Your German social insurance number, explained
The Sozialversicherungsnummer follows you for life and is needed for almost every job, payslip and benefit application. Here's what it is, how to get one, and how it differs from your tax ID.
Five things to know about your social insurance number
If you're working in Germany, you already have one, or you're about to. Here's how it works.
Issued by Deutsche Rentenversicherung
The 12-character number is issued by the German pension insurance, not by your health insurer or employer. It's tied to you, not to a specific job.
It's permanent
Once issued, it never changes. Even if you change jobs, move cities, or leave Germany and return, the same number applies for life.
Where to find it
Look on your Versicherungsnummernachweis (until 2023 the Sozialversicherungsausweis), your payslip under "SV-Nummer", or in letters from the Deutsche Rentenversicherung.
The format
12 characters: 2 digits (area code), 6 digits (compressed date of birth), 1 letter (first letter of your birth surname), 2 digits and 1 check digit.
When you'll need it
Starting any job, registering for social security, claiming unemployment or parental benefits, transferring pension contributions, or filing certain tax forms.
How to get your number, and where to find it
You almost never apply for the number yourself. When you start your first job, or register with a statutory (public) health insurer, they request it from the Deutsche Rentenversicherung for you. It then arrives by post, usually within one to six weeks, on a document called the Versicherungsnummernachweis (until 2023 the Sozialversicherungsausweis). You can legally start working before it arrives; it only needs to be on file by your first regular payslip. The number itself is 12 characters, for example 12 123456 A 123: an area code, your date of birth in compressed form, the first letter of your birth surname, and a check digit. Once issued, you can always find it again on any payslip under "SV-Nummer", on letters from the Deutsche Rentenversicherung, or by asking your Krankenkasse.
- Requested for you by your employer or public health insurer, not applied for directly.
- Arrives by post in 1 to 6 weeks on your Versicherungsnummernachweis.
- Later, find it on any payslip under "SV-Nummer" or on pension insurance letters.
Social insurance number vs tax ID
The two numbers newcomers mix up most. You need both, and they come from different offices.
Social insurance number
Sozialversicherungsnummer / SVNR
Tax ID
Steueridentifikationsnummer
At a glance
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Both numbers are issued once and stay with you for life. Neither replaces the other.
What the number is called, and the 2023 change
The same number turns up under several names, and on a document that was renamed in 2023, which is exactly why newcomers think they have several different IDs. Here is the plain version.
Many names, one number
Sozialversicherungsnummer, SV-Nummer, SVNR, Rentenversicherungsnummer and RVNR all mean the same 12-character ID.
The 2023 rename
Since January 2023 the old Sozialversicherungsausweis is issued as the Versicherungsnummernachweis. New name and layout, identical number.
Lost it? The number stays
Request a free replacement Versicherungsnummernachweis from the Deutsche Rentenversicherung online, and the same number is reprinted.
You only need it on file
You do not have to memorise it. A photo of a payslip showing the "SV-Nummer" line is enough for everyday admin.
Public or private? It changes who applies
There is one case where the number does not simply turn up in your postbox. If you take private health insurance, no public Krankenkasse is involved to request it for you, so the number has to be applied for separately, usually through your insurer or directly with the Deutsche Rentenversicherung. This catches out a lot of newcomers who go private in their first months. If you are weighing up private health insurance in Germany, this is one of several small administrative steps we handle for you when we set up your cover. Still getting the basics in place after arriving? Our newcomer guide walks through the first-90-days paperwork in the right order.
- Public health insurance requests the number for you automatically.
- With private cover, it is applied for separately, and we take care of it.
- One of several first-months admin steps we handle when you set up cover.
Social insurance number FAQs
Setting up life in Germany?
From your social insurance number to the right health cover, we help English-speaking newcomers get set up in Germany, free and without the jargon.
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