Child Benefit

All taxpaying EU residents as well as non EU permanent residents of Germany are entitled to the child benefit programme. This programme is for natural, adopted and foster children up to the age of 18 and in some cases up to the age of 25 if the child is still enrolled at school. As of 2011, the first two children living in your household will receive a bonus of 184 Euros, the third child 190 Euros and for each subsequent child, 215 Euros a month. The money, usually transferred into your bank account, can be applied for at your local labour office “Arbeitsamt“. You will be required to present the child´s birth certificate, your passport and a processing fee of 5 Euros.

Upon leaving Germany and moving back to your home country, you will no longer be entitled to the Child Benefit programme. In this case, you are required to give notice in order to stop the payments.