Germany Social Welfare — Overview

Germany's welfare system is built around the social insurance (Sozialversicherung) model dating back to Bismarck in the 1880s. Five social insurance branches — health, pension, unemployment, work injury and long-term care — are financed mainly by employer and employee contributions rather than general taxes. On top of that sits a tax-funded layer of family allowances, housing support, student aid and basic income support. The biggest difference from residence-based systems is that health insurance and pension rights are tied mainly to your employment, and for non-EU citizens access to tax-funded benefits also depends on the residence permit. A newcomer's first steps are usually: residence registration (Anmeldung, within two weeks of moving in) → tax ID (Steuer-ID, sent by post after registration) → health insurance enrolment → social insurance number.

Key points from an immigrant perspective:

• Your employment status decides almost everything. Regular employees are automatically insured in statutory health insurance (GKV); people earning above a threshold, the self-employed and civil servants can choose private insurance (PKV).
• EU vs. non-EU citizens face different rules. EU/EEA and Swiss citizens are covered by EU social security coordination; for non-EU citizens, the type of residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) determines which tax-funded benefits are available.
• Social security agreements: contribution periods from other EU/EEA countries and Switzerland count under EU rules, and Germany has bilateral agreements with a number of other countries (for example the USA, Canada, Japan, India, Türkiye and South Korea), so periods abroad are not necessarily lost.
• Strong federal–state (Bundesland) division means schooling, childcare fees and housing rules vary by state.

The areas at a glance

• Health (health) — GKV (statutory) vs. PKV (private), choosing a Krankenkasse, free family co-insurance (Familienversicherung).
• Pension (pension) — Deutsche Rentenversicherung (DRV), 5-year minimum, EU coordination and bilateral agreements.
• Unemployment (unemployment) — insurance-based Arbeitslosengeld and means-tested Grundsicherungsgeld, which replaced Bürgergeld on 1 July 2026.
• Family (family) — Kindergeld of EUR 259/month per child (2026), Kinderzuschlag, tax allowances for children.
• Tax (tax) — progressive income tax (14–45%), Steuerklassen I–VI, Lohnsteuer withholding, solidarity surcharge, church tax.
• Housing (housing) — Wohngeld housing benefit, social housing with a WBS, tenant protection and rent rules.
• Education (education) — free public schools, BAföG student aid, Kita childcare and the new all-day entitlement for primary pupils.
• Parental (parental) — Mutterschutz maternity protection, Elternzeit up to 3 years, Elterngeld parental benefit.

Things to watch

• Amounts and thresholds in these guides are 2026 values and are adjusted yearly (pensions each July, most other figures each January). Reconfirm on official sites just before applying.
• Being tax-resident (unbeschränkt steuerpflichtig) and holding a residence permit are different questions; tax residence, social insurance and benefit eligibility are assessed separately.
• Receiving means-tested benefits such as Grundsicherungsgeld can matter later: permanent residence and naturalisation generally require that you can support yourself.
• Administrative German is highly specialised and English information is limited. The federal portal Make it in Germany explains many steps in English and other languages.

Official guidance: Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS), Make it in Germany

Germany Health Insurance (Krankenversicherung)

Germany has mandatory health insurance for everyone who lives there. You must be insured one way or another, and without an insurance card (elektronische Gesundheitskarte) you pay doctors and hospitals yourself. Foreign workers, students and posted workers are no exception, and proof of insurance is needed for a visa or residence permit. The system has two pillars: statutory insurance (GKV), which covers the large majority of residents, and private insurance (PKV).

