Applying for Elterngeld – Step by Step Guide

Elterngeld is financial support for parents in Germany who stay home to care for their baby. But the application can feel confusing—especially if you don’t speak German. In this guide, we explain the process in clear English: who can apply, when and how to apply, what documents you need, and how much you can expect to receive. We also offer free tools to check your eligibility, calculate your Elterngeld, and get personalized help filling out the forms—100% free.

What Is Elterngeld?

Elterngeld (Parental Allowance) is a benefit from the German government to support parents during the first months of a baby’s life. It replaces part of your income if you stop or reduce work to care for your child.

You can get Elterngeld if:

• You live in Germany with your baby
• You care for the child yourself
• You work no more than 32 hours/week while receiving Elterngeld

Even if you had no income before the baby, you can still apply.

Types of Elterngeld

There are three options:

Use our free Elterngeld Amount Quiz to calculate your estimated benefit.

Step-by-Step: How to Apply for Elterngeld

Step 1: Wait for the birth

You can only apply after your child is born. But you can prepare documents and decide which months you’ll take Elterngeld.

Step 2: Choose your Elterngeld plan

Decide which parent(s) will take how many months. You can mix types (e.g. 6 months Basic + 6 months Plus).

Step 3: Collect your documents

You’ll need:

• Child’s birth certificate (with „für Elterngeld“ note)
• ID/passport
• Residence permit (for non-German citizens)
• Income statements (usually the last 12 months before birth)
• Confirmation from employer or health insurance (depending on your situation)
• Bürgergeld or other benefit notices (if applicable)

Step 4: Fill out the form

Each Bundesland has its own form. You can:

• Use the official PDF
• And use our Application Guide Quiz: We guide you through the questions so you know exactly what to fill out

Step 5: Submit the application

Send it by post to your local Elterngeldstelle (Parental Allowance Office). You can find the address on your state’s family website or with our help. Some states allow online application as well.

Pro tip: Send by Einschreiben (registered mail) to track delivery.

Example: Married Couple With One Salary

• One parent earned €2,000/month net before the baby.
• They take 12 months of Basic Elterngeld.

If they chose ElterngeldPlus:
They would receive ~€650/month for 24 months instead.

Special Info for Non-Germans

Yes, foreigners can apply for Elterngeld if:

• You live in Germany with your child
• You have a residence permit that allows work or family life
• You are not only visiting or studying temporarily

📍 If you’re still abroad, you must move to Germany first before applying.

Our Eligibility Quiz will check your visa and situation to confirm if you can apply.

Don’t Miss the Deadline!

⏰ You must apply for Elterngeld within 3 months after birth to receive full payment from the baby’s birth month. Late applications are only paid retroactively for 3 months.

Free Services on Our Website

We know this can be confusing, so we created simple tools for you:

✅ Eligibility Quiz – Am I allowed to apply?
✅ Elterngeld Calculator – How much money will I get?
✅ Form-Filling Quiz – What should I write? (Generates a personal checklist + filled draft)

Final Checklist: Applying for Elterngeld

✅ Baby is born
✅ You live in Germany
✅ You have a valid residence permit (if not German)
✅ Chosen Elterngeld plan: Basic, Plus, Bonus
✅ Documents collected (birth cert, ID, income proof)
✅ Application form filled
✅ Sent to the right Elterngeldstelle
✅ Sent within 3 months after birth
✅ Used our free tools to check and plan everything 😊

Getting Elterngeld is your right—and you don’t have to do it alone. With the right help, the process becomes much easier.