Having a baby in Germany: from positive test to passport

Pregnancy care: the Mutterpass and your midwife

From early pregnancy, German care is thorough and mostly free under public insurance (Health insurance in Germany):

• The Mutterpass - a booklet issued by your gynaecologist recording every check-up, scan, and result. Carry it throughout pregnancy; it's your medical record.
• Antenatal care - regular check-ups and ultrasounds with your Frauenarzt (gynaecologist), fully covered by GKV.
• A midwife (Hebamme) - you're entitled to midwife care through pregnancy, the birth, and the postnatal period, covered by insurance. Book one as early as possible (as soon as you know you're pregnant) - there's a real shortage, especially in cities, and good midwives are reserved months ahead.

The midwife is central to the German model: she can handle antenatal appointments, be present at the birth, and - importantly - visits you at home during the Wochenbett (postnatal weeks) to check on you and the baby.

Where to give birth

You choose, and all options are covered:

• Hospital (Krankenhaus / Geburtsklinik) - the most common, with full medical backup; you can usually tour the delivery ward and pre-register.
• Birth centre (Geburtshaus) - midwife-led, for low-risk births, more home-like.
• Home birth - possible with a midwife for low-risk pregnancies.

You don't pay out of pocket for the birth itself under public insurance. Register/pre-register at your chosen hospital in the third trimester.

Mutterschutz: maternity protection at work

If you're employed, the law protects you strongly around the birth:

• Mutterschutz runs 6 weeks before and 8 weeks after the birth (12 weeks after for multiples or premature births) - you may not be made to work in this window.
• You keep your income - a combination of Mutterschaftsgeld (maternity pay) from your insurer and an employer top-up maintains your full net salary during Mutterschutz.
• You're protected from dismissal during pregnancy and for months after.
• Notify your employer once you're ready; they then observe the protections. More in Elternzeit.

After the birth: registering the baby

Several steps follow quickly - the hospital and your Standesamt guide you:

1. Register the birth at the Standesamt (registry office) within about a week - hospitals often forward the paperwork, or you go in person. You receive the Geburtsurkunde (birth certificate) - order several certified copies, you'll need them for benefits.
2. Add the baby to your health insurance - newborns join a parent's public family insurance (Familienversicherung) free, or must be added to private cover; do this promptly.
3. Unmarried parents: to establish legal fatherhood, the father completes a Vaterschaftsanerkennung (acknowledgement of paternity) at the Standesamt/Jugendamt, and parents can file a Sorgeerklärung for joint custody.
4. Register the baby's address (Anmeldung) as part of your household.

The money: Elterngeld and Kindergeld

Two core payments support new parents - claim both:

• Elterngeld (parental allowance): replaces 65-67% of your prior net income, from a minimum of €300 to a maximum of €1,800/month, for up to 14 months shared between two parents (or 12 for one) - the official Familienportal explains the benefits. ElterngeldPlus stretches it over longer part-time periods. Note a household taxable-income cap of €175,000 excludes top earners. Apply after the birth - full detail in Elterngeld.
• Kindergeld (child benefit): €259/month per child (2026), paid regardless of income, from birth until at least 18 (longer in education). Claim it from the Familienkasse - see Kindergeld.

Both are claimed after birth using the Geburtsurkunde, so getting certified copies early matters.

Parental leave and going back to work

• Elternzeit (parental leave): each parent can take up to 3 years of job-protected leave per child, flexible in timing, with the right to return to your role. It's separate from Elterngeld (the money), which covers up to the first 14 months. See Elternzeit.
• Childcare afterwards: children have a legal right to a Kita place from age one, but demand is high - put your name on Kita waiting lists during pregnancy, not after. The whole-family logistics are in Moving to Germany with a family.

The baby's nationality and documents

• Citizenship: German nationality generally passes by descent, so a child of German parents is German. A child born in Germany to foreign parents can acquire German citizenship at birth if at least one parent has lawfully lived in Germany for 5 years and holds a settlement/permanent right - otherwise the child takes the parents' nationality.
• Passport: for a foreign baby, obtain a passport from your home country's embassy; you'll need the Geburtsurkunde and your documents.
• Residence permit: a foreign baby is typically granted a residence permit in line with the parents'.

Baby healthcare: the U-examinations

Germany runs a structured schedule of free child check-ups (the U-Untersuchungen, U1 to U9) from birth through early childhood, recorded in a yellow booklet (gelbes Heft) - your Kinderarzt (paediatrician) handles these, plus the recommended vaccination schedule from the Robert Koch Institute. Register with a paediatrician early.

Frequently asked questions