German SIM Cards & Mobile Plans:
The 2026 Expat Guide
Everything newcomers need: how SIM registration works with a foreign passport, when prepaid beats a contract, and which network to pick.
Last updated: 12 July 2026 · checkeverything.de Redaktion
To get a German SIM card you need a passport, an address and about half an hour for the legally required identity check. Prepaid SIMs work without a credit check and cost from around 10 euros a month; contracts are cheaper per gigabyte but need a German bank account and a SCHUFA credit check. This guide walks you through registration, the prepaid-or-contract decision and the differences between Germany's four mobile networks.
Key takeaways
- Every SIM in Germany must be registered with ID, including prepaid (Section 172 of the Telecommunications Act).
- No SCHUFA history yet? Start with prepaid, switch to a contract later.
- Germany has four networks since late 2025: Telekom, Vodafone, O2 and 1&1.
- After the minimum term, contracts are cancellable monthly with one month of notice.
- Discount brands use the big networks: congstar (Telekom), Lidl Connect (Vodafone), ALDI Talk (O2).
How to get a German SIM card, step by step
German law requires identity verification for every SIM card, prepaid included. The rule is in Section 172 of the Telecommunications Act (TKG). There is no way around it, but the process is manageable once you know which verification route fits your documents.
1. Buy a starter pack
Supermarkets (ALDI, Lidl), electronics stores, phone shops or the provider's website. A prepaid starter kit typically costs around 10 to 15 euros and usually includes starting credit.
2. Verify your identity
EU citizens with an eID-capable card can often verify online in minutes. With a non-EU passport, video identification is hit-and-miss because some systems reject foreign documents. The most reliable route in that case is PostIdent: take your passport to a Deutsche Post branch, the clerk confirms your identity, done. In-store verification at a phone shop also works.
3. Activate and top up
Once verified, the SIM activates the same day in most cases. Top up online, via app or with vouchers from any supermarket checkout. Number portability is free by law if you later switch providers and want to keep your German number.
Prepaid or contract? The expat decision matrix
This is the question that matters most for newcomers, and the honest answer depends on how long you are staying and whether you have German banking set up yet.
| Prepaid | Contract (postpaid) | |
|---|---|---|
| SCHUFA credit check | No | Yes, almost always |
| German bank account (IBAN) | Not required | Required for direct debit |
| Commitment | None, stop any time | Usually 24 months minimum term |
| Price per GB | Higher | Lower, more data for the money |
| Best for | First months, short stays, uncertain plans | Settled residents, heavy data users |
A practical pattern: run prepaid for your first months while you open a bank account and build a SCHUFA record, then switch to a contract once the better per-gigabyte prices are worth the commitment. If SCHUFA is new territory for you, our guide on loans for foreigners in Germany explains how the credit scoring system treats newcomers.
The four German mobile networks compared
Germany had three networks for decades. Since late 2025 there is a fourth: 1&1 finished migrating its customers onto its own open-RAN 5G network and now operates independently. Nationwide, 5G reaches about 95 percent of German territory according to the Federal Network Agency (late 2025). The providers still differ:
| Network | 5G coverage | Avg. 5G download* | In short |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telekom | approx. 87% of German territory with 5G | 173.8 Mbps | best rural coverage, highest prices |
| Vodafone | approx. 75% of territory with 5G | 154.3 Mbps | strong in cities, 5G standalone rolled out |
| O2 | approx. 76% of territory with 5G | 114.5 Mbps | reaches 99% of the population, budget-friendly |
| 1&1 | expanding (target: 35% of households by end of 2026) | no comparison data yet | fourth network since late 2025, open RAN |
*Average 5G download speeds from the Opensignal Germany report, November 2025. Coverage figures: Federal Network Agency / EU monitoring, late 2025. Values change as networks expand.
Check coverage at your own address with the official dead-zone map of the Federal Network Agency before signing anything. National averages will not save you if your apartment sits in a dead spot and you just signed for 24 months.
eSIM in Germany: activate before you even land
Telekom, Vodafone and O2 all support eSIM for prepaid and contract plans. Instead of a plastic card you scan a QR code or activate through the provider's app. For expats this has two real advantages: you can keep your home-country SIM active in the second slot for banking SMS codes, and you can order and set up a German plan before your flight, so you are reachable from day one.
