Home » Credit » Schufa Score

What is a Schufa Score? [How To Improve It?]

Author: Reviewer:

Last Updated:

|

Views:

424

Key takeaways

  • Schufa changed its scoring system on 17 March 2026. You can learn about the new Schufa scoring system here.
  • Schufa is a credit rating agency. It collects customer data from partner companies (e.g. banks, telecom providers) and shares relevant credit information with them.
  • You have the right to access your data for free via the SCHUFA app or at app.schufa.de. Your base score is updated quarterly.
  • SCHUFA does not store data indefinitely. For example, settled payment defaults are typically stored for three years, though earlier deletion may be possible under specific conditions.
  • If you are new to Germany, you won’t have a Schufa entry. Your Schufa entry will be created once you open a bank account or get a telephone contract, utility contract, or credit card. 

This is how you do it

  • Create a free SCHUFA account. Register via the official website or app to access your personal data and score.
  • Complete identity verification either online or through postal identification.
  • Review your data regularly. Check that all stored information is accurate and up to date. If you find errors, you can request corrections by providing supporting documents.
  • Check other credit bureaus. It’s also worth reviewing your records with agencies like CRIF Bürgel or Arvato Infoscore. This ensures that your financial identity is consistent and correct across all agencies

Table of Contents

What is Schufa in Germany?

Schufa is an agency that collects customer data from different companies (contractual partners). The data includes your personal and financial information. 

Schufa, in return, provides this customer data to companies. Companies can use this information to get an idea of ​​their consumers’ financial situation, especially their creditworthiness.

As of March 2026, Schufa assigns each customer a single, transparent score between 100 and 999 points. This score is calculated using 12 specific criteria, including your payment history, the age of your bank accounts, and your credit card usage.

You can also think of a Schufa score as a credit rating. The higher your point total, the better your chances of getting favorable contract terms, lower interest rates, or a new apartment

How does Schufa calculate your score?

As of March 17, 2026, the Schufa score is calculated using a single-point scale based on 12 criteria. Here are the parameters used to determine your creditworthiness:

  • Payment defaults: Information on your past payment behavior, including bills or loans not paid as agreed.
  • Number of inquiries or transactions for current accounts and credit cards (within the last 12 months). The fewer inquiries, the better.
  • Non-bank inquiries (within the last 12 months): Creditworthiness checks from outside the banking sector (e.g., retailers, phone providers). The fewer inquiries, the better.
  • Instalment loans taken (within the last 12 months): The fewer loans you have, the better.
  • Longest remaining term of instalment loans: The shorter the remaining time, the better.
  • Credit status: Successfully repaid loans improve your score, while outstanding loans reduce it.

For these parameters, the longer you have them, the more they prove you handle finances responsibly:

  • Age of current address
  • Age of the oldest credit card
  • Age of the oldest bank contract
  • Age of the most recent credit line: A flexible credit line initially lowers your score, but improves once it is older than 2 years

For these parameters, you receive the full point value as soon as the condition is met:

  • Real estate loan: If you have an active mortgage or act as a guarantor for one
  • Identity verification: If a formal identity check (like a PostIdent or ID card check) is reported to SCHUFA

Learn more about the pointing system of the new Schufa scoring ->

How long does Schufa store your information?

Since the March 2026 changes, consumers can now see exactly what information is used for their score and what is not based on the twelve criteria.

If you settle a past debt, it remains on your record as a “settled payment default” for exactly three years to the day, but its negative impact on your score gradually decreases throughout that period.

Additionally, SCHUFA acts as a “mirror image” for entries sourced from public directories like the debtor register. This means that these entries are automatically deleted the moment they are removed from the original official database.

What do you need a good Schufa score for?

Banks and companies ask for a Schufa score to assess your creditworthiness. Here are the most common cases when you need a good Schufa score.

  • Applying for a loan (Car loan, personal loan, mortgage, etc.)
  • Taking a new credit card
  • Shopping online and want to pay in installments
  • Cell phone companies, when offering a new phone in installments
  • Landlords to ensure the tenant has no residual rent payments

Tips on renting a property in Germany ->

The banks and companies don’t only consider the Schufa score while concluding a contract. They also collect other information from you, like your current income, marital status, etc., while doing the risk assessment. 

