Elterngeld for Ukrainians in Germany: Documents, Translations, Step-by-Step Guide

300 euros per month - that’s the minimum every parent in Germany gets, even if they didn’t work at all before the baby was born. And if they did work - up to 1,800 euros. This is Elterngeld (parental allowance), and yes, Ukrainians with temporary protection are eligible too. But there are details that can make or break your application.

What is Elterngeld and who’s eligible¶

Elterngeld (parental allowance) is a government payment for parents caring for a newborn child. Basically, Germany compensates part of your income so you can spend time with your baby without stressing about money for the first months.

Three types of Elterngeld:

• Basiselterngeld (basic) - 300-1,800 euros/month for 12-14 months
• ElterngeldPlus (extended) - 150-900 euros/month, but for up to 28 months. Perfect if you’re planning to work part-time
• Partnerschaftsbonus (partnership bonus) - extra 2-4 months of ElterngeldPlus per parent, if both work 24-32 hours per week

Who qualifies¶

The basic conditions are straightforward:

• You live and are registered in Germany (Anmeldung done)
• You care for your child personally in your household
• You work no more than 32 hours per week during the benefit period
• You have a residence permit that allows employment

What about Ukrainians with §24?¶

Here’s the most important part. According to official information from the Bundesministerium für Familie (BMFSFJ) and the familienportal.de: Ukrainians with a residence permit under §24 AufenthG (temporary protection) are eligible for Elterngeld.

Since June 2022, the employment requirement for §24 holders has been removed. So even if you’re not working - you’re entitled to the minimum Elterngeld (300 euros).

One thing to watch out for: some advisory websites still show outdated info claiming you need to live in Germany for 3 years and be employed. That’s the old rule that doesn’t account for the 2022 changes for §24 holders. If you run into doubts or your Elterngeldstelle pushes back - point them to familienportal.de and germany4ukraine.de. BMFSFJ also published an official Elterngeld flyer in Ukrainian - print it and bring it with you.

How much money you’ll get: calculating the amount¶

Your Elterngeld amount depends on how much you earned before the baby was born.

Situation	Basiselterngeld	ElterngeldPlus
Not employed	300 euros/mo	150 euros/mo
Income up to 1,000 euros/mo	67% of net	33.5% of net
Income 1,000-1,200 euros/mo	67% of net	33.5% of net
Income 1,200-2,770 euros/mo	65% of net	32.5% of net
Maximum	1,800 euros/mo	900 euros/mo

Geschwisterbonus (sibling bonus)¶

If your household already has a child under 3, two children under 6, or a child with a disability under 14 - you get an extra +10% of Elterngeld (minimum +75 euros for Basiselterngeld, +37.50 euros for ElterngeldPlus).

Income cap (from April 2025)¶

Since April 1, 2025, families with annual income above 175,000 euros don’t qualify for Elterngeld (applies to both couples and single parents). For most Ukrainian families this isn’t relevant, but good to know.

How to split months between parents¶

Standard setup: 12 months of Basiselterngeld for one parent. But if the other parent takes at least 2 months too - you get 14 months total. With ElterngeldPlus you can stretch it to 28 months.

Another rule since April 2024: both parents can receive Basiselterngeld simultaneously for only 1 month (and only within the child’s first year). Exceptions: premature births, twins, children with disabilities.

Elterngeld + Bürgergeld: the part you can’t skip¶

If you’re receiving Bürgergeld (formerly Hartz IV) from the Jobcenter - this section is the most important one for you.

The main rule: Elterngeld counts as income and gets deducted from Bürgergeld. So if you receive 300 euros Elterngeld and 800 euros Bürgergeld - your Bürgergeld drops by 300 euros. Net result: same 800 euros.

Sounds pointless, right? But here are two important catches:

If you worked before the child was born (even a Minijob): up to 300 euros of Basiselterngeld (or 150 euros of ElterngeldPlus) is not deducted from Bürgergeld. That’s the Freibetrag - protected amount. You actually get extra money.

