SCHUFA Holding AG is the name of a private company keeping credit records of individuals in Germany.
What is SCHUFA : a somewhat intrusive credit record
The company will track all bills or fines you might have left unpaid and put them in your credit record history. That’s why people say “SCHUFA” , they often mean the record held by the company.
Your record will be check by companies like Deutsche Telekom when opening a phone account or by your bank when you apply for a loan. They will then be able to tell if you have debts or not and if you can be trusted as a customer.
The company is basically rating your ability to pay your bills. This record (called SCHUFA Auskunft) will follow you everywhere as consumer in your everyday life, you‘d better keep it clean !
As a foreigner, it will be automatically created when you have completed your Anmeldung at the Bürgeramt, opened a bank account, and subscribed to a first contract like for an internet line for example.
What is SCHUFA : an efficient way to limit your debts
The cleanest SCHUFA score you get at the beginning is rated at 100% . If you don’t pay your bills, this score will decrease accordingly to how much you have been naughty. If it does, it can limit your ability to undertake other contracts which can be frustrating. However, this system is preventing that you become overwhelmed by debts overtime. However, even if you pay all your debts, your score will go down a few percents for some reason. It is completely fine to have score down to 92% for example.
Dont forget to pay on time !
That’s not all bad you see ?! Schufa actually stands for : “Schutzorganisation für Allgemeine Kreditsicherung” which roughly translates to “organisation for general credit safety protection”
As a foreigner, try to “populate” your record with positive entries by paying your phone bills, electricity and gas bills and so on. It will come handy when you will want to apply to a loan in the bank. In my experience, even if you have been for a while in Germany, if your SCHUFA Auskunft doesn’t look clean, it will be hard to convince your bank.
Landlords ask also very often your credit record to be able to rent a flat.
What should i do if i get a negative entry in my SCHUFA record?
Their FAQs on the matter is not giving any magic formula unfortunately. The only thing you can do is try to resolve the cause of that negative entry as soon as possible and keep the rest of your financial related affairs in order. This mainly means paying all your bills and credits in time, and never use your overdraft possibilities if possible.
Negative records are impacting your score up to 3 years after you resolved your unpaid bills case and it can be kept as a “FYI side note” for up to 6 years overall. Here is a more detailed table.
| Information entry | How long it stays in your record |
|---|---|
| Entries about credits / loans | 3 years after paying it back |
| Credit / loan requests | 12 months after request |
| Entries about your current bank accounts and credit cards | When closing the account |
| Requests from third-party companies | 12 months after request at the latest. |
| Entries about paying your bills late | 3 years or 4 years in case of unresolved disputes or longer sometimes. |
| Entries coming from the Amtsgericht concerning your possible debts | 3 years or sooner if debt has been declared resolved by the Amtsgericht. |
| Customer accounts with third-party companies | 3 years |
How do i keep my score high?
To keep a good SCHUFA score (above 90%), those are the few recommended things:
- Don’t open too many bank accounts in different banks and limit the amount of credit cards you own
- Don’t switch bank account too often
- If possible, try to keep healthy reserve in the accounts you own
- Pay your bills on time
- Check your SCHUFA-score once a year and correct any mistakes you might see
Help, i am stuck: I need a SCHUFA record to rent a flat, but i can’t get one until i’m registered somewhere
This is typical chicken-&-egg situation for many foreigners moving to Germany: landlords ask for a SCHUFA record for you to rent their flat, but you don’t have one since you are not registered (Anmeldung) and can’t open a bank account… because you don’t have a place yet. If you are in this situation, you might want to go for a flat share (WG) and register there until you find your own place. You can also turn to services like Wunderflats, which lets you rent furnished flats without a SCHUFA record.
Tip 1 : You can order a record from the company directly on the following website. It costs only 24,95€. (click on Bonitätauskunft on the homepage) : https://www.meineschufa.de/ . Some Postbank centers do offer to print one for you on the spot as well for the same fee. No need to be a Postbank customer.
However, you are entitled to one free record per year that you can also get from the same website here. The process takes more time though. Download the form by clicking on the British flag for the English version. Don’t forget to add a copy of your passport AND a copy of your Meldebescheinigung with it. No need to check the “alternative” offer in the PDF.
Tip 2 : The SCHUFA will hold information about you long after you leave Germany and at a European level too. If you plan to leave unpaid bills behind and then come back to Germany, you might have to think twice before doing it. It could become harsh back fire in the near future.
Tip 3 : This system makes that your personal wealth, your personal property or yearly income doesn’t have any influence on your record ! You could be the richest man in the world but still have the worst record if you didn’t pay your bills. Just bear that in mind.
