Kindergeld Documents Translation for Families in Germany

Is this page for you?

• Your child was born outside Germany and now lives with you here. You apply for Kindergeld.
• The Familienkasse sent a letter asking for more documents or a translation.
• You married abroad and your marital status must be updated in Germany.
• You want to add your spouse or children to your Krankenkasse family insurance.

Kindergeld Unterlagen Übersetzung: which documents need a translation?

Only the foreign documents the office names in its letter. In most families that is the child's birth certificate, sometimes the parents' marriage certificate. Documents issued in Germany never need a translation.

Documents you do not need to translate: German birth certificates, German payslips, your German residence permit, your tax ID letter and the application forms.

Your child's birth document by country

Birth documents differ from country to country. The Familienkasse decides which documents and what proof it needs.

Does the Familienkasse need a translation at all?

Kindergeld is part of German tax law, so the tax procedure rules apply (§ 87 AO). The official language is German. The office can ask for a translation of a foreign document and, in justified cases, for a translation by a sworn translator. Your letter tells you what is needed. We translate only that.

Send copies, not originals

The Familienkasse clearly says: send only copies, never originals. So you send a copy of the translation and keep the signed original safe. Other offices, such as the Standesamt or the Ausländerbehörde, may ask for it later.

A child who still lives abroad

Kindergeld for a child who lives outside Germany, the EU and the EEA is only possible in special cases. Germany has agreements with some countries, and the conditions vary with your situation. Please check with the Familienkasse before you order translations. We do not advise on eligibility.

After marriage: tax class and health insurance

When you marry, your marital status (Familienstand) changes in the registration data. This update usually triggers the new tax class at the Finanzamt. If you married abroad, the Bürgeramt may ask for your marriage certificate with a translation. A Turkish Formül B needs no translation. Some Finanzämter say you need no document once your marriage is in the registration data.

To add your spouse or children to your Krankenkasse family insurance, ask for its form. If it asks for a foreign certificate, it can also ask for a German translation.

What about Elterngeld?

For Elterngeld you get a birth certificate for Elterngeld (Geburtsbescheinigung) from the Standesamt. That is already in German. If the Elterngeldstelle asks for another foreign document, we translate it. You may need our help earlier, when registering your baby's birth.

Why family benefit files get delayed, and how we help

1. 1The letter asks for "proof", but not which kind. Send us a photo of the letter. We translate only what is needed.
2. 2Names look different. An Arabic, Dari or Cyrillic name may be spelt another way in your passport. We keep the name as written and add a translator's note.
3. 3Missing stamps or back sides. Unclear seals cause questions. We translate every stamp and note.
4. 4Deadlines in the letter. Familienkasse letters often give a deadline. We send the PDF in 3 working days.

How Kindergeld documents translation works

1. 1Upload your documents and, if you have one, the office letter.
2. 2Get a fixed price. You see it before you pay.
3. 3Receive your PDF by email, ready to send as a copy.
4. 4Receive the signed original at your German address.

Want more detail? Read how it works.

Price

All prices shown are starting prices incl. VAT and postage within Germany. Your exact fixed price comes in a written quote after upload, before you pay.

Your files are transferred encrypted and deleted after 30 days (GDPR).

If your office asks for a change to our translation, we correct it free of charge.

See our prices for all options.

What language are your documents in?

Birth certificates reach us in Turkish, Arabic, Dari, Ukrainian, Russian, English and many Indian languages, often with two languages on one page. Every language on the document is translated.

Languages we translate into German: Turkish · Arabic · Kurdish (Kurmanji/Sorani) · Dari · Pashto · Persian (Farsi) · Ukrainian · Russian · English · Hindi · Punjabi · Urdu · Tamil · Telugu · Bengali · Marathi · Gujarati · Malayalam and other Indian languages.

Next step: bring your family, or get your degree recognised

Is your spouse or child still abroad? Read about family reunion documents. Want a better job in Germany? See degree recognition (Anerkennung).

Frequently asked questions about Kindergeld documents translation