What is Schufa in Germany? #

Schufa stands for Schutzgemeinschaft für allgemeine Kreditsicherung which means “Protection Association for General Credit Security.” It’s Germany’s main credit rating agency. It assigns a credit score to residents based on their financial history. A good Schufa score makes it easier to rent an apartment, get a loan, or sign contracts. However, a poor score can cause problems some banks may even refuse to open a bank account.

When you apply for an apartment, landlords often ask for a Schufa-Bonitätsauskunft (credit report). This document shows your credit score and financial reliability, helping them decide whether to accept your application.

What information does Schufa have? #

Schufa keeps records such as:

• Bank accounts and credit cards
• Loans and repayment history
• Mobile phone or internet contracts
• Missed or late payments
• Court judgments about debts

It does not include your income, savings, or job information.

What is a Schufa score? #

Your SCHUFA score is a percentage value (between 0 % and 100 %) that represents how reliably you are expected to meet your financial obligations

SCHUFA Score Classes (New System 2023) #

• Outstanding (97.22 % and above)
  • Excellent credit rating and very low risk
  • Always pays bills and loans on time
  • Long, stable financial relationships (e.g., long-term bank accounts, credit cards)
  • About 74 % of people in Germany are in this category

• Good

  • Generally reliable and responsible with payments
  • Pays bills on time and maintains long-term accounts
  • Around 12.6 % of people belong to this group

• Acceptable

  • Mostly pays bills reliably, though accounts may be newer or shorter-term
  • Rare, minor payment delays may have occurred but were settled
  • Roughly 3.5 % of people are in this class

• Sufficient

  • May have higher financial commitments (e.g., installment loans)
  • Possible past payment issues, but debts have been cleared
  • About 0.8 % of people fall into this range

• Insufficient

  • Unpaid or ongoing debts (e.g., missed invoices or insolvency cases)
  • Credit score can only improve once debts are settled

Banks and landlords often ask for your score before giving you a loan or renting an apartment.

Check out our guide on How to get Schufa in Germany to understand how it works.