Even if you didn’t work - you’re still required to apply for Elterngeld. It’s a “vorrangige Leistung” (priority benefit). The Jobcenter can reduce your Bürgergeld as if you were receiving Elterngeld, even if you never applied. Not applying means losing money.

Tip for Bürgergeld recipients: choose ElterngeldPlus over Basiselterngeld. The monthly amount is smaller, but the payment period is twice as long. And the insurance contribution (30 euros/month) gets credited the entire time: 28 months × 30 euros = 840 euros vs 14 months × 30 euros = 420 euros.

What documents you need for the application¶

Here’s the full document checklist for your Elterngeld application:

Standard package (for everyone)¶

1. Completed application form (Antrag auf Elterngeld) - the form depends on your Bundesland, both parents sign
2. Child’s birth certificate with the note “für Elterngeld” (original from Standesamt)
3. Passport/ID copies of both parents (both sides, clearly legible)
4. Steuer-ID (tax identification number) of both parents
5. Bank details - German IBAN

Income documents¶

• For employees: payslips (Gehaltsabrechnungen) for the last 12 months before birth/Mutterschutz
• For self-employed: tax assessment (Steuerbescheid) for the calendar year before birth
• Employer certificate about Zuschuss zum Mutterschaftsgeld (if applicable)

Additional documents for Ukrainians¶

• Copy of §24 Aufenthaltserlaubnis (residence permit) - mandatory
• Anmeldebescheinigung (registration certificate)
• Bescheid from Jobcenter - if receiving Bürgergeld
• Health insurance confirmation

Which Ukrainian documents need translation¶

Here’s where it gets interesting. Not everything needs translating, but what does - must have a beglaubigte Übersetzung (certified translation).

Must translate¶

• Ukrainian birth certificate - if the child was born in Ukraine or the certificate was issued by Ukrainian authorities. Needs a certified translation by a sworn translator
• Marriage certificate - if the Elterngeldstelle requires proof of marital status. More about marriage certificate translation in our guide
• Income documents from Ukraine - if you worked in Ukraine during the 12 months before the child’s birth

Don’t need translation¶

• German birth certificate (Geburtsurkunde) - it’s already in German
• Gehaltsabrechnungen from a German employer
• Bescheid from Jobcenter
• Steuer-ID - it’s just a number

Who can do the translation¶

Only an öffentlich bestellte und vereidigte Übersetzer (publicly appointed and sworn translator). Their translation has legal force - it comes with a stamp, signature, and certification clause. You can find a sworn translator at justiz-dolmetscher.de.

More about the difference between notarized and sworn translations in our article.

Translation costs¶

Document	Price (approximate)
Birth certificate	35-60 euros
Marriage certificate	40-65 euros
Apostille	10-20 euros
Income certificate	40-70 euros

Timeline: usually 2-3 business days. A good quality scan or photo of the document is enough to place the order - you submit the original later together with the translation.

On ChatsControl you can order a certified translation of your Ukrainian documents online - no office visits needed.

Step-by-step: from pregnancy to money in your account¶

Step 1: Prepare documents early (before birth)¶

Don’t wait until the baby arrives. You can gather translations and certificates ahead of time:

• Order a birth certificate translation (if the child was already born in Ukraine)
• Prepare a marriage certificate translation
• Collect your payslips for the past 12 months (if employed)
• Find out which Elterngeldstelle handles your address

Step 2: Get the birth certificate (after birth)¶

After the child is born in Germany, the Standesamt issues a Geburtsurkunde. Ask for an extra copy marked “für Elterngeld” - it’s free and specifically needed for this application.

Step 3: Download the right application form¶

Each Bundesland has its own form. Find the form for your state at elterngeld-digital.de (online application) or download the PDF form for your Bundesland.

Some states already support fully digital submission through ElterngeldDigital - check if yours does.

Step 4: Fill out and submit the application¶

• Complete the form (both parents must sign!)
• Include ALL documents at once - don’t send them in batches, it slows everything down
• Make copies of everything you send
• Send by registered mail (Einschreiben) or submit in person

Step 5: Wait and respond to requests¶

Standard processing time: 4-6 weeks, but in practice it can be 8-12 weeks depending on workload.

