My children are in Turkey and I work in Germany. Can I get Kindergeld, and which documents do I need?

General rule: German child benefit (Kindergeld, 259 euros per child per month in 2026) is generally paid for children living in Germany, the EU or the European Economic Area. If your children live in Turkey, this full amount is not paid.

Child benefit under the agreement (Abkommenskindergeld): Turkish citizens in insured employment in Germany can receive child benefit for children living in Turkey under the German-Turkish social security agreement. However, the amount is very low (only a few euros per child per month). German citizens are not eligible for this.

Family status certificate: For this application you need a special certificate listing all family members (Familienstandsbescheinigung, form KG 53). It is certified by the SGK (Turkish Social Security Institution) office where you are registered in Turkey. If dates of birth are recorded incorrectly, you need to state this.

Applying: According to the Federal Employment Agency's Turkish-language guide, you apply in writing to the Familienkasse Bayern Süd (Regensburg). Before applying, check the current address and forms on the Familienkasse website or by phone; additional documents, such as school certificates for children over 18, may be required.

If your children come to Germany: Once your children arrive through family reunification and their address is registered, you can apply again for full Kindergeld. Kindergeld is paid retroactively for at most 6 months, so don't delay.