How to fill in the Anlage Kind (Kindergeld child supplement, Germany)

What the form is for

Kindergeld is Germany's monthly child benefit: €259 per child per month since 1 January 2026. You apply for it with the main form, the KG 1 (Antrag auf Kindergeld). For every child you apply for, you also fill in one Anlage Kind (child annex).

The Anlage Kind says who the child is, how the child is related to you and to the other parent, whether the child is over 18 and what they do, and whether anyone has already asked for or received Kindergeld, or a similar benefit from abroad, for this child.

If you apply online at familienkasse.de, the Anlage Kind is already part of the online application and you don't attach it. This paper form is for the printed route: print the application, sign it and send it by post to your Familienkasse. A request by phone or e-mail is not possible.

Who needs it

The person who applies for Kindergeld (usually a parent) fills in one Anlage Kind for each child. Whether the child counts is decided by the Familienkasse; these are the main points.

• The child can be your own child, a stepchild or grandchild you have taken into your household, or a foster child who belongs to your family like your own child (not taken in to earn money).
• The child usually has to live in Germany, another EU/EEA country or Switzerland. The child's nationality doesn't matter.
• Under 18: Kindergeld is paid for every child, so you leave section 3 empty, unless the child turns 18 soon. From 18 it continues only in specific cases, for example up to 21 if the child has no job and is registered as a job seeker, or up to 25 during education or training (§ 32 (4) Income Tax Act, EStG).
• A child with a disability that began before age 25 and who cannot support themselves can be considered at any age: answer section 3.3.
• The child needs a German tax ID (Steuer-ID) if they have one; the form requires it then. A child without one, for example living abroad, is identified another way, and the Familienkasse tells you what it needs.
• Don't wait: Kindergeld is paid back for at most six months before the month your application arrives at the Familienkasse.

Before you start

• The child's tax ID (11 digits) and your Kindergeld number if you already have one.
• The parent-child relationship: for a child born abroad, official documents such as the foreign birth certificate. For a child born in Germany, the birth certificate is only needed if the Familienkasse asks.
• Name, date of birth, last known address and nationality of the other parent (or other person), if the child is also related to someone who is not you or your partner.
• For an adopted child: the adoption decision (Annahmebeschluss), where applicable.
• For a child over 18: proof of what they do, for example a school or university certificate (Schulbescheinigung, Semesterbescheinigung), a training contract, or a registration as job seeker. Hide details the office doesn't need, such as grades.
• If the child is over 18 and has no training place or is looking for work: the form KG 11a ("Bescheinigung für ein volljähriges Kind ohne Ausbildungs- oder Arbeitsplatz"), filled in and signed.
• If you or the other parent get a child benefit from another country, or worked abroad in the last five years: who paid, the amount, the period and the file number.

Section by section

The form is in German. Here is what each part asks, in plain words, in the order it appears.

1. 1

   Top of page 1

   Your family name and first name as the applicant, your Kindergeld-Nr. if you already have one, the date of the main application ("Antrag auf Kindergeld vom") and the Lfd. Nr. (laufende Nummer, running number). The main KG 1 asks how many Anlage Kind sheets you attach.

2. 2

   1 Angaben zum Kind (the child)

   The child's Steuerliche Identifikationsnummer (tax ID, mandatory if one has been issued), family name, first name, title (usually empty), birth name, date and place of birth, Geschlecht (sex) and nationality. Fill in the address only if the child lives somewhere else than you, and give the reason ("Grund der abweichenden Anschrift"), for example another home in Germany or abroad, grandparents, a foster home, or school or training.

3. 3

   2 Kindschaftsverhältnis (relationship)

   For each line tick how the child is related: leibliches Kind (birth child), Adoptivkind (adopted), Pflegekind (foster child), Stiefkind (stepchild) or Enkelkind (grandchild). The first line is for you, the second for your spouse or registered partner, the third for another person, for example the other parent. Fill in that person's name, date of birth, last known address and nationality below, and add "verstorben" (deceased), "Vaterschaft nicht festgestellt" (paternity not established) or "unbekannt" (unknown) where it applies.

4. 4

   3 Angaben für ein volljähriges Kind (child over 18)

   Only for a child who is 18 or soon will be; otherwise go on to section 4. In 3.1 tick what the child does (school, university or vocational training, other training such as an internship, no training place, voluntary service, a gap of at most four months between stages, or registered as job seeker) with the dates, and whether the proofs are attached, already with the office or will follow. 3.2 asks about a finished training or degree and about any job, with the employer and the weekly hours. 3.3 asks whether a disability began before age 25.

5. 5

   4 Kindergeld already applied for or received

   Tick ja if you or a person named in section 2 have already applied for or received Kindergeld for this child, and give the person, the period, the Familienkasse and the Kindergeld number. Otherwise tick nein.

6. 6

   5 Öffentlicher Dienst (public service)

   Tick ja if you or a person named in section 2 works in the public service. Then answer a) whether it is a federal institution and b) whether it is the Bundesagentur für Arbeit or a Jobcenter, and give that person's name and date of birth. Otherwise tick nein.

7. 7

   6 Child benefit from outside Germany

   Tick ja if in the last 5 years before the application you or a person named in section 2 had a right to a child-related benefit from an office outside Germany or from an international organisation. Give the person, the benefit, the monthly amount in euros, the period, the paying office with its address and the file number (Aktenzeichen). Otherwise tick nein.

8. 8

   7 Work abroad or for a foreign state

   Three questions about the last 5 years, for you or a person named in section 2: a) did you work outside Germany as an employee, self-employed person or development worker; b) in Germany, did you work for an office of another state or for NATO forces; c) in Germany, were you employed by an employer based abroad (posted worker)? If yes to any, give the person, the period, the employer or institution, its address and the place and country of work.

9. 9

   Date and signature

   Date and the signature of the applicant (or the legal representative). By signing you confirm that everything is complete and true, and that you will tell the Familienkasse at once about any change that matters for the Kindergeld.

Common mistakes

• One sheet for several children

  Each child needs its own Anlage Kind. Fill in a new sheet for every child.

• Leaving out the child's tax ID

  If the child has a German tax ID, the form requires it, and a child is normally counted once identified by it. A child without one, for example living abroad, is identified another way. If you don't have the number yet, the Familienkasse can look it up.

• Not mentioning a benefit from abroad

  A child benefit that you could claim abroad usually rules out German Kindergeld. Say "ja" in section 6 if it applies; for benefits from other EU/EEA countries or Switzerland the Familienkasse may pay the difference.

• No proof for a child over 18

  For a child over 18 the Familienkasse needs a proof of the training, the job search or the voluntary service, and for some cases the form KG 11a. Tick whether the proof is attached, already with them or will follow.

• Sending the paper sheet with an online application

  With the online application the Anlage Kind is already included. Use the paper sheet only with a printed, signed and posted application.

• Waiting too long

  Payment goes back at most six months before the month your application arrives. Send the application even if a proof is still missing, and hand the proof in later.