Deutschland Kompass
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ROUTE

Having a Baby (Geburt)

Step-by-step checklist after having a baby in Germany: birth registration, Kindergeld (€250/month), Elterngeld, child health insurance, and Kita enrolment. Your personalised route based on family status.

Personalise route

Are the parents not legally married?

Do both parents lack German citizenship?

  1. 1

    STEP

    Hebamme & Kinderarzt: Find Your Midwife and Pediatrician

    Severe shortage: find a Hebamme immediately after your positive test, a Kinderarzt 2–3 months before your due date. Without a registered pediatrician there is nowhere to do the mandatory U2 check-up on days 3–10.

  2. 2

    STEP

    Vaterschaftsanerkennung: Recognising Paternity

    For unmarried couples only. Best done at the Jugendamt before the birth β€” otherwise the father won't appear in the Geburtsurkunde and a separate correction will be needed later.

  3. 3

    STEP

    Mutterschaftsgeld: Maternity Pay

    Triggered exactly 7 weeks before your due date. Submit the doctor's certificate (Γ„rztliches Zeugnis) to your Krankenkasse β€” receive up to €13/day from the insurer plus a top-up from your employer to your full net salary.

  4. 4

    STEP

    Standesamt: Obtaining the Geburtsurkunde

    The first and most critical document after birth. Without the Geburtsurkunde, health insurance, parental allowance, child benefit, and all other documents are blocked. Deadline: 1 week.

  5. 5

    STEP

    Familienversicherung: Enrolling Your Child in Health Insurance

    As soon as you have the Geburtsurkunde β€” send a copy to your Krankenkasse. The child gets their own insurance number (Krankenversichertennummer) and is covered free of charge under GKV from day one.

  6. 6

    STEP

    Kindergeld: Updating Your Address for Child Benefit

    After moving, notify the Familienkasse of your new address β€” otherwise payments will stop when letters can't be delivered.

  7. 7

    STEP

    Elterngeld: Parental Allowance

    65–67% of your net income during parental leave. Apply within 3 months of birth β€” Elterngeld is NOT paid retroactively! In Bavaria, the Bayerisches Familiengeld is automatically granted after approval.

  8. 8

    STEP

    Pass & Aufenthaltstitel: Documents for Your Child

    For children of parents without German citizenship. A two-stage process: first a national passport via the consulate, then a residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) via the AuslΓ€nderbehΓΆrde.

  9. 9

    STEP

    Kita-Anmeldung: Getting on the Nursery Waiting List

    Krippe (nursery for under-3s) and Kita places are allocated 12–18 months in advance. Join the waiting list as soon as you have the Geburtsurkunde. From age 1, every child has a legal right to a place.