GKV (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, statutory)

• Employees earning up to the compulsory insurance threshold (Versicherungspflichtgrenze, EUR 77,400 a year in 2026; adjusted yearly) are automatically insured in GKV. You choose a sickness fund (Krankenkasse) such as AOK, TK, Barmer or DAK, and your employer registers you.
• Contributions are 14.6% of gross pay plus the fund's own supplementary rate (Zusatzbeitrag; the official average is 2.9% in 2026), split equally between employer and employee, on earnings up to EUR 69,750 a year (2026).
• Free family co-insurance (Familienversicherung): a spouse and children with little or no income of their own (up to EUR 565/month, or EUR 603 with a mini-job, in 2026) are covered at no extra cost. This is a major advantage for families with one earner.
• Long-term care insurance (Pflegeversicherung) is collected together with health insurance: 3.6% of pay (2026), or 4.2% for childless members aged 23 and over, with reductions for parents of several children under 25.

PKV (Private Krankenversicherung, private)

• Open to employees above the threshold, the self-employed, civil servants and some students.
• Premiums are based on age, health and the cover chosen, not on income — often cheaper when young and healthy, but they can rise sharply later in life.
• No free family co-insurance: each spouse and child needs a separate policy.
• Returning from PKV to GKV is difficult and generally no longer possible from age 55. Decide carefully.

What newcomers should know

• EU/EEA and Swiss citizens: the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) only covers temporary stays. If you work in Germany you are insured in Germany like any employee; if you come without work, check whether your home insurer covers you (form S1) or whether you need German insurance.
• Non-EU citizens: you need insurance from the first day of your stay. Travel insurance may be accepted for the visa, but once you take up employment you are insured through your job.
• Students at German universities can join GKV at a reduced student contribution until age 30 (longer only in specific cases); after that they pay regular voluntary contributions or choose PKV.
• In GKV you can usually see a GP (Hausarzt) or specialist directly with your card.

Common pitfalls for newcomers

• Gaps in cover lead to back-dated contributions (Beitragsschulden) once you join. Sort out insurance as soon as you arrive.
• Appointments (Termine) with specialists can take weeks. For urgent, out-of-hours care call 116 117; in an emergency call 112 or go to the emergency department (Notaufnahme).
• Self-employed newcomers sometimes skip insurance to save money — this leads to large back-payments and can cause problems with residence permits.
• If your Krankenkasse raises its supplementary rate, you have a special right to switch funds.

Official guidance: Federal Ministry of Health — contributions, GKV-Spitzenverband, Make it in Germany

Germany Pension (Deutsche Rentenversicherung, DRV)

Germany's public pension is a statutory pay-as-you-go scheme (Umlageverfahren). Employees are automatically insured from their first day of work; the contribution is 18.6% of gross pay (2026; reviewed yearly), split equally between employer and employee, on earnings up to EUR 101,400 a year (2026). The scheme is run by Deutsche Rentenversicherung (DRV), and some self-employed groups (for example artists via the Künstlersozialkasse, certain craftspeople and teachers) are also compulsorily insured. To receive any old-age pension you need a minimum insurance period — the 5-year general qualifying period (allgemeine Wartezeit).

Core structure

• Qualifying period (Wartezeit): you need at least 60 months (5 years) of contribution and other credited periods for a regular old-age pension.
• Earnings points (Entgeltpunkte): each year your earnings are compared with the national average; one average year earns one point. At retirement, points × current pension value (aktueller Rentenwert) gives the monthly pension. The pension value is EUR 42.52 per point since 1 July 2026 (it rose 4.24%; adjusted every July).
• Statutory retirement age (Regelaltersgrenze): 67 for everyone born in 1964 or later (gradually rising for older cohorts). With 35 insurance years you can retire from 63, with a reduction of 0.3% per month taken early.