How can you improve your Schufa score? ->

How do you get a copy of your Schufa score?

You can access the SCHUFA score digitally and free of charge at any time. There are two options

  • Open the browser-based platform at app.schufa.de 
  • Download the official SCHUFA app for iOS and Android

To get started, you’ll need to create a new account. Once logged in, you can access:

  • Your current score, including a breakdown across the 12 scoring criteria
  • A record of companies that have requested your data in the past 12 months

This information is updated quarterly. You can also:

  • Report and correct inaccurate data
  • Use built-in tools to simulate financial decisions (e.g. taking a loan or credit card) and see how they may affect your score

Alternative ways to get your Schufa score

While the free version has become more accessible in 206, many sectors are still transitioning to reflect these changes. Many landlords, for example, still prefer paid certificates.

There are several ways to obtain a SCHUFA report:

  • If you already use Bonify, you can typically view your SCHUFA data and updated score there without registering again. Bonify also advertises free access to SCHUFA and score information.
  • Get a paid creditworthiness certificate from meineSchufa.de*. This is usually preferred by landlords and rental applications.
  • Use other paid services. Companies like ImmobilienScout24, Postbank, and Volksbank offer this option.

What happens if you don’t have a Schufa score?

If you’re new to Germany and don’t have any financial activity (e.g., open a bank account, take out a loan), Schufa will not have any data about you.

SCHUFA also deliberately refrains from calculating a score if a person has been known to them for less than six months and does not yet have a bank contract.

Without a score, banks will not have a basis to assess your creditworthiness. This can lead to:

  • Rejection of applications for credit cards, loans, or even mobile phone contracts.
  • Requests for additional guarantees or security deposits.

What can you do if you don’t have a Schufa entry yet?

1. Provide alternative documents if you are asked to show a Schufa report. You provide the following documents.

  • Proof of income
  • Employment contract
  • German registration certificate 
  • Bank statements from your home-country bank

2. Use prepaid or debit credit cards: Fintech providers like C24, Revolut, bunq, or N26 often don’t require a Schufa check. You can open a free bank account with these providers and get a prepaid or debit credit card. Making online purchases with these cards helps you build your credit history in Germany.

Best bank accounts in Germany ->

How to open a bank account when you don’t have a Schufa entry? ->

3. Choose services and providers that don’t rely on SCHUFA. 

4. Start building credit to establish a financial record that Schufa can use as a basis. You can do this in many ways, such as

Best bank accounts in Germany ->

How to open a bank account when you don’t have a Schufa entry? ->

FAQ

Why is my Schufa score different than my bank’s internal score?

Your Schufa score gives a general assessment of your creditworthiness. However, banks also use their own internal scoring models in addition to the information from Schufa.

Does consolidating loans affect your SCHUFA score?

Yes, consolidating loans can improve your Schufa score. Having one larger consolidated loan generally looks better on your SCHUFA report than having multiple smaller ones.

Moreover, repaying and closing the older loans as part of consolidation can further improve your score by showing responsible credit management.

Does my Schufa score affect visa or residency approvals?

No, immigration authorities don’t consider Schufa scores in their visa or residency decisions.

Do frequent inquiries from banks or shops lower my score?

Yes, frequent inquiries can lower your scores sometimes. However, Schufa now uses a 28-day rule, which means that multiple inquiries for the same type of product (e.g., loans or credit cards) within 28 days are usually treated as one event.

More topics

References
Author: Reviewer:

Tags:

Categories:

Follow us:

Did you find it helpful?

What can we improve?
Please share your feedback
Your feedback matters to us.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this post is based on our own experience and in-depth research. The content of this post might be inaccurate. It should not be considered financial, tax, legal, or any kind of advice.

We are not certified brokers or consultants. Always do your own research and contact certified professionals before making any decision.​ GermanPedia disclaims any and all liability for damages or losses arising from the use of this document.

We finance our extensive work via affiliate links. Thus, some or all of the links in the post might be affiliate links. We get money if you click on such a link or conclude a contract with the provider without costing you a cent extra. 

All links marked with the "*" are affiliate links.

Support Us

More on GermanPedia

Scroll to Top