinderzuschlag) can be a separate topic.

For third-country nationals the residence status also matters

Whether you can get child benefit can depend on your citizenship, your residence permit and whether you may work in Germany or are in insurable employment.

• •Additional or special rules apply for some states. This can matter for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro or Serbia, for example.
• •This does not create an automatic entitlement. The Familienkasse checks your case.

Child benefit is paid to one person

For the same child, child benefit is generally paid to only one entitled person, usually a parent.

This is how you apply

The application goes through the Familienkasse of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit.

• •Your personal data
• •Your child's data
• •Bank details
• •A proof of birth if required
• •In international cases, proof of residence, employment or the situation abroad if required
• •In the application the Familienkasse shows you which documents are really needed in your case.

What you can do now

• •Check on the Familienkasse website whether your residence and family situation is covered.
• •Prepare your data and your child's data.
• •Submit the application to the Familienkasse.
• •Only submit the documents that are required in your case.