Key points for immigrants

• EU/EEA and Switzerland: under EU coordination (Regulation 883/2004), insurance periods in all these countries are added together to meet minimum periods, and each country pays its own share of the pension.
• Bilateral agreements: Germany also has social security agreements with a number of non-EU countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Japan, South Korea, Türkiye and the USA. Most apply regardless of your nationality. Periods in an agreement country can count towards German minimum periods, and pensions can be paid abroad. Check the DRV list for your country.
• Contribution refund (Beitragserstattung): if you have not reached 5 years, leave Germany and its insurance for good and have no right to voluntary insurance (this mainly concerns non-EU nationals living outside the EU), you can apply for a refund of the contributions you paid yourself (the employee half) once 24 months have passed since your insurance ended. A refund cancels all your German pension rights, so compare it with combining periods under an agreement first.
• Supplementary pensions: many people add an occupational pension (betriebliche Altersvorsorge) through their employer, a state-subsidised Riester-Rente, or a tax-favoured Rürup (Basis-)Rente, popular with the self-employed.

Mini-jobs

Mini-jobs paying up to EUR 603 a month (2026) are subject to pension insurance by default, but the worker can ask to be exempted. Opting out means those months count only partly towards your record — if you plan to stay long term, it usually pays to keep contributing.

Common pitfalls for newcomers

• Collect proof of insurance periods from earlier countries (contribution statements from foreign pension agencies) before you need them; it speeds up a claim under EU rules or an agreement.
• Check your insurance record (Versicherungsverlauf) with DRV early and report missing periods such as studies, child-raising or work abroad.
• DRV writes in German; free advice is available at DRV offices and by phone.
• A refund cannot be undone. Many people regret it later — get advice before applying.

Official guidance: Deutsche Rentenversicherung, DRV — Germany's social security agreements

Germany Unemployment — Arbeitslosengeld and Grundsicherungsgeld

Germany has a two-tier safety net if you lose your job. The first tier is the insurance-based unemployment benefit, Arbeitslosengeld (often called ALG I), paid by the Agentur für Arbeit. The second is the means-tested basic income for people who can work, Grundsicherungsgeld, paid by the Jobcenter. Grundsicherungsgeld replaced Bürgergeld on 1 July 2026, with stricter obligations; older letters and forms that still say "Bürgergeld" remain valid.

Arbeitslosengeld — insurance-based

• Eligibility: at least 12 months of unemployment insurance (usually employment) within the 30 months before you register as unemployed; a shorter period can apply after very short fixed-term jobs. You must be able to work at least 15 hours a week.
• Amount: 60% of your previous net pay, calculated from the last 12 months of insured gross earnings; 67% if you or your partner have a child.
• Duration: under age 50, between 6 and 12 months depending on how long you were insured (12 months requires 24 insured months); from age 50 it rises in steps to a maximum of 24 months at 58 and over.
• Registration: register as a job seeker (arbeitsuchend) at least 3 months before your job ends, or within 3 days of learning about it if the notice is shorter, and register as unemployed (arbeitslos) by your first day without work. Late job-seeker registration leads to a one-week benefit block (Sperrzeit); quitting your job yourself without a good reason can block benefit for up to 12 weeks.

Grundsicherungsgeld — basic income support

• For people aged 15 up to pension age who can work but cannot cover their household's needs — including those with no or too little Arbeitslosengeld and low earners who top up their wages.
• Standard rate (Regelbedarf, 2026, unchanged from 2025): EUR 563/month for a single adult, EUR 506 for each adult partner, plus age-based amounts for children.
• Reasonable rent and heating are paid on top. Since July 2026, housing costs in the first year are capped at 1.5 times the local reasonable limit (with exceptions, for example for families with children).
• Income and assets are checked first; the protected asset allowance now depends on age. Missing appointments or refusing reasonable work can cut the standard rate by 30%.

What immigrants should know

• EU/EEA and Swiss citizens: insurance periods in those countries can count towards Arbeitslosengeld if you worked in Germany afterwards (form U1 / PD U1). People who come to Germany only to look for work are excluded from Grundsicherungsgeld.
• Non-EU citizens: Arbeitslosengeld depends only on your insurance record. Grundsicherungsgeld requires a residence permit that allows it; asylum seekers receive other benefits.
• Living on Grundsicherungsgeld can affect permanent residence and naturalisation, which generally require that you can support yourself.
• Self-employed people are only covered by Arbeitslosengeld if they took out voluntary unemployment insurance.

