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What SCHUFA is and why it matters
SCHUFA is a German credit bureau. Businesses use SCHUFA information to estimate payment risk when you apply for contracts. In housing, many landlords ask for a SCHUFA document to check whether there are negative payment-related entries before they sign a lease. This guide covers how to get SCHUFA, how to start a credit record in Germany, and what to do as a tenant without SCHUFA in Germany in your first months.
For newcomers, the problem is not “improving a score fast.” It is getting the right document for renting and knowing what to do if your file is still empty.
Why foreigners may need SCHUFA
Foreigners often need SCHUFA for the same reasons as German residents:
- Renting: requested during an apartment application.
- Banking and credit: loans, overdrafts, credit cards, installment purchases.
- Utilities: electricity, internet contracts.
- Telecoms: mobile phone contracts.
- Other contracts: leasing or payment-by-invoice options.
Even if a company runs the check directly, having your own tenant-focused SCHUFA document speeds up applications.
Eligibility: what you need
You do not need German citizenship. You do need to be identifiable and reachable at a German address.
Documents and prerequisites
- Anmeldung (address registration): not always mandatory for ordering, but it helps prevent mismatches and is often required for banking and telecom contracts.
- Valid ID: for identification, SCHUFA lists ID card, passport, or residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) as acceptable documents to have ready.
- German bank account (recommended): it helps you set up normal contracts. Some partner ordering flows also require a German IBAN.
- Consistent personal data: use one spelling for your name and one address format across Anmeldung, bank, and contracts.
If you have just arrived, your SCHUFA file may be thin because SCHUFA mainly reflects German contracts and payment behavior. A thin file is common and can be handled with alternative documents until your history builds.
Checklist: documents to have ready
- Passport or national ID card
- Residence permit (if you have one)
- Proof of registration (Anmeldebestätigung/Meldebescheinigung), if available
- Current German address (same spelling as your registration and mailbox)
- German IBAN (if available)
Step-by-step: apply for SCHUFA as an expat
The key step is choosing the right SCHUFA product.
Step 1: pick the SCHUFA document that fits your goal
For renting, landlords usually mean a bonity certificate for third parties, not your full file.
Tenant-ready options
- SCHUFA-BonitätsCheck (digital PDF): available within minutes as a download, and shareable for 60 days. Costs €29.95 one-time.
- SCHUFA-BonitätsAuskunft (paper): delivered by post in 2–4 working days. Costs €29.95 one-time.
For your own review (not for landlords)
- Datenkopie (Art. 15 DSGVO): free data copy for personal information, delivered by post (typically 5–7 days; legal deadline one month).
Important: SCHUFA states that rental SCHUFA documents for landlords do not show scores (fairness and privacy). If someone asks you to provide your exact score or your full data copy, treat that as a warning sign.
Step 2: order the SCHUFA-BonitätsCheck (fast path)
- Go to MeineSCHUFA and choose SCHUFA-BonitätsCheck.
- Complete the identity check (keep your passport or residence permit ready).
- After successful identification, download the PDF. SCHUFA describes it as available within minutes.
- Share the PDF with landlords as needed. SCHUFA states it can be shared for 60 days and includes a verification code.
If you order via a bank/partner page: some partners state that their online download process requires a German ID card and a German bank connection (IBAN). If you do not have these, order directly via MeineSCHUFA or use the postal option.
Step 3: order the SCHUFA-BonitätsAuskunft (postal fallback)
Use the paper version if:
- you want the physical certificate,
- online identification fails,
- or you need a document that arrives by post to your registered address.
- Order SCHUFA-BonitätsAuskunft per Post.
- Double-check your address (use your registered address).
- Wait for delivery: 2–4 working days is the stated delivery time.
Some providers state that if the online identity check fails, the certificate can be sent by post to your registered address instead of being delivered as an instant download.
Step 4: request the free Datenkopie to check your file
This is your tool for verifying what SCHUFA stores about you. SCHUFA describes the Datenkopie as an overview of stored information, including where the data came from, who received it in the last 12 months, and transmitted probability values about payment default risk.
Order it when you:
- suspect incorrect data,
- want to confirm that your name and address match correctly,
- want to see whether your first German contracts have started generating entries.
Do not include the Datenkopie in rental applications.
Step 5: know how “fresh” your document should be
SCHUFA’s BonitätsCheck includes a verification code that can be used for authenticity checks for 60 days.
Some providers also note that the BonitätsCheck itself does not have a fixed expiry date, but landlords tend to prefer a recent issue date.
Timeline and costs at a glance
- BonitätsCheck (PDF): €29.95, within minutes, shareable for 60 days.
- BonitätsAuskunft (post): €29.95, arrives in 2–4 working days.
- Datenkopie (post): free, typically 5–7 days; legal deadline one month.
Flowchart: obtaining SCHUFA as a new resident
Start
↓
Need a document for a landlord?
