Are you starting a job and your employer is asking you for your SVNR? Well, if you don't speak German and you don't know what a Sozialversicherungsnummer (or SVNR) is, then you might be completely lost.
So, what's a Sozialversicherungsnummer?
SVNR or Sozialsversicherungsnummer/Rentenversicherungsnummer (social insurance number) is a 12 digit number which is generated and designated to each person born in Germany. People who migrate to Germany get one at the latest when they take up employment subject to social insurance contributions (mini-job and student contracts excluded).
Your SVNR comes in this format: e.g. 11 111111 A 111. It is divided in four parts:
First two numbers represent the area number of the office that registered you.
The following six numbers represent your birth date. If you are born on November 11, 1111, it would be “111111”.
The first letter of your last name at birth. If your last name at birth is Anon, it would be “A”.
The last part is used to differentiate you from people with the same name and birth date.
Why do I need it and how do I get it?
Your employer is in charge of paying your social contributions together with taxes when paying out your salary. They need this number to identify you with pension insurance and send your monthly contributions accordingly.
When you signup for public health insurance, it will be automatically generated and sent to you via post by the pension insurance (Deutsche Rentenversicherung). This usually takes 2-3 weeks.
If you signed up for private health insurance, you can request the SVNR directly from the officials. They will send it to you by post at your registered address. This will also take about 2-3 weeks.
If you are starting employment soon, your employer might request it from you urgently in order to finalize the work contract. Previously, you had to provide it to them, but as of January 2023, the law mandates the employer to get the number directly from the pension insurance, regardless of if you signed up for public or private health insurance.