A BAföG follow-up application (Folgeantrag) is due when your current assessment period ends and funding should continue. Filing it on time and in full avoids gaps in payment. This guide shows how to recognise the deadline, which documents are typically needed and how the online procedure works.
Short answer: You file a follow-up application when the assessment period of your BAföG funding ends. The date appears in your latest notice. Under Section 46 (1) BAföG the application can be filed in writing or electronically, for example through the portal BAföG Digital. Your responsible funding office sets the exact deadline. Last updated: November 2026.
The most important points
- The follow-up application is needed so that funding continues beyond the end of the current assessment period.
- Your deadline is in the approval notice, which states until when funding is approved.
- The application can be filed in writing or electronically under Section 46 (1) BAföG (German law, in German). The online portal is BAföG Digital. There is no statutory duty to use it today.
- An application counts as complete when all required documents are uploaded before you submit it.
- According to the draft of the BAföG reform, digital filing would become mandatory from the summer semester 2027.
When is the follow-up application due?
Funding is approved for an assessment period. If it should continue afterwards, you need a new application. The exact date is on your most recent notice, not in a general rule of thumb, because the period depends on your approval and your stage of study.
If you are unsure, call your funding office before the date passes. An application filed early is the safer choice, even if you still need to send some documents a few weeks later.
Which documents belong to the follow-up application?
The documents depend on your situation. The table lists typical proof. The binding list appears in the portal and in the notes from your funding office.
| Document | What it shows | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of enrolment or study | Confirms your training in the new period | State the current semester |
| Proof of academic progress | Used to check study performance | The draft would remove the performance certificate from the fifth semester |
| Income documents | Checks your own income and any parental income | Attach payslips or mini-job records |
| Information on assets | Checks assets under the law | Declare only what counts |
The draft of the BAföG reform provides that the performance certificate under § 48 BAföG would no longer apply. Whether and when this takes effect is shown only by the promulgated text. For now, the current documents remain decisive.
What happens if the application is late?
If the follow-up application arrives only after the assessment period has ended, payments may be interrupted in that time. How this works in your case is decided by your funding office, based on the application deadlines in the law. The statute sets out what a late application means.
For that reason, note the date as soon as the new notice arrives. Our guide on retroactive BAföG applications explains the rules for earlier periods.
Frequently asked questions
Can I file the follow-up application online?
Yes. Section 46 (1) BAföG allows a written or electronic application, and BAföG Digital is the portal for the electronic route. The mention of the portal in Section 56 (3) BAföG concerns only the study start-up aid, not the follow-up application. Your funding office can tell you whether and how it accepts the follow-up application online. If you have trouble logging in, your funding office will help.
Do I have to resubmit every document?
Not necessarily. Many documents stay the same. If your income, marital status or place of study has changed, however, you must update the relevant proof. Ask your funding office which documents apply in your case.
What will the BAföG reform change?
The draft provides that applications can be filed only digitally from the summer semester 2027. It also removes the performance certificate from the fifth semester. Whether the draft passes unchanged is open. The overview of the BAföG reform 2027 summarises the stages.
When will the money arrive after the follow-up application?
Payment depends on how quickly your funding office processes the application. The law does not give a fixed timeframe that you can rely on. If you have no notice by the end of your current assessment period, ask the office about the status.
What if I missed the deadline?
Contact your funding office immediately and file the application. Whether and how earlier periods are paid depends on the law and your individual case. The guide on retroactive applications (in German) explains the rules.
Common pitfalls
Most delays come from small details that can be avoided. Checking the following points beforehand saves follow-up questions and reduces the risk of a gap in payment.
- The notice was not read, and the deadline for the follow-up application has passed.
- Documents were uploaded but are unreadable or incomplete, so the office has to ask again.
- Income details from the previous period were not updated.
- A change of address or place of study was not reported to the office.
Why filing early helps
An application that arrives before the assessment period ends leaves time for questions. If a document is missing, you can send it before the deadline runs out. Anyone who submits on the last day risks a missing certificate delaying the processing.
Processing time is also outside your control. The law does not fix it, and it can vary. An early application therefore gives you a buffer that a late one does not. Plan the application as a fixed date in your calendar, not as a task for the last week. If something is unclear, ask in writing so that you can refer back to the answer.
Checklist before you submit
Before you send the application, go through it once. Check that your report on income and training matches your documents, that all pages are included and that every file is legible. Save a copy of the application and the confirmation, so you can show exactly what you filed if the office asks. Keep the originals of your documents until the new notice has arrived.
What to do now
- Read your latest notice and note the end of your assessment period.
- File the application well in advance through BAföG Digital.
- Upload all documents before you submit, and check your figures on income and training.
- Keep the confirmation of submission and review the new notice carefully.
Related reading
- Applying for BAföG: application, deadlines and documents (in German)
- BAföG application online only from 2027: when the requirement applies
- BAföG assessment period: how long a notice applies (in German)
- Uploading BAföG documents: which files the portal accepts
- BAföG Reform 2027: What Is Changing and When
Sources: § 46 BAföG, application in writing or electronic form (gesetze-im-internet.de, in German, retrieved 2 November 2026), § 56 BAföG, study start-up aid (gesetze-im-internet.de, in German, retrieved November 2026), Drucksache 21/8405, 30th BAföG amendment act (status October 2026).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