Common pitfalls for newcomers

• Missing the 3-month / 3-day job-seeker registration is the most common mistake — you can register online as soon as you know your job will end.
• Signing a termination agreement (Aufhebungsvertrag) can trigger a benefit block; get advice from the Agentur für Arbeit first.
• Travelling abroad while claiming without permission can stop payments and lead to repayment claims.

Official guidance: Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Arbeitslosengeld, Jobcenter — Grundsicherungsgeld, BMAS — rates

Germany Child & Family Benefits

Germany supports families through cash benefits and tax relief. The main pillars are Kindergeld (child benefit), the tax allowances for children (Kinderfreibeträge), the Kinderzuschlag for low-income working families, and Elterngeld for parents who pause or reduce work after a birth (see the parental guide). Foreign residents who live in Germany with their children can usually claim the same benefits as Germans, provided their residence status qualifies.

Kindergeld (child benefit)

• Amount: EUR 259 a month per child (2026; adjusted together with the child tax allowance). The same amount for every child, regardless of income.
• Age: all children under 18; up to 21 if unemployed and registered as a job seeker; up to 25 while in school, vocational training or university.
• Where to apply: the Familienkasse of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit (online or on paper). Both the parent and the child need a tax ID (Steuer-ID).
• Who qualifies:
  • EU/EEA and Swiss citizens: generally yes; people who moved to Germany recently must meet the free-movement conditions (for example work, job search or sufficient means) from the fourth month after arrival.
  • Non-EU citizens: with a settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis), EU long-term residence, an EU Blue Card or a residence permit that allows work for at least six months. Permits for study, job search, au-pair or seasonal work generally do not qualify unless you are working. Recognised refugees qualify, and citizens of Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Morocco, Montenegro, Serbia, Tunisia and Türkiye qualify through agreements if they are insured employees in Germany or receive unemployment or sickness benefit.
  • Children must normally live in Germany, another EU/EEA country or Switzerland.
• Back payments: paid for at most 6 months before the month of application, so apply soon after a birth or arrival.

Tax allowances for children

• Kinderfreibetrag: EUR 6,828 per child for a couple filing jointly (2026), plus EUR 2,928 for care, upbringing and education — EUR 9,756 in total.
• You receive Kindergeld during the year; the tax office then checks automatically whether the allowances would save more tax (Günstigerprüfung) and applies whichever is better.
• Single parents also get a tax relief amount (Entlastungsbetrag) of EUR 4,260 a year, plus EUR 240 for each further child, through tax class II.

Other family benefits

• Kinderzuschlag (KiZ): up to EUR 297 per child per month (since January 2025) for working parents whose income covers their own needs but not their children's. Minimum gross income: EUR 900 for couples, EUR 600 for single parents. KiZ recipients can also get school and lunch support (Bildung und Teilhabe) and exemption from Kita fees.
• Mutterschaftsgeld: pay during maternity protection before and after birth (see the parental guide).

Common pitfalls for newcomers

• Apply early: Kindergeld is paid back only 6 months, and the Familienkasse needs the child's tax ID, which is sent after the birth or registration.
• No double benefits: under EU coordination, if another country also pays a family benefit for the same child, one country pays first and the other may pay only the difference — tell both offices.
• Report changes (a move abroad, the end of training) promptly, or you may have to repay.
• Grundsicherungsgeld recipients: Kindergeld counts as the child's income, so it reduces the basic income payment.

