In Germany, you need a German cell phone number for almost everything: banks, health insurance, job centers, schools, and landlords all ask for it. It is also required for online registrations. Fortunately, you can usually get a SIM card in the first few days after your arrival with just your passport.
Prepaid or contract
In Germany, there are two main types of mobile phone contracts: prepaid (no contract) and contract (postpaid). If you don’t have a registered address or a German bank account yet, a prepaid SIM card with payment by credit card is the easiest option. You buy a starter pack at the supermarket or drugstore, register the SIM card in your own name, and top up your credit as needed. Later, once you have officially registered and opened an account, you can update your contact details with your provider or switch to a different tariff or provider. A contract with a mobile phone provider is often cheaper if you are staying in Germany for a long time: fixed monthly costs, more data volume, and sometimes a cell phone is also included in the tariff. To do this, you usually need a German bank account (IBAN), a fixed address, and often a Schufa credit check—which is why prepaid is usually the better choice to start with.
SIM card from the drugstore
Prepaid SIM cards are available in large supermarkets (Rewe, Edeka, Kaufland), drugstores (dm, Rossmann, Müller), at the checkout in discount stores (Aldi, Lidl, Netto, Penny), in electronics stores (MediaMarkt, Saturn), or in the official shops of the providers (Telekom, Vodafone, O2, and others). The packaging shows which network the tariff belongs to and what is included: data volume, minutes, text messages, and the basic price per month. In the providers’ shops, the staff often help directly with registration and activation. Another option is eSIM tariffs: the SIM is downloaded digitally to the cell phone, which requires an eSIM-enabled smartphone and stable internet access. Simple prepaid plans with low data volumes are often available from around five to eight euros per month, while more comprehensive packages with more gigabytes cost between 10 and 20 euros, depending on the provider.
What documents are required?
Identification is required for every German SIM card. Customers in Germany must also provide proof of identity in accordance with the Anti-Terrorism Act. Therefore, SIM cards cannot be used anonymously. In most cases, a biometric passport or ID card is sufficient. In many cases, foreign passports—including Ukrainian passports—are accepted, even if the holder does not yet have a residence permit. For contracts, providers also require a German registration address, an IBAN, and often a Schufa credit report. The Schufa credit agency is consulted to find out whether someone has debts or has failed to repay loans in the past.
For prepaid services, an identity document is usually sufficient; you also need to provide your current residential address—your own apartment, dormitory, accommodation, or an address at a friend’s house.
Registering a SIM card
After purchase, the prepaid SIM card must be registered. This is usually done online via the provider’s website: you enter your personal details, address, and document details, and then complete a video identification (VideoIdent) via smartphone or laptop. The employee checks your ID and face. Alternatively, you can use PostIdent or identification in a shop: take the starter pack to a partner location—for example, a Deutsche Post branch or an official shop of the provider—show your document, and you will be activated there. Once you have been successfully identified, the SIM card will be activated and you will receive confirmation by text message or email. This can take a few minutes or even a few hours. After activation, you top up your credit, select a data package in the customer area or in the app, and make a note of your new German cell phone number.
The right tariff
For everyday use, a package with data volume (for example, 5 to 15 GB for 28 or 30 days) and free minutes to German networks is practical.
Most prepaid plans run for 28 or 30 days and are only extended if there is sufficient credit available. You should pay attention to speed, data volume, and price, and consider how much mobile Internet you really need—for example, for navigation, messenger, e-mails, and online banking. If you need more data volume or stream a lot, you can usually find plans with 15 to 30 GB in the range of about 15 to 25 euros per four weeks. If you are staying in Germany for a longer period of time, have a permanent job, and a German bank account, you can switch from prepaid to a contract with a larger data volume and additional services at a later date.
Topping up credit and managing tariffs
Credit for prepaid tariffs can be purchased in supermarkets, drugstores, gas stations, or online. At the checkout, you will receive a receipt with a top-up code, which can be entered via speed dial or in your customer account. Many providers have their own apps where you can view your current credit balance, available data volume, and the end of your contract term, book or change rate options, and set up automatic top-ups.
For contracts, the monthly amount is automatically debited from your bank account; you can view invoices, add options, or cancel your contract after the minimum term has expired in the online customer area or in the app. Simple fixed-term contracts with smartphone flat rates and medium data volumes often start at around 20 to 30 euros per month, depending on the network and additional services.
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