If the Elterngeldstelle asks for additional documents - respond quickly. Every day of delay is a day without money.

The deadline you can’t miss¶

Elterngeld is paid retroactively for a maximum of 3 months before your application date. So if your child was born on January 1st and you apply on June 1st - you’ll only get paid from March 1st. The first three months are gone.

Apply as soon as possible after birth. Ideally within the first month.

6 common mistakes when applying for Elterngeld¶

1. Missing the deadline¶

As we mentioned - submit your application as early as possible. They only pay retroactively for 3 months. Don’t put it off.

2. Father takes vacation instead of Elternzeit¶

If the father uses paid vacation (Urlaub) instead of official parental leave (Elternzeit) - Elterngeld isn’t paid for that time. You need Elternzeit specifically - a formal request to your employer.

3. Not using partner months¶

12 months if one parent takes it all. 14 months if both take at least 2 months each. Two free months just vanish if the second parent doesn’t apply.

4. Picking the wrong Elterngeld type¶

If you’re planning to work part-time - ElterngeldPlus is much better. Basiselterngeld gets fully reduced by your part-time earnings, while ElterngeldPlus doesn’t.

5. Forgetting to change your tax class¶

This applies to married couples: to get the maximum Elterngeld, the mother should switch to Steuerklasse III at least 7 months before Mutterschutz starts. Do it later and it won’t count.

6. Incomplete document package¶

Send the application missing one document - and the whole thing stalls. The Elterngeldstelle writes you a letter, you wait for it to arrive, then scramble to get what you forgot. One to two months lost. Gather everything at once and double-check before sending.

Bonus mistake: wrong IBAN. One digit off and the money bounces back - then you wait several more weeks. Triple-check your bank details.

Where to get help¶

If you’re struggling to figure this out on your own (totally normal - even Germans get confused by Elterngeld), here’s where to find help:

• Elterngeldstelle in your city - free consultation, you can call or visit in person
• Handbook Germany - information portal for refugees in Ukrainian
• BMFSFJ flyer in Ukrainian - official Elterngeld brochure
• Migration advisory services (Migrationsberatung) - free, they’ll help you fill out the application
• “Familien gut informiert” - BMFSFJ project specifically for immigrant families, including Ukrainian ones

The portal germany4ukraine.de also has info about all social benefits available to Ukrainian families.

FAQ¶

Can Ukrainians with §24 get Elterngeld?¶

Yes. According to BMFSFJ’s official position, Ukrainians with a residence permit under §24 AufenthG are eligible for Elterngeld. Since June 2022, the employment requirement for §24 has been removed. Even without a job, you’ll receive at least 300 euros/month (Basiselterngeld) or 150 euros/month (ElterngeldPlus).

Do I need a certified translation of my Ukrainian birth certificate for Elterngeld?¶

Yes, if the birth certificate was issued in Ukraine - you need a certified translation (beglaubigte Übersetzung) from a sworn translator. The translation costs roughly 35-60 euros with a 2-3 business day turnaround.

How much is Elterngeld if I wasn’t working in Germany?¶

The minimum Basiselterngeld is 300 euros per month, ElterngeldPlus is 150 euros per month. Everyone who qualifies for Elterngeld gets these amounts regardless of prior income.

Does Elterngeld get deducted from Bürgergeld?¶

Yes, Elterngeld counts as income and reduces Bürgergeld. But if you worked before the child’s birth (even a Minijob), up to 300 euros of Elterngeld is exempt from deduction (Freibetrag). Even if you didn’t work - applying for Elterngeld is still mandatory.

How long does the Elterngeld application take?¶

Officially 4-6 weeks, but in practice it can be 8-12 weeks depending on the Bundesland and Elterngeldstelle workload. Submitting a complete document package from the start speeds things up.

Which type of Elterngeld is better to choose?¶

Depends on your situation. If you’re not planning to work for the first 12-14 months - go with Basiselterngeld (higher monthly amount). If you’re planning to work part-time or you’re receiving Bürgergeld - ElterngeldPlus is the better deal (double the payment period, works better with part-time employment).