If you want to work in Germany, you need a Sozialversicherungsausweis (social security card) with a Sozialversicherungsnummer (social security number).
If you have never worked subject to social security contributions, your employer will request your social security number when you receive your first payslip. In this case, you must also inform your employer of your place of birth.
Your health insurance company, the Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency) or your employer will register you with the German pension scheme. You will then receive your insurance number. Please inform the relevant people if you already have a German insurance number.
You will automatically receive your social security number by post the first time you work in Germany and are subject to social security contributions. This applies to full-time, part-time or mini-jobs.
The social security number is not the insurance number on your health insurance card. If you have not yet worked, you may not yet have a social insurance number. Then you can apply for one from your health insurance fund.
You can find your social security number (often abbreviated as SV number) on the following documents:
On your payslip: Your social security number is usually on the document you receive from your employer when your wages are paid. It is often referred to there as the “SV number”.
On your social security card: You will receive this card by post when you first start working in Germany and are subject to social security contributions.
1. Ask your health insurance company.
2. Contact the German Pension Insurance: You can call them on the toll-free number 0800 1000 4800.
Or call the Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund service telephone number: 0800 1000 480 70
3. Apply for a new social security card: You can do this online at Deutsche Rentenversicherung.
As a rule, you will not be given a social security number over the phone (data protection). Instead, a new social security card with your number will be sent to you by post within a few days.
If a young person is starting training for the first time, you can obtain a social security number from the health insurance fund or pension insurance fund. Employees will receive a letter from the pension insurance fund informing them of their social security number
Tax number
You also need a Steuernummer (tax number). After you have registered, the Bürgerbüro (citizens’ office) will automatically transmit this data to the Finanzamt (tax office). You will then receive your tax number from the tax office by post.
Have you lost, misplaced or forgotten your tax identification number?
👉🏽 You can apply for a tax identification number here
You will receive the tax identification number by post to your current registration address.
❗The processing time is up to four weeks
Social security card