How to Get a SCHUFA Report in Germany: Free “Datenkopie” and a Report for Renting
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In Germany, a SCHUFA report isn’t just needed for loans. It’s often required when renting an apartment, applying for certain banking products, installment plans, or telecommunications contracts. If you’ve recently moved, it’s important to understand the difference between the free Datenkopie for personal use and the paid SCHUFA-BonitätsCheck / SCHUFA-BonitätsAuskunft, which you can show to a landlord.
What is SCHUFA
SCHUFA Holding AG is Germany’s largest credit bureau. The name comes from Schutzgemeinschaft für allgemeine Kreditsicherung. The company collects data on contractual obligations and payment history: bank accounts, loans, credit cards, cell phone contracts, installment plans, and overdue or disputed debts.
When a landlord, bank, or service provider requests a SCHUFA report, they usually want to assess the risk of non-payment. Important: SCHUFA does not store information about your salary, assets, profession, marital status, nationality, political views, or religion. The report primarily reflects data on your contractual and payment behavior.
An entry in SCHUFA often appears after your first steps in Germany: [[Anmeldung in Germany [How to Register Your Address] | registering your address]], opening a bank account, signing a cell phone contract, taking out a loan, getting a credit card, or making a purchase on an installment plan. If you’ve just arrived, SCHUFA may not yet have enough data on you. Therefore, before ordering a report for renting, it’s usually a good idea to wait a few weeks after signing your first contracts and registering your address.
Which SCHUFA report is needed in different situations
SCHUFA offers several formats, and it’s important not to confuse them.
| Situation | What to Request | Can It Be Shared with Third Parties? |
|---|---|---|
| Check what data is stored about you | Datenkopie under Art. 15 of the GDPR | No, this is a detailed copy of your personal data for your own use |
| Apply for an apartment | SCHUFA-BonitätsCheck or SCHUFA-BonitätsAuskunft | Yes, this document is intended to confirm creditworthiness |
| Must attach the document to the tenant application immediately | Digital BonitätsCheck | Yes, if the landlord accepts the digital version |
How to Get a SCHUFA Report for Free
The free option is called Kopie der personenbezogenen Daten nach Art. 15 DS-GVO or simply Datenkopie. You can request it on the meineSCHUFA portal. This report shows what personal data SCHUFA stores, where it came from, and to whom it was disclosed.
Typically, you’ll need to provide personal information and your address when making a request. For identification purposes, you may be asked to provide a copy of your passport and proof of registration, such as [[Anmeldung in Germany [How to Register Your Address] | Meldebescheinigung]]. The response isn’t a nice-looking certificate for renting, but rather a detailed copy of your data. Therefore, it’s best to use it for self-checking: to find errors, old addresses, incorrect entries, or inquiries from companies.
If there is an error in the Datenkopie, you can dispute it with SCHUFA and, if necessary, with the company that provided the incorrect information. This document is generally not suitable for renting an apartment: it contains more personal data than the landlord needs.
How to Get a SCHUFA Report for Renting an Apartment
For renting, you most often need a document that confirms your ability to pay without revealing unnecessary details. On the official SCHUFA website, this is the SCHUFA-BonitätsAuskunft or the digital SCHUFA-BonitätsCheck. As of 2026, the official digital BonitätsCheck is available for 29.95 euros; the paper version of the BonitätsAuskunft is also listed on the SCHUFA website at a price of 29.95 euros.
The paid version can be included in your apartment application package, sent to the landlord, or presented during a property viewing. If you need the document urgently, the digital version—which you can download after verification—is more convenient. If the landlord specifically requests a paper copy, check the format on the SCHUFA order page.
The ImmobilienScout24 service also offers a BonitätsCheck for renters. This is a useful option if you’re searching for housing through ImmobilienScout24 and want to attach the document to your application right away. Be sure to check the current terms and conditions before paying: subscriptions, included reports, and pricing are subject to change.
What to Do If You Don’t Have a SCHUFA Report Yet
Newcomers often face a problem: a SCHUFA report is required for a long-term apartment lease, but they haven’t yet established a credit history in Germany. This is normal, especially if you’ve just arrived and haven’t opened a bank account or signed any contracts yet.
What you can do:
- First, complete your registration, open a bank account, and set up basic contracts; then request the report after a few weeks.
- Start by looking for temporary housing that doesn’t require a German credit history: furnished apartments, serviced apartments, rooms in a WG (Wohngemeinschaft), or short-term rentals.
- Prepare alternative proof of financial solvency: an employment contract, recent bank statements, proof of a scholarship, a guarantor, or a Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung (certificate of no rental debt) from your previous landlord, if available.
- Be honest with your landlord and explain that you’ve only recently arrived in Germany and your SCHUFA report is currently empty or has not yet been established.
These documents may not always fully replace a SCHUFA report. In a competitive rental market, the landlord decides which forms of verification to accept.
What SCHUFA Score Is Considered Good
SCHUFA uses various scoring models and industry-specific assessments. In general-interest articles, you’ll often see the following guidelines: around 95% and above is considered good, and around 97% and above is considered very good. This is a useful rough scale, but it’s not a universal rule that applies to every bank or landlord.
Don’t view your credit score as the only deciding factor. For renting, income, job stability, a complete set of documents, the absence of negative entries, and the speed of your application are usually just as important. For a bank, its own internal criteria—which may differ from a landlord’s assessment—can be significant.
How to Maintain a Good Credit History in Germany
The basic principle is simple: less chaos in financial agreements and no late payments.
- Pay your bills, loans, rent, cell phone bills, and installment plans on time.
- Don’t open too many bank accounts or credit cards unless necessary.
- Close any unused accounts and cards if you no longer need them.
- Don’t apply for too many loans or credit cards in quick succession.
- Check your Datenkopie once a year and correct any errors.
- If you’ve missed a payment, resolve the issue with the creditor as quickly as possible and ask them to update your information with SCHUFA once it’s settled.
- Keep records of closed loans, accounts, and disputed claims.
General advice like “don’t move too often” is common, but its impact is hard to assess without context. It’s better to focus on verifiable factors: no outstanding debts, accurate information, and a clear financial history.
See also:
Getting a Loan in Germany as a Foreigner
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you send a free Datenkopie to a landlord?
Technically, you can show any document, but this is not recommended. A Datenkopie contains detailed personal information and is intended for your own review. For renting, it’s better to use the BonitätsCheck or BonitätsAuskunft.
How long does it take to receive your SCHUFA report after moving?
There is no set timeframe. If you’ve just registered and haven’t entered into any contracts yet, your report may be empty. After registration, opening a bank account, and signing your first contracts, it’s best to give the system some time to update your data.
Does a poor SCHUFA score always mean you’ll be denied a rental?
No, but the risk of rejection is higher. It all depends on the reason for the entry, how recent the data is, your income, competition for the apartment, and the specific landlord’s requirements.
Can an incorrect entry be removed?
Yes, if an entry is incorrect or outdated, you can dispute it. Start with SCHUFA and the company that reported the data. Keep all correspondence and proof of payment or contract termination.
Conclusion
For personal verification, use the free Datenkopie. When renting an apartment, you’ll usually need the paid SCHUFA-BonitätsCheck or SCHUFA-BonitätsAuskunft, which you can provide to the landlord. Newcomers to Germany should gather alternative documents in advance, because your credit history isn’t established on the day you move, but rather after your first contracts are signed and your data is updated with SCHUFA.
