Your social security number is a unique identifier that tracks your contributions to the German social security system. It is used by various government agencies and your employer to ensure your contributions are properly tracked and determine your eligibility for various benefits and allowances.
What is a social security number in Germany?
The social security number is a unique identifying number, given to everyone in Germany, that enables authorities to track your contributions to statutory insurance schemes like pension insurance or health insurance. It also certifies your membership in the social security system and tracks some data that could be relevant to any future claims for benefits you might make, such as:
- Periods you were in training
- The number of years you have been working for (relevant if you want to start receiving your pension)
- Time taken off for maternity leave or parental leave (which counts towards your pension entitlement)
- Time taken off to care for a relative (which also counts towards your pension entitlement)
Once you are issued with a social security number in Germany, it remains the same for the duration of your life; it never changes.
Somewhat confusingly, it has lots of different names in both German and English, but they all refer to the same thing. You might hear the social security number called something different like:
- Sozialversicherungsnummer (social security number or social insurance number)
- SV-Nummer
- SVNR
- Rentenversicherungsnummer (pension insurance number)
- RNVR
- Versicherungsnummer (insurance number)
It’s worth noting that, in Germany, there is no universal social security number that is valid for all forms of social insurance, as you might be used to in other countries around the world. The social security number is used for social security schemes like pension insurance, long-term care insurance, accident insurance and unemployment insurance only.
It is not the same as other unique identifiers like your tax ID (which is used for tax administration purposes) and your health insurance number (Krankenversichertennummer), which is issued to you by your health insurance company.
Sozialversicherungsnummer format
The Sozialversicherungsnummer is a 12-digit number made up of a mixture of numbers and letters, divided into four parts:
- The first two numbers state the area number of the office where you were registered.
- The next six digits are your date of birth. For instance, if you were born on January 1, 1990, the digits would be “01011990”.
- The ninth character is the first letter of your surname.
- The final parts of the social security number are used to differentiate you from other people who have the same surname and date of birth.
The format is therefore always the same - something like 00 000000 A 000.
What do I need a social security number for?
You will need your social security number in the following situations:
- If you start a new job: So your employer can correctly calculate your social security contributions.
- If you register as unemployed: So the Employment Agency can check your eligibility for unemployment benefits.
- If you apply for part-time retirement, a disability pension, or the survivors’ pension, so the Deutsche Rentenversicherung can check your eligibility.
- If you leave Germany, and want to apply for a refund of your pension contributions.
How to get a social security number
Every person who lives in Germany is assigned a social security number as soon as they start a professional activity - whether that’s an internship, training or employment.
Most people do not have to apply for a social security number. It will be sent out to you automatically as soon as you find a job in Germany, as your employer will enrol you in the social security system in order to deduct your contributions as part of payroll tax. Once you have been enrolled, you will automatically be issued with a social security number , which will arrive in the post. If you have not received one within six weeks of starting your job, speak with your employer.
If you are self-employed and take out private health insurance, you will need to contact the Deutsche Rentenversicherung to specially request a social security number. You can either do this online or at your local branch. You’ll need a form of ID and your registration certificate. Your social security number will then be issued and sent to you in the post.
The letter - which is known as a “Sozialversicherungsausweis” or, more recently, as a “Versicherungsnummernachweis” - will contain:
- Your social security number
- Your first and last name
- Your academic degree (if applicable)
Social security cards
You might sometimes hear the social security number referred to as a social security card (Sozialversicherungsausweis). This is because prior to 2011 every German citizen who was employed subject to social insurance was given a physical social security card. In 2011, however, the card was abolished and replaced with the letter as described above.
Nowadays, therefore, the letter issued by the Deutsche Rentenversicherung is the “social security card” inasmuch as it tells the recipient what their social security number is. However, you do not receive a physical card. Since 2023, the letter has been known as the “Versicherungsnummernachweis” rather than the “Sozialversicherungsausweis”.
How to find your social security number
You can find your social security number:
- On all letters you receive from the Deutsche Rentenversicherung
- On all of your payslips
- On your annual social security statement from your employer (Meldebescheinigung zur Sozialversicherung)
If you know you previously received a social security number but you can’t find it, you need to contact the Deutsche Rentenversicherung to ask them to re-issue it. Note that due to security reasons, they will not be able to provide your number directly, but instead will send it to you in the post. You can either:
- Contact the Deutsche Rentenversicherung by email
- Call them on 0800 1000 4800
Alternatively, you can contact your health insurance company, who can help you find out your social security number.