├─ YES→ Try BonitätsCheck (PDF) → Download → Share (60 days)
│ └─ If online ID fails / no supported ID → BonitätsAuskunft (post, 2–4 days)
└─ NO → Want to see what SCHUFA stores? → Datenkopie (free, post)
Checklist: Documents for SCHUFA application
Use this checklist before you order a SCHUFA document (BonitätsCheck, BonitätsAuskunft, or Datenkopie).
(Exact requirements depend on the ordering method and identity check)
1) Identity documents (bring at least one)
- Passport (valid)
- National ID card (EU/EEA, valid)
- German residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel), if you have one
2) Address proof (strongly recommended)
- Anmeldebestätigung / Meldebescheinigung (address registration)
- If you do not have an Anmeldung yet: a document that shows your full name + current German address (for example, a rental confirmation letter). Use the same spelling as on your mailbox.
3) Personal details you must enter consistently
- Full legal name (same order/spelling as on ID)
- Date of birth
- Place of birth (as shown on ID, if requested)
- Current German address (same format as Anmeldung and contracts)
- Previous address (if requested)
4) Payment / account details (sometimes required)
- German IBAN (if you order via some partner flows or choose certain payment methods)
- Debit/credit card details (if paying online)
5) Extras to keep on hand (useful if something goes wrong)
- Proof of name change (marriage certificate or official document), if applicable
- Screenshot or confirmation email of your order
- Copies of contract documents (bank/telecom/utilities), if you later need to correct mismatched data
6) Technical requirements (for online ordering)
- Phone number that can receive SMS (if the identity flow uses OTP)
- Smartphone with camera + stable internet (if the identity flow requires a video/selfie check)
- Ability to open and download a PDF (BonitätsCheck) and store it securely
7) Proof of address in practice (delivery + verification)
- Your full name on the mailbox at the registered address (important for postal delivery)
- Access to the mailbox for the next 1–2 weeks (to receive post if the online flow fails)
8) Data consistency helpers (avoid mismatches)
- A note of your address exactly as shown in Anmeldung (street spelling, house number format, apartment number)
- Your name spelling rules (umlauts, middle names, hyphens). Use one version everywhere.
9) If you’re ordering the free Datenkopie (Art. 15 DSGVO)
- A copy/scan of your ID ready to upload or send if requested by the form process
- A safe mailing address (it arrives by post)
10) If you suspect errors or need corrections later
- Evidence files: payment receipts, cancellation confirmations, debt-settlement letters, old contracts
- A record of dates (when you moved, opened/closed accounts, switched providers)
Alternatives if you don’t yet have SCHUFA
If you have no SCHUFA yet (or your file is empty), you can still rent. Use substitutes that answer the landlord’s risk question.
Proof you can pay
- Employment contract (salary + start date)
- Recent payslips (if available)
- Proof of savings (bank statements; redact non-essential details)
- Scholarship or funding letter (students/researchers)
Proof you are a reliable tenant
- Reference letter from a previous landlord or property manager
- Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung (confirmation of no rent arrears), if available
- Reference from employer (for relocations)
Extra security for the landlord
- A guarantor (Bürgschaft), often used for students or first-time renters in Germany
- Deposit guarantee (Kautionsbürgschaft) as an alternative to tying up cash
- Higher deposit only within legal/contract limits
Choose rentals that accept alternatives
Some furnished, medium-term rentals and expat-focused landlords accept a stronger document set (income proof + references) until your SCHUFA file exists.
Tips to improve creditworthiness
For newcomers, “SCHUFA apply as expat” is mostly about avoiding preventable negative entries and keeping your data clean.
- Register early (Anmeldung) and keep one consistent address.
- Pay invoices and direct debits on time (avoid reminders that escalate to collections).
- Use a German bank account carefully (avoid failed direct debits).
- Update your address with banks and providers when you move.
- Reduce unnecessary credit applications in a short period.
- Check your data with the free Datenkopie and keep documents that prove account closures and payments.
What to watch out for
Landlords asking for too much information
SCHUFA’s own “tips for apartment hunting” page lists examples of information that is considered acceptable to request (for example, identity, employer/job, payslips, pets, and a rent-arrears confirmation) and examples that are not (for example, religion, health, political views, family planning). It also lists residence permit status and SCHUFA scores under “unzulässig.”
Empty or thin SCHUFA file
Common in the first months. Plan to provide higher income and reference documents.
Name/address mismatches
Common with umlauts, middle names, or address format differences. Keep spelling consistent across contracts.
Incorrect data
Use the Datenkopie to spot errors early. Keep evidence (termination letters, payment receipts). Some providers publish SCHUFA’s postal contact details for corrections and questions; keep copies of all supporting documents.
Oversharing
Do not hand out your Datenkopie. For renting, use BonitätsCheck or BonitätsAuskunft; SCHUFA states the landlord-facing document does not show scores.
Final take
If your goal is “get SCHUFA Germany foreigner,” start by ordering the tenant-ready document: BonitätsCheck for speed, BonitätsAuskunft by post as a fallback. While your German contract history builds, strengthen your application with income proof, references, and (if needed) a guarantor or deposit guarantee. SCHUFA becomes more useful over time, but you can rent before it does.
