Being or becoming parents in Germany

Pregnancy in Germany

You will find important information about pregnancy in Germany here.

If you need a pregnancy test, you can buy it in chemist’s shops and pharmacies.

If you suspect that you are pregnant or already have a positive pregnancy test result, you should consult a gynaecologist and have your pregnancy confirmed there. The doctor will accompany you throughout your pregnancy with regard to medical care and will give you all the necessary information. If you have any questions or need help with arranging appointments, please contact us at the Welcome Centre.

At your first check-up at a gynaecologist, you will receive your Mutterpass (pregnancy record book), in which all check-ups and test results are documented. You should always carry your Mutterpass with you when you leave the house.

A few weeks before the calculated date of birth of your baby, you should consider how and where you want to deliver your baby. Expectant parents can usually visit the maternity ward (delivery room = Kreißsaal) of a hospital and ask the medical staff questions. When choosing a hospital or other place for birth, please consider what is important to you and that not every hospital has a paediatric clinic. Once you have decided on a hospital, you should register with it so that all the important information of the check-up appointments is already available.

Childbirth in Germany 

When you still have time and feel comfortable, you should inform the hospital that you will be coming soon, even if it is not absolutely necessary yet. You should bring the following documents to the birth: Mutterpass, your birth certificate, marriage certificate (if you are married).

We wish you and your child all the best! If you have any further questions, please contact us at the Welcome Centre.

If you enter Germany with children or are expecting a child in Germany, you might be entitled to child benefit. Child benefit is paid to parents to ensure that their children receive basic care. The amount depends on the number of children, usually at least EUR 204 per month is paid for each child. Child benefit is paid for children up to the age of 18; if they are in school, vocational training or studying, child benefit is paid up to the age of 25. The application must be submitted in writing to the Familienkasse Vechta (Family Benefits Office).

Parents from another country can also receive child benefit for their children in Germany. You are entitled to child benefit if

• you are a citizen of an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland and live or work in Germany or
• you are a citizen of Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Morocco, Montenegro, Serbia, Tunisia or Turkey and are employed in Germany (employment subject to social security) or are receiving unemployment or sickness benefit, or
• you have a valid permanent resident card or a permanent EU residence permit, an EU Blue Card, an ICT card, a Mobile ICT Card or a residence permit allowing you to work in Germany for at least six months or
• you are an incontestably recognised refugee or person entitled to asylum.

However, you cannot receive child benefit if you are staying in Vechta for the purpose of vocational training or continuing education. 

You can find detailed information on child benefit on the Familienportal and on EURAXESS.

Maternity leave/protection

If you are expecting a child in Germany and you are employed, you can take maternity leave. Maternity leave is a special protection scheme for pregnant or breastfeeding employees. It usually begins six weeks before the calculated date of birth and ends eight weeks after the birth. In addition to health protection, maternity protection includes protection against dismissal, a ban on employment in the weeks before and after birth, and income security during this period. Maternity protection is independent of your employment, i.e., you have a right and an obligation to take maternity leave in almost every type of employment. Detailed information can be found at the Familienportal.

If you are a doctoral candidate during your time in Vechta and you become or are pregnant, you should inform the university about your pregnancy, as the Mutterschutzgesetz (MuSchG; maternity protection act) also applies to doctoral candidates (registered as students). Information on pregnancy during studies can be found here.

Parental leave

For parents who want to look after their child, parental leave is an unpaid break from working life. If you are in employment, you can ask your employer for parental leave and take up to three years off work per child. During parental leave, you can either not work at all or up to a maximum of 30 hours per week. Parental leave is also possible in any employment and during studies, vocational training or retraining. Further information can be found at the Familienportal.

Parental leave benefit

The parental leave benefit (Elterngeld) is a state benefit that parents of infants and toddlers are entitled to so that they can bring up and care for their children. The benefit can be drawn for a maximum of 14 months and is intended to compensate for income if, due to the birth, the parents can only work part-time or not at all. In Germany, there are three variants of parental leave benefit: Basiselterngeld, ElterngeldPlus and Partnerschaftsbonus. The amount of the benefit depends on your personal life situation and the chosen variant of the parental leave benefit. Parents from another country can also receive parental leave benefit if they meet the requirements:

• You are citizens of an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland and live or work in Germany or
• You will presumably be allowed to reside and work in Germany permanently, which means that you have a settlement permit, a permanent EU residence permit or a residence permit with which you are or were allowed to work (in this latter case, there are further restrictions that you should discuss individually with the competent authority).

The parental leave benefit must be applied for in writing at the responsible Elterngeldstelle (authority for parental leave benefits). Each parent can submit an application for themselves once.

Further information on the subject of parental leave benefit can be found at the Familienportal and EURAXESS.