Mobile Phone & Internet in Germany — SIM Card and Contract

Prepaid or contract (Vertrag)?

When starting in Germany, you have two options:
- Prepaid — no contract and no SCHUFA check; you can buy a SIM card in a supermarket, drugstore or online, and top up as needed. Perfect for beginners. No top-ups for an extended period means automatic deactivation.
- Handyvertrag (contract) — cheaper for large data packages, but requires an account and positive SCHUFA.

Every SIM card must be activated with identity verification (passport, ID or residence permit, e.g. via Post or VideoIdent).

What you need for a contract

• identity document,
• bank account for direct debit — open a Girokonto,
• registration address, i.e. first register,
• positive SCHUFA (for standard contracts).

Mindestvertragslaufzeit and termination

Maximum Mindestvertragslaufzeit is 24 months; the operator must also offer a 12-month variant. Since the TKG amendment on 01.12.2021, contracts do not automatically renew for another year — after the first period you can terminate it at any time with one month's notice. Home internet works similarly. Prepaid does not need to be terminated — you simply stop topping up your account.