292 Comments
Hello, i dont know if this really belongs here but really need help. I moved a few years back to berlin as i love the city. My first month i broke my hand and had to go to a doctor regularly to change casts, x rays, etc. I had trouble keeping my job cause of it and had to leave with no money at all left, asking my father to lend me for a plane ticket home. When i was about to leave i received a bill from the doctor. The thing is i never payed that bill, and i really want to move back. Is that a problem?. Am i in huge dept there? or am i maybe prohibited from living there? really hope i can get an answer as i really dont know where to turn. I tried contacting the icelandic embassy (im from iceland btw.) in berlin and they just didnt answer back.
Hi Rooney. It’s a tough situation and i can’t really answer without knowing more details, depends on the amount, when this happened etc… I suppose there is only one way to find out, move back here and get a hand of your SCHUFA score.
The amount wasnt that high. I think maybe around 2 – 300 euro and it was about 4 years ago.
It’s just an opinion; there will be probably little to no consequences then.
Hi, Bastien!
I live in Germany (Berlin) from three months now. The first month I had a registration at an address, but for the last two months I am on another address (and I am not registered, i.e. the old registration still stays in the german Burgeramt).
From my first address I have the SCHUFA document, but it is expired now (they sent me a letter that after two months I have to renew the SCHUFA). I would like to ask you — How do I renew it? – I am not at the old address – so can I renew it only electronically and receive these Schufa pdfs – electronically. Or do I have to make an anmeldung for this new address in order to have a renewed Schufa?
Thank in advance!
without anmeldungen and i live in germany with france visa .can i still get a schufa .and where and how?
Hi Jason. If i understand your question correctly, if you are not registered in Germany, the answer is most likely no.
Hello
my SCHUFA is positive but my score is 79.9% mainly because I was trying to get a phone by installment and I tried different banks but the didn’t accept it so it basically just credit request.
how can I improve my score?
thank you for helping so much
Hi Ahmed. As mentioned in the post, there are no miracles except pay your bills on time and don’t do too many credit requests. If you have wrong entries in your SCHUFA record, you can also contact the companies to try to correct it.
Hi, is this schufa cheking only in germany or worldwide.? I’m working in germany from 4 months and yesterday tring to get a finance for a car and they said i have schufa..! Can’t get the credit?
Hi Sandor. Everyone living in Germany gets a schufa score eventually. I think SCHUFA works with other countries like Switzerland, Austria and a few others. Can’t find the source anymore,
Hi Bastein,
I’m living in Germany since 2015 as a student and I have American Express credit card due to some reasons I used excess of credit (3.5k) and now I’m unable to pay completely. So I spoke with American Express customer service to negotiate the payment in installments, they said if I’m not able to pay in 90 days then my account will be handed over to schufa and they said that it will become problem for me in sense that my bank account might get cancelled and I could go in to trouble like I cannot pay bills etc. what exactly schufa will do to my bank account in which I’m receiving my stipendium. Will I have to face problems in renewing my visa.
Thanks,
Har.
Hi Har. This decision is part of the your bank’s internal processes, so i can only do a wild guess: They will measure the pros and cons of having you as a client, and make a decision based on that.
Hi!just need some help, i am here inTübingen i am now 1 1/2 here,have permanent work also. i tried to avail some loans in a bank and the bank said i have some issues regarding schufa,i was in shock cuz i dont have knowledge about this schufa really 0.1% knowledge!i paid all my bills and 1 thing that reminds me is this rundfunkbeitrag i did not pay it so after that i paid this rundfunk and they told that they will inform the schufa!but i really need to have a loan in 2 days,but the bank told that once all settled i can just go to bank..can the bank allow me to have a loan?it was only 315€ i did paid for this rundfunk
Hi Mark. What the bank tells you is probably true yes.
hey!! if I am paying for an instant schufa online, and they are asking for my address, do i need to put the one i am registered at?? i am currently sub letting for a while and am registered at a different address
Hey guys if I wanna rent a flat what the lowest score a new Landloard can accept on my Schufa?
It’s up to each landlord to decide that.
Hi,
I am in Germany from past 3 years. My credit card payment was bounced only once 3 months back due to insufficient funds. But later I fixed it immediately. If I request for Schufa report, will it show negative in my report ? Please advise
Thanks,
Neera
Hi Neera. I cannot tell you what SCHUFA does with your score. The only way to check is to indeed order a SCHUFA record.
If your SCHUFA score is really low but all your bills are paid for, will it negatively effect my chances of renewing my visa?
