Pregnancy & Birth

Guides on this topic

Egg freezing: keeping an option open for laterEgg freezing is one way to keep the option of having children later. When to do it, who pays, how much it costs and what to watch out for.
IVF in Germany: who pays and how does the process work?Who pays how much for IVF in Germany depends on your marital status, age and insurance. How the process works step by step and where to get support in Berlin.

Questions on this topic

How do I get a residence permit and passport for my child born in Germany?First the birth is registered at the registry office (Standesamt), then your child gets a passport and a residence permit. In Berlin the residence permit is usually issued by the Bürgeramt; in some cases you need to go to the LEA.
How do I take parental leave (Elternzeit), and can my partner and I share it?Each parent can take up to three years of parental leave per child and split it however they like. You must notify your employer at least 7 weeks before the leave starts.
How long is maternity leave (Mutterschutz), and do I get paid?Maternity leave starts 6 weeks before the birth and ends 8 weeks after. During this time you get maternity pay from your health insurance and a top-up from your employer up to your net salary.
I'm a freelancer/self-employed: what rights do I have during pregnancy and after the birth?The Maternity Protection Act does not cover self-employed women. To have income during maternity leave, you need to have opted in to sick pay (Krankengeld) or a private daily sickness allowance beforehand; you can still get Elterngeld.
I'm pregnant: when should I tell my employer, and can I be fired?There is no legal deadline for telling your employer, but telling them early activates your protections. From the start of pregnancy until four months after the birth, you generally cannot be dismissed.
What is Elterngeld, can I get it as a foreign national, and how much is it?Elterngeld (parental allowance) is paid to parents who take a break from work to care for their baby. If your residence permit allows you to work, you can usually get it; it is between 300 and 1,800 euros a month.
Will my child born in Germany become a German citizen?If, at the time of birth, one parent has lived legally in Germany for at least 5 years and has a permanent right of residence, the child becomes German at birth. Since 2024 the child can keep dual citizenship.