This article explains what is a social security number in Germany, and how you can get it depending on your health insurance. 

What is a social security number in Germany?

If you have previously lived in Germany, you were probably given a Social Security number ‘Sozialversicherungsnummer’.

This is mandatory and is provided by the German Pension (Rentenversicherung) Office. It is necessary to be registered in Germany to apply for a German social security number, because the social security number can only be sent to a German address.

If you have received this number before, you can add it into our health insurance questionnaire. If not, you do not have to put in the information.

How to get my social security number? 

If you have a TK public health insurance via Expatrio:

TK will send you your social security number after you arrive in Germany and activate the insurance.

If you have a private health insurance (like our partners, DR-WALTER or ottonova) :

You need to get your social security number directly from your local German Pension (Rentenversicherung) Office or your employer can request it for you.

Please download the attachment for more details.