Hi
My bank account is still not active but I have a registered address. Can I apply for a SCHUFA ?
Hi Kirandeep. You don’t apply for a SCHUFA record, it’s created for you. If you just arrived, your file will just say something like “there is not enough data to make a score”.
Hello Bastien,
First of all, thank you for the helpful info that you posted above.
The reason that brings me here is that I ordered my SCHUFA and it shows that there is some open case against me (Verfahrensnummer given).
As far as I remember, I dont owe any money to anyone. There were a couple of transportation fines against me as I forgot to carry my monthly pass, but I resolved the issues by submitting the copies of my monthly passes on both the occasions. Thats all. Other than that I am unaware of any open issues.
Now the question is: How do I find out who I owe the money to? And who has raised the verfahrensnummer against me? And how do I get rid of it from my SCHUFA? Kindly advise. I am totally lost here as I dont know who to go to.
Thank you in advance.
Regards,
Ruchit Telrandhe
Hi Ruchit. You can submit your case to be reviewed if you think there are unfair/unaccurate entries in your report. From the documents (free yearly report) you have, you should be able to identify the company you have an issue with and ask them to clear to remove it from your SCHUFA record. Good luck.!
Hi Bastien,
I am moving to Berlin next week, I will get anmeldung at my friends flat and I will open bank account in N26 Bank.
Once I get my anmeldung and bank account can I register for Shufa right away?
Hi Zuza. You don’t register for it per say. A record is created on you after a while.
Hey 🙂
I am a British citizen moving to Berlin in 3 weeks and wanting to get a SCHUFA document for flat hunting. I’ve lived in Berlin before (in 2014) and have my Anmeldebestätigung from there (dated 17.02.2014).
Do you think it’s a good idea to apply for the SCHUFA? I’d only be able to place my last 2 English addresses on there, as I have not lived in Germany for at least two years now. In any case, I have the form, a photocopy of my passport and a photocopy of my Anmeldebestätigung ready to go 🙂
Thanks for any advice!
Amber
Hi Amber. I don’t know if you even have a SCHUFA record at this point. Best is to check yourself.
Hi all,
I have an open electricity bill which amounts to over 5k for the last year. I have involved a recognised electrician, a third party organization to look into the case and investigate, though no positive outcome for me, for the time being…it seems a household of 50sq m consumed electricity for suc an amaonut – unbelievable!! The company offered me to pay for 24 months, approx EUR200 per month, thou I cannot afford it. My monthly income does not allow it. What can I do in such situation? I also do not have a legal insurance to involve a lawyer. Any advice will be welcomed. Thanks
Hi Tatyana. I cannot give you advice on the matter. you should get in touch with a consumer association or indeed a lawyer.
Hello,
Can problems with my landlord (I did not pay the last month of rent before leaving the lease, resulting in the landlord keeping my deposit, which covered more than the rent) negatively impact my schufa? For how long?
Thank you
Hi Guy. Probably not, if the landlord is a private person and you don’t owe him any money.
Hi Bastien,
In 2007 I was studying in Germany and due to financial problems I had to leave. Unfortunately I also left an unpaid 250 euro bill for health insurance. I’m thinking of returing in 2018 for a job, but I’m concerned about my Schufa score. Do you think it’s still on my record after 10 years? Thanks.
Hi Radu, after 10 years probably not but you can only know for sure by ordering your record.
Hi basien,
I am an international student doing a master degree in berlin.
I first apply for a private insurance when i moved to berlin because it was cheap (46).
However i had not open a back account then, i paid with my international bank card.
My school adviced me to get a new public insurance, so i did and then forgot to stop the private one.
I want to know if that will after my credit score.
Now i have a bank account. And i pay my public insurance on time.
Thanks
Hi David. The only way to know is order a SCHUFA record to check by yourself. It does pretty minor though.
Hi Bastian,
I got a fine because of not buying a ticket…(my wallet has been left in my office when I went home…)
Then I paid the fine in time. For this case, my SCHUFA will get a negative entry record or not?
Thank you,
Zhen
Hi Zhen, if you payed quickly, it should not impact your score in the long-run.
Hi Bastien,
Thanks for sharing such useful information on the whole Schufa process.
One question – How long is the Schufa report valid for? For e.g. if I take the Schufa report today for renting a flat, can I use the same report 6 months down the line when applying for a bank loan?
Thanks!
Gaurav
Hi Gaurav. The person asking you for one will tell you how recent the report should be.