Official guidance: Familienkasse — Kindergeld, Familienportal

Germany Tax — Lohnsteuer, Steuerklassen and Soli

For individuals the most important tax is income tax (Einkommensteuer), which for employees is withheld from pay as wage tax (Lohnsteuer). The rate is progressive: income up to the basic allowance (Grundfreibetrag, EUR 12,348 a year in 2026; adjusted yearly) is tax-free, the first taxed euro is charged at 14%, the rate rises to 42% from EUR 69,879 of taxable income and reaches 45% from EUR 277,826 (2026 values for a single person; married couples filing jointly have double the thresholds). After you register your address (Anmeldung), the Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt) sends your tax identification number (Steuer-ID) by post. The federal government plans a reform from 2027 that would raise the allowances and move the brackets, so check the figures for the year you are filing.

The main items at a glance

• Lohnsteuer: withheld monthly according to your tax class; the annual tax return settles refunds and back-payments.
• Solidaritätszuschlag ("Soli"): 5.5% of income tax, but since 2021 most taxpayers no longer pay it; it applies only above a high income-tax threshold.
• Kirchensteuer (church tax): members of church-tax-levying communities (mainly the Catholic and Protestant churches) pay 8% (Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg) or 9% (other states) of their income tax. The religion you state at Anmeldung is passed to the tax office.
• Social insurance contributions (2026): health 14.6% plus the fund's supplementary rate (average 2.9%), long-term care 3.6% (4.2% if childless), pension 18.6%, unemployment 2.6% — roughly split between employer and employee.

Steuerklassen (tax classes) I–VI

Tax classes affect only monthly withholding, not your final tax.

• I: single, divorced or separated.
• II: single parent living alone with a child (includes the single-parent relief).
• III: married, the higher earner when the spouse is in class V — lowest withholding.
• IV: married, both with similar incomes (optionally IV with factor, "Faktorverfahren").
• V: married, spouse of a class III holder — highest withholding.
• VI: a second or further job.

Couples in III/V or IV with factor must file a tax return each year.

What immigrants should know

• Tax residence (unbeschränkte Steuerpflicht): if you have a home in Germany or stay more than six months, your worldwide income is taxable in Germany; otherwise only German-source income is.
• Double taxation agreements: Germany has agreements with many countries that decide which country may tax pensions, rental income or salaries from abroad. Check the agreement with your country and declare foreign income on your return.
• Spousal splitting (Ehegattensplitting): married couples filing jointly pay tax as if each earned half the combined income.
• Deductible costs such as work equipment, commuting, moving for a job or job-related language courses often make a voluntary return worthwhile.

Common pitfalls for newcomers

• Ticking a church at Anmeldung means church tax every month. Leaving a church (Kirchenaustritt) requires a formal declaration at the registry office or local court, usually for a fee.
• Filing deadline: if you must file, the return is due by 31 July of the following year; with a tax adviser the deadline is later. Voluntary returns can be filed up to four years back.
• Filing electronically through ELSTER is standard and free; the portal itself is in German, so many newcomers use tax software or an adviser.

Official guidance: Bundeszentralamt für Steuern (BZSt), ELSTER portal, Familienportal — tax relief for families

Germany Housing — Wohngeld, Social Housing and Tenant Protection

Germany is a country of long-term renters, and rents, notice periods and rent increases are tightly regulated by the Civil Code (BGB). Key features: deposits are capped at three months' rent, rent increases are limited, and low-income households can get Wohngeld (housing benefit) or a flat in social housing (Sozialwohnung).

Wohngeld (housing benefit)

• A tax-funded subsidy towards rent (or, for owner-occupiers, housing costs) for households with low incomes above basic income support level. People who receive Grundsicherungsgeld, social assistance or BAföG, whose housing costs are already covered, generally cannot get Wohngeld.
• Amount: depends on household size, total income, rent and the local rent level (Mietenstufe I–VII). There is no fixed rate — use the official calculator. Wohngeld was last raised on 1 January 2025 and is reviewed every two years.
• Apply at the Wohngeldbehörde of your city or district; many states accept online applications.
• Foreign residents with an EU free-movement right or a residence permit can apply. Children in Wohngeld households also qualify for education and participation support (Bildung und Teilhabe).

