After you find an apartment you love, you must apply for it. When you apply, you usually include a Schufa Bonitätsauskunft. This document shows your Schufa score. It's a bit like a credit score. A good Schufa score shows that you can pay your rent on time every month.

Do you have a Schufa record?

You get a Schufa record when you open a bank account or a cellphone contract for the first time1.

If just moved to Germany, you might not have a Schufa record. There is no information about you. Just tell the landlord that you just moved to Germany. Most landlords will understand.

Do you need a Schufa?

Most landlords ask for a Schufa when you apply for an apartment.

Most furnished apartments (from Homelike, Spotahome, Wunderflats) do not ask for a Schufa. It can be a good way to find your first apartment, even if you don't have a job or you are in your probation period. These furnished apartments are much more expensive.

How to get a Schufa for free

You have the right to see the data Schufa Holding AG has about you. This is why you can request a free Schufa report. It looks different from the 30€ report, but it has the same information1. This free Schufa report has all the information your landlord needs1.

This is how you get a free Schufa:

  1. On this page, request a SCHUFA-Datenkopie.
  2. Enter your information and submit the form. You can include scans of your passport and a Meldebescheinigung, but it's not required.

You will get your Schufa Datenkopie by mail a few days later. You can only get it by mail, not by email.

How to get a Schufa quickly

If you need a Schufa now, you can get one from a bank, or from ImmobilienScout24's Schufa service. This is not free.

At the bank

Postbank and Volksbank branches will print your Schufa report, even if you are not a customer. This costs €29.95. Use the branch locator on meinschufa.de to find where to do it. This is the fastest way to get a Schufa.

  1. Go to a Postbank or Volksbank branch.
  2. Ask for a Schufa report.

With ImmobilienScout24

If you have a printer at home, you can get a Schufa from ImmobilienScout24 and print it yourself. It costs €29.95, but you can download and print it instantly.

This service does not work for everyone. You must verify your identity with your bank. Not all banks can do this. If your bank is not supported, you must send a verification document by mail and wait a few days. You can ask for a refund on their live chat.

How to request a Schufa on ImmobilienScout24:

  1. Fill the form on this page.
  2. Enter your payment information.
  3. Verify your identity with GiroIdent. If that does not work, you must verify your identity by mail. This takes a few days, so it's easier to ask for a refund and get your Schufa from Postbank or Volksbank.

Directly from Schufa Holding AG

You can request a Schufa directly from SCHUFA Holding AG. This the company that collects Schufa scores.

This costs 30€. You will get your Schufa by mail in 1 to 3 days.

Request a Schufa — meineSchufa

What's next?

Once you have your Schufa, you are ready to look for an apartment. After you find your apartment, you can leave your old apartment, pay the deposit, move in, and register your address.