One caveat: the identity verification requirement applies to eSIM exactly as it does to physical SIMs, so with a non-EU passport you may still need PostIdent or an in-store check to complete activation.
What mobile plans cost in 2026
Rough orientation, as of July 2026: discounter prepaid with a small data package starts around 10 euros a month, mid-range allnet flats with 10 to 25 GB sit mostly between 15 and 40 euros, and unlimited plans at the network operators run around 40 to 60 euros. An ALDI Talk starter set costs 12.99 euros including 10 euros of credit. Prices move constantly with promotions, which is exactly what a comparison calculator is for.
Your cancellation rights (better than you think)
Since Germany's telecom law reform (in force since December 2021), contracts no longer auto-renew for another fixed year. After the minimum term, your contract continues indefinitely and you can cancel any time with one month of notice, in text form, so a simple email counts. The legal basis is Section 56 TKG. If a provider raises prices mid-contract, you get a special termination right.
Hidden costs to watch
Third-party charges (Drittanbietersperre)
Subscription traps can bill straight to your phone bill after one stray tap on an ad. Ask your provider for the free "Drittanbietersperre" (third-party block). The German consumer protection centres (Verbraucherzentrale) recommend it as a default.
EU roaming fair-use caps
EU roaming is included at home conditions, but your data allowance abroad can be capped below your domestic volume under fair-use rules. Check the roaming section of your plan before spending a month in Spain.
Non-EU roaming and one-off fees
Outside the EU, use Wi-Fi or a local eSIM rather than paying per megabyte. Also budget for possible one-time activation fees, and compare the average cost over the full contract term rather than a promotional first-month price. For paying abroad without foreign transaction fees, see our credit card comparison.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I get a German SIM card as a foreigner?
Buy a prepaid starter pack online, in a supermarket or at a phone shop, then complete the legally required identity check with your passport. Non-EU passport holders usually have the smoothest experience with PostIdent at a post office; video identification can reject non-EU documents. Once verified, the SIM is active the same day in most cases.
Can I get a mobile contract in Germany without SCHUFA?
Usually not. Postpaid contracts almost always involve a SCHUFA credit check and require a German bank account for direct debit. If you just arrived and have no SCHUFA history, start with prepaid. It needs no credit check and you can switch to a contract later.
Do I need a German address to buy a SIM card?
For registration you need to provide an address, and German law requires identity verification for every SIM (Section 172 of the Telecommunications Act). Providers differ in how strictly they handle foreign addresses, so a German address, even a temporary one, makes activation much easier.
Is eSIM available in Germany?
Yes. Telekom, Vodafone and O2 all offer eSIM for both prepaid and contract plans, and most current iPhones, Samsung and Google phones support it. You get a QR code or in-app activation instead of a plastic SIM, which is handy if you want to keep your home-country SIM active alongside the German one.
Which mobile network is best in Germany?
Telekom had the fastest average 5G download speed in the Opensignal test from November 2025 (173.8 Mbps), ahead of Vodafone (154.3 Mbps) and O2 (114.5 Mbps). O2 covers 99 percent of the population and is usually cheaper. Check coverage at your own address before deciding, averages do not help you in a dead spot.
How do I cancel a German mobile contract?
After the minimum term ends, you can cancel any time with one month of notice. Since the 2021 telecom law reform, contracts no longer auto-renew for another year. Cancellation in text form (email) is valid, and providers must offer an online cancellation button.
Does my German plan work in other EU countries?
Yes, EU roaming is included at domestic conditions ("roam like at home"). Note that providers may apply a fair-use data cap abroad that is lower than your domestic allowance, so check your plan details before a longer stay in another EU country.
Are discount brands like ALDI Talk reliable?
Yes. Discount brands rent capacity in the main networks: congstar runs on Telekom, Lidl Connect on Vodafone, ALDI Talk on O2. You may get lower maximum speeds and slower support than with the network operators themselves, but the underlying coverage is the same.
Bottom line for newcomers
Start with prepaid, verify via PostIdent if you carry a non-EU passport, and check the coverage map for your actual address before committing to anything with a minimum term. Once your bank account and SCHUFA record exist, a contract usually gets you more data for less money, and thanks to the 2021 reform you are never trapped for more than a month after the minimum term. Sorting out your other German essentials too? We have English guides to home internet (DSL) and loans in Germany.