Social housing (Sozialwohnung)

• Publicly subsidised flats rented below market level. You need a housing entitlement certificate (Wohnberechtigungsschein, WBS) from your local authority.
• Income limits for a WBS are set by each state. In large cities, waiting lists for social housing are long.

Rent rules (Mietspiegel and Mietpreisbremse)

• Rent increases: a landlord can raise rent only up to the local comparative rent (ortsübliche Vergleichsmiete), often shown in the local rent index (Mietspiegel), and by no more than 20% within three years (15% in tight markets).
• Rent brake (Mietpreisbremse): in areas designated by the state government, a new contract may not exceed the local comparative rent by more than 10%. The current rules allow these designations until the end of 2029.

What foreign tenants should know

• Lease (Mietvertrag): most are open-ended; tenants can give notice with about 3 months' notice in writing.
• Deposit (Kaution): at most 3 months' rent excluding service charges, payable in three monthly instalments. The landlord must keep it separate from their own money in an interest-bearing account; the interest belongs to you.
• Registration (Anmeldung): within two weeks of moving in, using the landlord's confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung). Almost every other step builds on this registration.
• Landlords often ask for a credit report (SCHUFA-Auskunft), recent payslips and a rent-debt-free certificate from your previous landlord.

Common pitfalls for newcomers

• Ads show Kaltmiete (basic rent) and Nebenkosten (service charges, often including heating) separately; the total Warmmiete is what you actually pay, and an annual utility statement can bring back-payments.
• Read clauses on cosmetic repairs (Schönheitsreparaturen) and check the flat's condition carefully at handover; this decides how much of the deposit you get back.
• An "unmöbliert" flat may come without kitchen fittings or light fixtures — ask before you sign.
• Never pay a deposit or "reservation fee" before seeing the flat and signing a lease; rental scams targeting newcomers are common.

Official guidance: BMWSB — Wohngeld, Civil Code — deposits (§ 551 BGB)

Germany Education — Free Public Schools, BAföG, Kita

Education is run by the 16 states (Bundesländer), so school types, curricula and holidays differ by state. Two essentials: public schools are free of tuition, and public universities charge in most states only a semester fee (Semesterbeitrag) for student services and often a public transport ticket. Children of foreign residents attend public schools on the same terms as German children.

School system overview

• Kita (childcare and pre-school): every child has a legal right to a place from age 1, and from age 3 until school entry a right to a place in a day-care centre.
• All-day care for primary pupils: children starting grade 1 in the 2026/27 school year or later have a legal right to all-day care of eight hours on weekdays until grade 5; it is being phased in year by year.
• Grundschule (primary): starts at about age 6 and lasts 4 years (6 in Berlin and Brandenburg).
• Secondary school: a Gymnasium (academic track to the Abitur) or, depending on the state, a Realschule, Hauptschule or comprehensive school.
• Berufsausbildung (dual vocational training): 2–3.5 years combining vocational school with paid training in a company.

Kita fees

• Fees are set by each state and municipality and often depend on income, hours of care and the number of children. Several states have made Kita free for some or all age groups.
• Families receiving Kinderzuschlag, Wohngeld or Grundsicherungsgeld can be exempted from Kita fees.
• In big cities places are scarce: register as early as possible.

BAföG (federal student aid)

• Amount: up to EUR 992 a month for university students living away from their parents (2026), made up of a basic rate of EUR 475, EUR 380 for housing and supplements for health and care insurance.
• Repayment: for university students, half is a grant and half an interest-free loan. Repayment starts five years after the end of the standard funding period, and total repayment is capped at EUR 10,010.
• Foreign students: eligible are, among others, EU citizens with a right of permanent residence or who worked in Germany, holders of a settlement permit, recognised refugees and certain family members of residents, some only after 15 months of residence. Students who came to Germany on a student permit are generally not eligible.

