Child benefit for foreigners - Christina Cherry

Foreigners living in Germany have a basic right to child benefit. In order for the child benefit to be paid, however, some requirements must be met. In this article we show you exactly what you need to consider.

When is there child benefit for foreigners??

a Entitlement to child benefit basically have all citizens of the EU countries as well as from Switzerland, provided that they have their own permanent place of residence or are gainfully employed in Germany. Legislators basically differentiate between foreigners who are entitled to freedom of movement and those who are not. But what does that mean and what is the difference? We clarify.

Child benefit for families entitled to free movement

Citizens of the Member States of the European Union, the Switzerland and the European economic area will be the families entitled to free movement assigned and, like Germans, are entitled to child benefit. The same rules and prerequisites apply here as for citizens with German citizenship: children receive child benefit from the family fund up to the age of 18 or until they have completed their first professional training or studies. Payments are made to the account of the beneficiaries up to the age of 25. After that, payments for child benefit are stopped.

It is important that you are resident in Germany or that in Germany ordinary stay can be proven to the family fund. In the latter case, it must be made clear that the physical presence lasts for more than six months. If this is not the case, there is no entitlement to receiving child benefit. If there is a permanent place of residence in Germany, the habitual residence does not have to be proven separately.

The full list of member states of the European Union and other countries from which nationals in Germany can receive child benefit:

Belgium
Bulgaria
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Greece
Ireland
Iceland
Italy
Croatia
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Austria
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Sweden
Slovakia
Slovenia
Slicing
Switzerland
Czech Republic
Hungary
United Kingdom of Great Britain
Cyprus

Child benefit claims for families not entitled to free movement

All other foreign parents who do not come from one of the above-mentioned member states of the European Union become the so-called families not entitled to free movement counted. In this case, there is only a right to child benefit for your own offspring if you have a settlement permit or a residence permit. In addition, it must be clear from these documents that employment can in principle be accepted. However, such employment is not compulsory! However, if the foreign parents are only in Germany for the purpose of training and further education, there is no entitlement to child benefit from the family fund.

If foreigners are tolerated in Germany or only have so-called residence permits as asylum seekers, there is also no entitlement to child benefit.

However, the situation is different for refugees who are entitled to asylum and are recognized. Here, separate rules apply again.

Child benefit for asylum seekers and recognized refugees

If the application for asylum has been confirmed in Germany or if foreigners are classified as recognized refugees, there is also a right to child benefit. It is important, however, that the child benefit beneficiaries have been living in Germany for at least six months.

Child benefit for Turks, Arabs, Serbs, Moroccans and Co.

Due to an intergovernmental agreement, Turks, Algerians, Serbs, Moroccans and people from Tunisia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro also receive child benefit in Germany. So that Child benefit can be asserted, the children’s parents have to do regular work in Germany.

Important: The child benefit claim is always checked by the responsible family fund in individual cases. Because of this, it is always advisable to submit a child benefit application to the family fund.

Evidence must be enclosed with the child benefit application?

Of course, foreigners who can be assigned to the above-mentioned groups must enclose appropriate evidence with the child benefit application to the family benefits office. If this does not happen, the application will be filed and you cannot expect any payments from the family fund.

When does entitlement to German child benefit begin??

Provided the family If you meet all of the above requirements in a month to receive child benefit, you will be entitled to child benefit from this point in time. In this case, the appropriate forms must be filled in and submitted to the family fund together with all required evidence. After submission, the application will be checked and you will usually get it within a few weeks a corresponding feedback from the responsible family fund.

Is there child benefit for foreigners who already receive child benefit from their home country??

If foreigners already receive child benefit or comparable social benefits from their home country, there is no entitlement to child benefit in Germany.