Social insurance card - Sozialversicherungsausweis

After being happily employed for the past four months in Munich, and going thru the fun of getting (I thought) all the legal documents worked out, I am now being hounded by the payroll staff for my "Sozialversicherungsausweis".

While I feel good that I understand the German word(s) and what they are asking for, I am totally lost on the German process of getting one of these "pink papers".

Can anyone help on who to call / where to go?

Bear in mind that I am an non-EU citizen - let's just say from a North American country that seems content to have the village idiot running the place.

I got mine from the Arbeitsamt, I do believe. There is some office there to register.

It usually takes 4-8 months to get it, and it come automactically in the mail, it's in four languages (including English) and says something like, "This is a very important document, never loose it".

You will tell when you get it, as it's one of the only official German documents in English. Remember you're in Germany, things here take forever to process, especially government stuff.

I received mine in the mail shortly after I was employed but there were no English documents included with it. I did not have to do anything...it came automatically.

It is fairly straightforward though when you do get it...what you need to do...you basically put it together yourself with a passport photo.

Strange, I got mine unannounced in the mail one day, after I had been working for the same company for about, oh, 5 or 6 years. Haven't ever needed it, no one has ever asked for it, I have never put the picture in it, but have it tucked into my passport just in case.

it's a bit of a weird one ...if i remember rightly, it used to be several years ago that you were supposed to have it on you in the workplace ...however in reality, no one would ever ask you for it and it was automatically sent to you sooner or later after you started work. in no way did it affect filling out tax returns and the like ... if anything check with your HR people or Steuerberater

You need to go and talk to these folks. I went in and three weeks later, as promised, my card came in the mail.

Bundesversicherungsanstalt fuer Angestalte

Here's where you can find/reach them in Munich:

80331 München, Viktualienmarkt 8
Telefon:089 51081-0
Fax:089 51081-190
E-Mail: bfa.in.muenchen@bfa.de

Öffnungszeiten:
Mo. - Mi.8.00-15.00 Uhr
Do.8.00-18.00 Uhr
Fr. 8.00-13.00 Uhr

Have fun!

...well done. I went there recently myself, but couldn't remember the name or address. I was wondering how long it would take for someone to post this. I think the problem is that many firms will apply for this for you.

While you are there, you can also pick up a few brochures (in english, I think) about Social Security agreements between Germany and your home country.

Funny. I got mine when I told my health insurance that I needed one.

Thanks for the help everyone.

Just to bring closure on your advice, I decided to go thru all the mail that had piled over the past months - and what do you know, there it was with a paper saying "very important - keep for your records - do not throw away".

If only it had a note saying "be sure to remember that you threw this very important paper into a pile that you will one of these days organise".

Wow, one little Anmeldung and you get all kinds of stuff from the Deutsch-ies.

Mine came in the mail after my visit to the KVR to register residence. Not sure how long it took, maybe a month or so?

I have been told by HR you can get this in Munich from the following:

Deutsche Rentenversicherung
Viktualienmarkt 8
80331 München

Tel.: 089/51081-0
Fax: 089/51081-190
E-Mail: service.in.muenchen@drv-bund.de

Waoo!! TT is getting better everyday!!! Now I only have to think about what I want to find and it suddenly comes right up in the list of new topics!!! Thank you aurora for asking and mellelisa for the reply.

It's usually mailed to you about 1-2 months after you first register in Germany.

Good morning all! Bumping this topic up in the hopes of additional info.

Foreigner's Office Stuttgart (FO-S) has advised that they will only extend my resident permit if I secure a job. To date, I have been offered several freelance positions, and none have been acceptable to the FO-S.

It has finally come to light that the FO-S will only approve a position (and thus permit) with Sozialversicherung. Requesting clarification, I was told that a freelance position would be considered, but that is needed to be "eligible" for Sozialversicherung. When I asked how I can determine whether a position is eligible, they told me to first find (yet another) job, then go to the "AOK" who will advise on whether the job is eligible, and if so, bring the contract to the FO-S for review. Does this sound correct to you???

I've already interviewed and been "hired" for several positions that were later declined...wasting many peoples time and efforts and with the time ticking away on the current Fiktions-permit.

An address was given in Munich for obtaining a Sozialversichrung card---anyone know the address for Stuttgart? I just stroll in and ask for a card or do I need a contract in hand? I'm desperately confused about whether freelance position are actually eligible, who gives the okay and how I obtain this paperwork before I receive the heave ho.

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

I should mention that I have private health insurance and enough to finance my stay, but the FO-S insists on me having Sozialversicherung. I found this site: Deutsche Sozialversicherung but it is helping very little. Thx.

Hi Kanada,

I don't have information on your specific case, but the Deutsche Rentenversicherung people in Baden-Württemberg have a website here (all in German though) and an 0800 number you can call (0800 100048024). Though the last time I had to call one of those, that was all in German too.

HTH.

This info was very helpful! Ah, the bureacracy of living in Germany...gotta love it!

You need a new social security number?
You call or mail or visit the social security people or your employer does it.
They issue one.

Same as just about anywhere else in the indstrialised world, oder?

So the following two websites should be somewhat useful (but they're in German):
Official Deutsche Rentenversicherung Site
Wikipedia: sozialversicherungsausweis

From what I understand, it states that you should automatically receive this some time
after you are issued a Rentenversicherungsnummer. Your first employer should request
this through your health insurance company (which you are required to have). And then
the responsible party (Rentenversicherungstraeger), which seems to be tied to your health
insurance company, should send you the card.

That does not seem entirely helpful if your have an employer asking you for the ausweis
(ID card) and you haven't received it yet in the mail.

However, you should be able to find your Rentenversicherungsnummer on the tax forms
you receive after working at your first job.

The actual ausweis only contains the following information anyway:

• Rentenversicherungsnummer
• Your name and birthdate
• The official institution who issued the ausweis
• Date of issuance