A child benefit application after enrolment goes to the family benefit office (Familienkasse) of the Federal Employment Agency. What you have to submit is manageable: mainly proof of the start of your studies, details about your child and later reports of changes. This guide explains which documents the office requires, who receives the money and which deadlines you should watch.
Short answer: As proof of the start of your studies, a copy of the enrolment certificate (Immatrikulationsbescheinigung) is usually enough. No separate proof is needed for each further semester. The office accepts copies only. In 2026 child benefit is 259 euros per child and month (last updated: October 2026).
The most important points at a glance
- The family benefit office of the Federal Employment Agency is responsible.
- At the start of your studies, a copy of the enrolment certificate is usually enough.
- You report the end of your studies, dropping out or the start of work without delay, preferably through the online service “Änderungen mitteilen” (report changes).
- Child benefit is usually paid to the eligible person. In special cases it can be paid to you under section 74 EStG.
- In 2026 child benefit is 259 euros per child and month (section 66 EStG).
Who applies, and who receives the money?
As a rule, child benefit runs through the parents as the eligible persons. Whether you are recorded as the recipient yourself is clarified with the family benefit office. The Income Tax Act sets out the exceptions in section 74. In summary, the benefit assessed for a child can be paid to the child if the eligible person does not meet the maintenance obligation or owes only maintenance lower than the child benefit.
Payment can also be made to the person or institution that provides maintenance to the child. This is an exception, not the rule. If someone funds your studies, it is worth agreeing early how the child benefit should flow, so that the maintenance calculation holds no surprises. Our guide on child maintenance for students explains that calculation.
Which documents belong to the application?
The family benefit office works with proof of training and studies. For the start of a degree, you usually prepare the following documents:
- The enrolment certificate for the start of your studies, as a copy.
- Details about your child, such as name, date of birth and address, plus the bank details for payment.
- If you work alongside your studies: details about the work with the number of hours per week. After a first degree, work of up to 20 hours per week is harmless.
- If you have already completed a training or a degree: proof of this, because the rules for a second training then apply.
Only copies are submitted. Keep the originals, because the office can later request additional proof. The rules on the age limit and on paid work are covered in our guide Child Benefit Until 28 in Studies? The Limit Is 25.
How does the process work after enrolment?
After you start your studies, you do not need to submit anything each semester. The Federal Employment Agency names the start of studies as the proof. The family benefit office requests a study certificate with the number of semesters only on written request. In addition, it checks the claim on its own every two years. The table below shows when you must provide which information.
| Point in time | What you do | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Start of studies | Submit a copy of the enrolment certificate | proof of the start of your studies |
| Ongoing studies | No proof per semester | study certificate only on request |
| Dropping out or de-registration | report immediately and on your own initiative | reporting duty applies without a request |
| End of studies | prove the end with a document | decisive is the announcement of the examination result |
| Start of work | report date and number of hours | relevant for the 20-hour limit |
What to watch when you fill in the form
The details must match the documents. A mistake in the date of birth, the start of studies or the semester count can delay processing. Before you start, put the enrolment certificate and the documents for your child in front of you. For later changes, the online service “Änderungen mitteilen” is available.
Frequently asked questions
Is a copy of the enrolment certificate enough?
Yes. The family benefit office accepts only copies, not originals. Keep the original anyway in case the office asks for another confirmation. The copy should be legible and show your name, the university and the semester.
Do I have to send new proof after every semester?
No, not as a standard procedure. A study certificate is requested only on written request, and then with the number of completed semesters. The family benefit office also checks the claim every two years on its own.
What happens if I drop out of my studies?
Dropping out must be reported immediately. This applies to all changes that affect the claim, for example dropping out, not continuing or de-registration. The report must be made without delay and on your own initiative, so without the office having to ask you. The family benefit office then checks whether another ground for the claim applies.
What if the family benefit office sets a deadline?
Then you must meet the deadline stated in the letter. Otherwise the processing can be delayed or the application rejected. If you cannot meet the deadline, ask the office in writing for an extension before it expires.
The table does not replace a check of your individual case. It does show the typical pitfalls: at the end of your studies the date of the examination result is decisive, and at the start of work the number of hours decides whether the 20-hour limit is respected. Keeping these two points in view avoids most follow-up questions.
If you complete several trainings or degrees one after another, a folder with all certificates is worth keeping. A new start of studies can bring further proof with it, and the documents for the first degree remain important because they show the sequence of your training.
What does the notice from the family benefit office say?
After receiving it, check that the child, the period and the amount are correct. For 2026 the amount is 259 euros per child and month. If the details differ, report this to the family benefit office in writing and enclose copies of your documents. Errors are often easier to resolve early, before follow-up questions become harder to answer.
Can I ask before I submit my documents?
Yes. If you are unsure which documents fit your situation, contact the family benefit office directly. Note the date, the name of the contact person and the content of the answer. Changes that affect the claim must also be reported through the online service, so that the information is clearly documented.
What if the child benefit stays with my parents?
Then the benefit remains with the eligible persons, and your maintenance claim is offset against it. How this offset works under section 1612b BGB is covered in a separate guide on child benefit and maintenance. It is best to clarify this before you submit documents, so that you do not have to calculate twice.
What you should do now
- Get the enrolment certificate and the documents for your child ready, and make copies.
- Submit the application to the family benefit office and add the copies.
- Check the decision for details about the child, the period and the amount. For 2026 the amount is 259 euros per child and month.
- Report the end of studies, dropping out and the start of work without delay through the online service.
Related reading
- Child Benefit for Students: Eligibility and Application
- Child Benefit Until 28 in Studies? The Limit Is 25
- Child Benefit Transition Period: Up to Four Months
Sources: section 74 EStG, payment of child benefit in special cases (German Income Tax Act) (as of October 2026), Federal Employment Agency: submitting proof and certificates for Kindergeld (in German) (as of October 2026), section 66 EStG, amount of child benefit (as of October 2026), Federal Employment Agency: Kindergeld from age 18 (in German) (as of October 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