What immigrant families should know

• Compulsory schooling (Schulpflicht) applies to all children living in Germany and is strictly enforced; home-schooling is not allowed.
• Children with little German usually join welcome or preparatory classes (Willkommensklassen / Vorbereitungsklassen) before moving into regular classes.
• Recognition of foreign qualifications is handled by state bodies; the "Anerkennung in Deutschland" portal shows which one.
• Tuition for non-EU students: Baden-Württemberg charges students from outside the EU who come to Germany to study EUR 1,500 per semester; people who gained their university entrance qualification in Germany and refugees are exempt.

Common pitfalls for newcomers

• School years start between late July and mid-September depending on the state; check the local dates and register your child with the school authority right after Anmeldung.
• Apply for BAföG in the month your course starts at the latest — it is not paid for months before the application.

Official guidance: BAföG, KMK — education system, Anerkennung in Deutschland

Germany Maternity & Parental Leave — Mutterschutz, Elternzeit, Elterngeld

Germany combines maternity protection (Mutterschutz), job-protected parental leave for both parents (Elternzeit) and Elterngeld, which replaces part of the lost income. Employees in Germany have the same leave rights regardless of nationality; for Elterngeld, non-EU citizens also need a qualifying residence permit.

Mutterschutz (maternity protection)

• Protection period: 6 weeks before the expected birth and 8 weeks after it (12 weeks after premature or multiple births, or if the baby is diagnosed with a disability). Before the birth you may work only if you explicitly agree; after it, work is not allowed.
• After a miscarriage from the 13th week of pregnancy, staggered protection periods of 2, 6 or 8 weeks apply unless the woman chooses to work.
• Dismissal protection: from the start of pregnancy until at least 4 months after the birth, provided the employer knows or is told within two weeks of a notice.
• Pay: members of statutory health insurance receive Mutterschaftsgeld of up to EUR 13 a day from their Krankenkasse, and the employer pays the difference to the average net pay, so the income is effectively maintained.

Elternzeit (parental leave)

• Each parent can take up to 3 years of unpaid, job-protected leave per child until the child's third birthday; up to 24 months of it can be moved to between the 3rd and 8th birthday.
• Part-time work: up to 32 hours a week is allowed during Elternzeit; in firms with more than 15 employees you have a right to reduce your hours, subject to conditions.
• Notice: request leave in writing 7 weeks before it starts (for leave between the 3rd and 8th birthday, 13 weeks).

Elterngeld (parental benefit)

• Replaces 65–67% of previous net earnings (up to 100% for low earners), at least EUR 300 and at most EUR 1,800 a month for Basiselterngeld.
• Basiselterngeld: 12 months for the parents together, plus 2 partner months if the other parent also reduces work for at least 2 months; parents can receive it at the same time in only one of the first 12 months.
• ElterngeldPlus: half the monthly amount for twice as long — designed for working part-time.
• Partnerschaftsbonus: 2–4 extra months of ElterngeldPlus each if both parents work 24–32 hours a week at the same time.
• Income limit: no Elterngeld if taxable income in the year before the birth was above EUR 175,000 (couples combined, single parents alone).

What immigrant parents should know

• EU/EEA and Swiss citizens have the same rights as Germans. Non-EU citizens: a settlement permit, EU Blue Card or a residence permit allowing work generally qualifies; permits for study or job search usually do not unless you are working or on Elternzeit.
• Parent and child must live together in the same household in Germany.
• Apply to the Elterngeldstelle of your state (often online via "ElterngeldDigital").

Common pitfalls for newcomers

• Tell your employer about the pregnancy early and give the doctor's certificate; this triggers protection and the employer top-up.
• Elterngeld is paid back only 3 months before the month you apply, so apply within the first 3 months after the birth.
• Partner months are lost if the other parent does not take at least 2 months.

Official guidance: Familienportal — Elterngeld, Familienportal — Mutterschutz, Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth