Schufa report in Germany

Schufa is the biggest German credit score system. Mostly, you need their report of you if you want to rent an apartment long-term. Read here how to get a such a Schufa Bonitätsauskunft.

Questions & Answers

Do I need a Schufa report?

It depends on the place you want to rent:

• Almost always, you need one for renting an (unfurnished) apartment long-term.
• You probably don't need one for renting a furnished apartment short-term.
• Also it's unlikely when subletting an apartment or room from another person.

Read more about renting and apartment or room.

Why do landlords want a Schufa?

• In Germany, renting apartments is highly regulated by law.
• Especially, it is difficult for landlords to kick a tenant out.
• Therefore, landlords want to be sure that a new tenant will pay their rent before they sign a contract.
• A way to check this is whether the applicant has paid their bills before. This is why they want to see a credit score report.

Get a Schufa report

Free

Instead of the regular credit score report, you can get a free copy of all the personal data that Schufa stores about you (based on the GDPR). It also contains the information that landlords want to see.

• Go to MeineSchufa.de: Datenkopie (nach Art. 15 DS-GVO)
• Pick the option on the left: SCHUFA-Datenkopie.

A page with a form opens, fill it out. Here's a dictionary:

• Anrede: salutation (required)
• Vornamen: first names (required)
• Nachname: last names (required)
• Geburtsdatum: date of birth (required)
• E-Mail-Adresse: e-mail address
• Geburtsname: birth name (maiden name)
• Geburtsort: place of birth
• Frühere Namen: previous names

• Straße: street
• Hausnummer: house number
• Postleitzahl: postal code
• Ort: city

You can also upload documents (e.g. from you Anmeldung) but this is optional.

• click on Eingaben prüfen, check your inputs and submit.

You will now receive a letter in a few days.

Paid

Find a branch of

• Postbank or
• Volksbank

walk in with your

• ID or passport
• and a Meldebescheinigung (certificate of registration)

and get the report immediately.

More guides

• How to get a free Schufa by All About Berlin
• Free Schufa report online & paperless by BerlinCheap.com