Sooner or later, someone in Germany will say: “Bitte legen Sie eine Schufa-Auskunft vor.” It might be a landlord, a phone company or a furniture shop offering instalments. If you have just arrived, this can feel like a closed door. Let me explain what it means and how to deal with it.
What Is the Schufa?
The Schufa is Germany’s best-known credit agency. Banks, phone providers, online shops and other companies report your financial behaviour to it: for example, taking out a loan, opening a current account or a mobile contract, and whether you pay on time. From this it calculates a score that estimates how likely you are to pay your bills.
Landlords ask for it because renting out an apartment is a financial risk for them. A good score makes finding a home much easier.
I Am New to Germany. Do I Have a Schufa?
Most likely, you have no or very little history in Germany. That is not the same as a bad score, but it can mean landlords and companies treat you with caution, because they cannot see a track record.
Your history starts when you do things like open a bank account, sign a phone contract or take out a loan. Banks and phone providers often include a clause asking for your consent to report to the Schufa, so read forms before you sign.
Free vs Paid: Do Not Pay for the Free One
There are two different documents, and they are often confused:
- Free data copy (Datenkopie). Under European data protection law (Article 15 GDPR), you can ask the Schufa for a copy of the data it holds about you, for free. You request it on the Schufa’s own site, meineschufa.de. It is for your own information, so you can check it for mistakes. It is not an official credit certificate that a landlord will accept.
- Paid credit certificate. The Schufa BonitätsCheck or BonitätsAuskunft is the document you show landlords or banks. It costs about 29.95 euros (as of January 2026).
Beware of copycat websites. Some sites advertise a “free Schufa” but charge you around the same 29.95 euros or sign you up for a subscription. Always go directly to meineschufa.de and check what you are agreeing to.
How to Rent With No Schufa History
This is the biggest problem for newcomers. These things can help:
- Proof of income: your employment contract and your last three payslips.
- A letter from your employer confirming that your job is permanent, or your probation period is over.
- A confirmation from a previous landlord that you paid rent on time (Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung), if you have one.
- A guarantor (Bürge) living in Germany, or a rent guarantee.
- A short, friendly cover letter introducing yourself and your family, and why you are a reliable tenant.
- Being ready to pay a deposit. In Germany, the deposit is usually up to three months’ rent.
Make sure you have completed your Anmeldung after you move in. Our guide to banks for African families shows accounts that are easier to open as a newcomer.
How to Build a Good Schufa Over Time
- Pay bills and rent on time, every time.
- Keep a normal current account and avoid unnecessary overdrafts.
- Do not open many credit products at once. Several requests in a short time can look risky.
- Avoid unpaid bills. Missed payments can be reported, and negative entries usually remain on file for years.
Check Your Data Once a Year
Request your free data copy about once a year. Look for entries that are not yours, wrong addresses or old unpaid items. If you find a mistake, you can ask the company that reported it and the Schufa to correct it.
Common Mistakes
- Paying for a “free” copy from a copycat site.
- Showing the free copy to a landlord. They usually want the paid certificate or an accepted alternative.
- Signing contracts you cannot afford just to build history.
- Ignoring small reminders. A small unpaid bill can become a reported debt.
Your Next Steps
Open your bank account, keep your payments clean and keep your payslips handy. Our first month checklist puts every step in order.
This guide is general information, not financial or legal advice. Prices and procedures change, so confirm current details directly with the Schufa at meineschufa.de.