Hello Bastian,
I moved to Germany in january 2016 so it’s not been one year and (with my husband that has been living in Germany since 2012) , I recently (about 3-4 months ago) opened a bank account and now have a job and also a mini job. I don’t have any contract anywhere and no credit cards I pay cash for everything. In this circumstances how is my Schufa score ?
Hi Farnaz, your SCHUFA record is not populated but your SCHUFA score should be high enough. How high? Nobody knows except you if you ask for a copy of your record.
Hi!
I’ve just received my Anmeldung the other day, but have been living here for 4months and already opened a bank account with N26 for about 3.5 months. I’m now looking for a long-term flat. Can I get a SCHUFA through immobilienscout24 now, or not..how long do I have to wait before I can obtain a SCHUFA? Thank you!!! <3
Hi Lara, you should have a SCHUFA record by now yes.
Hi, i was a Gebührenfrei gold mastercard customer. Due to my lack of knowledge abour credit card system and German knowledge, i kept a 70 euro bill unpaid for 6 months. I thought there is only 2 euro interest per month so i will pay when it will be 80. I can do other things with the money now. I didnt know i had to pay a minimum amount each month. As a result they transferred my case to a cash collection company and i had to pay 150 euro to them and the canceled my card. From then i am getting rejected for other credit cards too. Is it a very big issue? Its just 70 euro and after all i paid and i didnt know the system. Can you tell me how long it can take to get back to good schufa scoring?
Hi Reza. I don’t know; it depends on many factors. You can get a general idea from the table in the article.
Hello,
Great website. How could I complain or challenge a Schufa entry because they’ve incorrectly given me a rating for something I haven’t done? Bear in mind I don’t speak German.
Who would I contact? Can I send an email with evidence?
Regards
Hi Bobby, i would contact them directly by phone with the help of a German speaking friend. You have their hotline details on this page (last question).
Hi,
Is there a chance of doing the SCHUFA online without being in Germany?
Thanks,
Erla
Hi Erla. Yes it is possible if you already registered your residency in Germany and fulfilled all requirements already. If you have never lived in Germany before; no it’s not possible.
Hi Bastien,
First of all, thanks for your information.
Here I am writing to get more information about the process of SCHUFA in Germany.
I am a refugee and I have Meldebescheinigung and blue Passport and I am under Jobcenter, so can I also get the Schufa in Germany ? because whenever I want to rent a Flat, then I will be asked for Schufa.
I would appreciate if you could give me details in this matter.
LG
Shadan
Hi Shadan, your current situation as a refugee does not change anything, you will also have a SCHUFA report on you, since you did all the right steps. This post is also valid for you.
Hi Bastien,
I’m italian, to get the record is it a problem if i don’t have a passport?
Only my ID.
Thank you
The SCHUFA website specifically mentions a passport together with a Meldebescheinigung, sorry.
Hi Bastien,
Is it possible to get the schufa at the Postbank without the Anmeldung paper? For some reason I cannot find it and I urgently need the Schufa. I know i can get another copy if i go to the burgeramt but I’m afraid that can take a while, so that’s why I’m asking.
Thanks!
Maria
Hey Maria. You get a copy of your Meldebescheinigung at the Bürgeramt. You might need to get up a little bit early to be early in the queue, that’s all.
Hi Bastien,
A few months ago I was traveling in Germany for the first time as a tourist with a French residence permit, and I forgot to validate my train ticket before getting on it. the controller wrote down my passport info and said I need to pay a 60 euros fine. I asked him where and how cuz I didn’t have enough cash on me. he said I would receive a letter soon and he left without giving me a receipt or ticket , and I waited for a month but the letter never came. after that I went to an officer at the train station asking how I can pay the fine since I didn’t receive anything and he said since I’m a foreigner I don’t have to worry about it .
At the moment I’m applying for an internship visa in Germany and I am really worried about the whole SCHUFA system which would potentially cause some trouble.
But in your article you wrote”As a foreigner, it will be automatically created when you have completed your Anmeldung at the Bürgeramt, opened a bank account, and subscribed to a first contract like for an internet line for example.”
so my question is , does this mean if I was just traveling in Germany as a foreigner without opening any bank account nor complete my Anmeldung, I don’t even have a schufa number ? because I’m worried this would affect my visa application since I never paid the fine.
Best regards,
Z
Hi Z. I think you will be fine as you were not a German resident at the time yes.
Hi Z, I was in the same situation. There was my first time at Germany so I didnot notice about that machine. I ran to catch the train after getting luggage and thought I can buy ticket on train. 2 years later, I moved to Germany for work and worried it was recorded in my good conduct documment which I need to submit to my working place. But nothing was record. So dont worry about that.