In Germany, families can receive financial support from the government. In this section, we provide information on child benefit, supplementary child allowance, daycare and supplementary childcare, as well as on how foreign nationals in Germany can access this support.
You can find information on maternity benefit and parental allowances (wage replacement benefits designed to support pregnant women, mothers, and families) on the 'Working in Germany' page.
Child benefit is intended to ensure a child's basic care from birth until their 18th birthday, and sometimes beyond, for example if they are completing vocational training. Eligible parents, adoptive parents, and under certain conditions, foster parents, siblings, or grandparents receive a monthly amount of 255 euros per child (as of 2025). The legal basis in Germany is the German Income Tax Act (Einkommensteuergesetz, EStG) and the German Federal Child Benefit Act (Bundeskindergeldgesetz, BKGG).
Child benefit is paid monthly by the Family Benefits Office (Familienkasse). When filing your tax return, the tax office will determine whether it is more advantageous for you as the parents to receive child benefit or to claim a tax allowance for your dependent children. This tax allowance is not paid out in cash, but reduces the amount of tax owed. The tax office performs this assessment automatically as part of the income tax return process.
Application
You must apply for child benefit. This can be done electronically or in writing through the Family Benefits Office of the Federal Employment Agency. You will need the tax identification number of one parent and the child, as well as the child's birth certificate. If you apply late, child benefit can be paid retroactively for up to six months.
Can foreign nationals receive child benefit in Germany?
Yes, specifically:
Cross-border activities
Which country is responsible if the family lives in Germany and one parent works in another EU/EEA country or Switzerland?
If the parents are employed, the law of the country where they work applies. If parents are not employed, the law of their country of residence applies.
If different legal systems apply to the parents and only one parent is employed, the law of the country where that parent works takes precedence. If both parents work in different countries, the country in which the child resides takes precedence.
The country with priority pays child benefit based on its national regulations. If the child benefit amount in the secondary country is higher than in the country with priority, the secondary country may pay the difference.
See the explanatory video from the Federal Employment Agency for more information (available in German).
Can German citizens receive child benefit in Germany if they live abroad?
Yes. You do not necessarily have to live in Germany, but you must pay taxes there.
Information
Families with low incomes may receive supplementary child allowance if their income is insufficient to cover basic needs. It is paid together with child benefit and amounts to 297 euros per month per child (as of January 2025).
Just like child benefit, you apply for the supplementary child allowance through the Family Benefits Office.
Information
All information on the supplementary child allowance: Family Portal
Family Portal: Search for local advice
Federal Employment Agency: Apply for supplementary child allowance (in German)
KiZ-Lotse quick check: Check if you are eligible for supplementary child allowance (in German)
Childcare in Germany is publicly funded to help balance work and family life.
From the age of one, children are entitled to early childhood support and care at a daycare centre or with a childminder. This entitlement generally applies to all individuals who habitually reside in Germany.
Local authorities are also required to provide care options for school-age children up to the age of 14 (all-day schools and after-school care).
These options include daycare centres, childminders, parent-child centres, after-school care and all-day schools. The Youth Welfare Office (Jugendamt) in your place of residence can provide information on the various care options, registration procedures, costs and more.
In some federal states and municipalities such as Berlin and Hamburg, you must first apply for a daycare voucher. This voucher specifies the level of care required, among other things. You can then register with a provider.
The federal states and municipalities determine whether parents are charged fees for daycare centres, childminders, etc., and how much those fees amount to. In individual cases, the fees may be waived or covered by applying to the local Youth Welfare Office and demonstrating a need for such assistance. Information is available from the youth welfare offices.
Family Portal: Search for local advice
Those who work outside of standard office hours (evenings or weekends) when childcare centres or after-school care facilities are typically closed may be able to arrange supplementary childcare outside of regular childcare hours, e.g. through a childminder in the child's home.
In Berlin, you can apply for supplementary childcare with the relevant youth welfare office if you are a single parent with no other adult in your household who can provide care, and the need can be demonstrated. Proof of need can include an employment contract showing working hours, a daycare or after-school care contract showing opening hours, or a self-declaration regarding travel times.
MoKis in Berlin (in German) can help you arrange childcare and offer advice on the requirements for obtaining supplementary care and on how to find caregivers.
Other cities and municipalities may also offer (temporary) supplementary care services for pre-school and school-age children. Your local youth welfare office can provide further information. It is worth asking them directly, as it is not always easy to find relevant information online.
Family Portal: Search for local advice