Credit card application documents in Germany

The most important documents

For a genuine credit or charge card, have the following ready:

• A valid ID card (Personalausweis) or passport
• Proof of address if your address is not on your ID – a passport contains no address, so a registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung) from your local registration office helps
• Proof of income if the bank asks for it, e.g. your latest payslips
• The IBAN of your reference account for the monthly direct debit
• A smartphone and an email address for identity verification, contract documents and the card app

Which documents for which card type?

How much you have to prove depends mainly on whether the bank grants you a credit line. Many providers initially don't ask for documents even for credit cards, and only request them if your details or the report from SCHUFA, Germany's main credit bureau, raise questions.

Proof of income by occupation

What counts as proof of income depends on your situation:

• Employees: your last two to three payslips
• Self-employed and freelancers: your latest income tax assessment (Einkommensteuerbescheid) or a business management report (BWA)
• Pensioners: your latest pension notice (Rentenbescheid) or a bank statement showing the pension payment
• Students: a BAföG notice (German state student aid) or proof of a part-time job – not every bank accepts this for a card with a credit line
• Civil servants (Beamte): your latest salary statement (Bezügemitteilung)

Digital instead of paper: income check via account access

Some providers offer to check your income digitally: during the application you log in to your online banking and allow the bank to view the incoming payments of recent months. This saves you uploading payslips and speeds up the decision. Read beforehand which data will be accessed; if that goes too far for you, you can usually upload documents the traditional way instead.

How the identity check works

Under the German Money Laundering Act (Geldwäschegesetz), banks must establish your identity beyond doubt. Common methods are VideoIdent via smartphone or webcam, the online ID function of the German ID card (eID) and PostIdent at a post office branch. VideoIdent is usually done within a few minutes but requires a stable connection and good lighting.

Keep your ID to hand and check beforehand that it is still valid. If your name, date of birth and address match your application exactly, you avoid follow-up queries.

How long does processing take?

Once your application is complete and your identity has been verified, the decision often comes quickly, sometimes instantly. The card is then sent by post, which can take a few working days. Many providers make a digital card available in advance so you can already pay with your smartphone.

Missing or illegible documents are the most common reason for delays. Upload your documents complete and clearly legible, ideally as a PDF or a sharp photo.

Frequently asked questions about application documents

Do I always need proof of income for a credit card?

No. Many banks decide first based on your details and the SCHUFA report and only ask for documents if needed. For debit and prepaid cards, proof of income is usually not required at all.

Is a passport enough for the application?

For identity verification, yes. Because a passport does not show your address, banks then usually also ask for proof of address such as a registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung).

Do I have to send documents by post?

Usually not. Today the application, identity verification and supporting documents are almost always handled digitally; you upload documents in the application or in the app.