What is Schufa?
SCHUFA is Germany’s largest private credit agency. It collects data from banks, mobile network operators, online shops and other companies: accounts, loans, contracts and unpaid debts. From this it calculates a score showing how reliably you pay. Landlords use it to judge whether you will pay the rent on time.
How to get your Schufa data
- Free data copy (Datenkopie under Art. 15 GDPR): order it on the SCHUFA website or by post. It lists all data stored about you and is sent by post; this can take a few weeks.
- Free SCHUFA account: since March 2026 you can see your score and your data online on the SCHUFA website or in its app. You have to identify yourself online, for example with the online ID function (eID).
- SCHUFA-BonitätsCheck (about €30): a certificate made for landlords. It contains only what a landlord needs, without details of your contracts, and is available as a PDF right after identification.
The full data copy contains much more information than a landlord needs. If you give it to a landlord instead of the BonitätsCheck, you may black out details that are not relevant to the tenancy.
The new score
Since March 2026, SCHUFA has used a new score from 100 to 999 points. It is calculated from 12 criteria that you can see in your account. The higher the score, the better your creditworthiness.
Just arrived and no Schufa yet?
SCHUFA only stores data once you have, for example, opened a bank account or signed a contract in Germany. An empty file is not a negative entry, but landlords may ask for other proof. Offer alternatives:
- an employment contract and salary slips, or a confirmation from your employer;
- bank statements showing regular income and rent payments;
- written confirmation that the Jobcenter or social welfare office will cover the rent;
- a guarantee (Bürgschaft) from someone with a stable income in Germany;
- a reference from your previous landlord, even from abroad.
Open a German current account as early as possible — that is usually when your SCHUFA file starts.
How to keep a good score
- pay bills, rent and instalments on time and do not ignore payment reminders (Mahnungen);
- check your data once a year with the free data copy or in your account;
- have wrong entries corrected — SCHUFA must correct inaccurate data free of charge;
- do not apply for many loans and credit cards within a short time.
Beware of websites that charge for a “free Schufa” or promise to delete negative entries. Official information and documents are available directly from SCHUFA.
Next steps: read how to find a flat in Berlin and browse the Flat-Radar catalog.