A mobile plan (Handytarif) is your package for calls, text messages and mobile internet. In Germany, you need a German mobile number for many things: for finding a flat, for the bank, for work and for appointments at public offices. Everyone who wants to use a German SIM card needs a plan. At the start, a plan without a long commitment makes sense. This means you can end it quickly if your plans change.
There are two types of plans. With prepaid, you pay in advance. You top up credit (Guthaben) on your card. Credit is money that you then use up. With a contract (Vertrag), you get a bill every month. Many contracts today can be cancelled monthly (monatlich kündbar). Cancelling (kündigen) means you end the contract.
What you need
- A valid passport or ID card (Personalausweis). Every provider in Germany must check who you are. This is called an identity check (Identitätsprüfung). This also applies to prepaid cards.
- An address in Germany. Some providers also want to see a registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung). This is the paper you get after registering your address.
- For a contract: a bank account with an IBAN. The IBAN is your international account number. The provider takes the money from your account every month. Read more under Opening a bank account.
- For a contract, often: a Schufa check. Schufa is a company. It collects information about whether people pay their bills. Read more under Understanding and building your Schufa.
- A phone without a SIM lock. A SIM lock is a block. The phone then only works with cards from one specific provider.
- For an eSIM: a compatible phone. An eSIM is a digital SIM card. It is built into the phone.
- An email address. Many providers send the contract and bills by email.
Step by step
- Check what you need. How much internet do you need on the go? The amount is called data volume (Datenvolumen) and is measured in gigabytes (GB). Do you often call abroad? Do you often travel to other EU countries?
- Choose the type of plan. Prepaid is good if you want full control over your costs or don't have an account yet. A contract you can cancel monthly is convenient if you already have an account.
- Pay attention to the term. The minimum term (Mindestlaufzeit) is the period during which you cannot end the contract. Look for plans "without a minimum term" (ohne Mindestlaufzeit) or "cancellable monthly" (monatlich kündbar).
- Check the network. There are several mobile networks in Germany. Reception is not equally good everywhere. Providers show coverage maps on their websites. Check your home and your workplace.
- Compare plans. At the bottom of this page, you can compare plans without a smartphone. Look at the costs for the whole period, not just the first month. Some plans become more expensive after a few months.
- Order the plan. You can do this online or in a shop.
- Confirm your identity. This is often done by video identification (Video-Ident): you show your ID in a video call. With some providers, you can also do it at a post office or directly in the shop.
- Activate the SIM card. Insert the card or activate the eSIM. Enter the PIN. The PIN is a short secret number for your card.
- Share your new number. Give the number to your bank, your employer, your health insurance fund (Krankenkasse) and your landlord.
- Keep your documents. Keep the contract, your customer number and the PUK in a safe place. You need the PUK if you enter the wrong PIN too many times.
Costs and deadlines
Prices vary a lot. So always compare several offers.
- Minimum term: In Germany, a contract may run for a maximum of 24 months at the start. After this period, you can cancel it any month. The notice period (Kündigungsfrist) is then one month. The notice period is the time between your cancellation and the end of the contract.
- Right of withdrawal (Widerrufsrecht): If you order online or by phone, you can usually withdraw from the contract within 14 days. Withdrawing (widerrufen) means you cancel your order without giving a reason.
- Prepaid: There is no fixed term here. Before ending it, ask what happens to your remaining credit.
- Travelling in the EU: In other EU countries, you can usually use your plan at no extra cost. This is called roaming. However, calls from Germany to other countries are often not included in the plan.
Common problems for newcomers
You don't have a Schufa record yet. For a contract, many providers check your Schufa. People who are new to Germany often have no data there yet. The provider may then reject the contract. One solution is prepaid. There is usually no Schufa check for it. Later, you can switch and keep your number.
You don't have a registered address yet. For the identity check, you usually need an address in Germany. Ask the provider which documents they accept. Register your address (Anmeldung) at the citizens' office (Bürgeramt) as early as possible. The Bürgeramt is the office in your town for registrations. Read more under Registering your address.
You don't have a German account yet. You can often buy prepaid credit with cash, for example at the checkout in a supermarket. You then get a code and use it to top up. For a contract, an account in a country of the SEPA area is often accepted. The SEPA area is a region in Europe with shared rules for bank transfers.
You speak little German. Some providers have websites and apps in English. Before the video identification, ask which languages it is available in. In a shop, you can bring someone who speaks German. Don't sign anything you don't understand.
Your phone doesn't work with the new card. Your phone may have a SIM lock. Ask the provider in your home country whether they can remove the lock.
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring my number from my home country?
No. You cannot transfer a foreign number to a German plan. But many phones have space for two SIM cards. This way you can use both numbers. Keep an eye on the costs of your old card abroad.
Do I need a Schufa check for prepaid?
Usually not, since you pay in advance. But you still need an identity check.
Can I switch providers later and keep my German number?
Yes. This is called number porting (Rufnummernmitnahme). Ask your old provider whether there is a fee for this.
Do I have to buy a phone together with the plan?
No. If you already have a phone, a plan without a device is enough. This is called SIM-only. This keeps you flexible.
What else do I need for home?
For your flat, you often need a separate connection as well. Read more under Internet for your home.