Broadcasting Fee (Rundfunkbeitrag)

The Rundfunkbeitrag (broadcasting contribution) is a mandatory fee of €18.36 per month that funds Germany's public broadcasters (ARD, ZDF, Deutschlandfunk). Every household in Germany must pay it — regardless of whether you own a TV, radio, or even use any German media.

Yes, it feels weird. Yes, it's legal and enforced. And yes, you have to pay it — it's not a suggestion. Think of it like a public infrastructure fee: you pay for streetlights whether you go outside at night or not.

The fee is per household, not per person. So if you live in a WG (shared apartment), only one person needs to be registered as the payer.

This is where it gets important for students:

🏠 WG (shared apartment): Only ONE person per apartment needs to register and pay. The others can register as co-residents who are covered under the same household. Decide with your flatmates who will be the registered payer (and maybe split the cost informally via your shared expenses).

To exempt yourself as a co-resident: register at rundfunkbeitrag.de and indicate that your household is already registered. You'll need the Beitragsnummer (contribution number) of the person who's paying.

🏫 Student dormitory: This is different! Each individual room in a student dorm typically counts as its own household — meaning each student pays separately. The exception is if you share a room.

This catches many dorm students off guard. Budget for it.

Some people can apply for an exemption (Befreiung):

✅ BAföG recipients — If you receive BAföG (German student financial aid), you can apply for a full exemption. This is the most common student exemption.

✅ Students receiving other social benefits (ALG II, Sozialgeld, etc.)

✅ People with certain severe disabilities (with the 'RF' marking on their disability pass)

• Simply being a student does NOT qualify you for exemption.
• Not watching TV does NOT qualify you for exemption.
• Not speaking German does NOT qualify you for exemption.

To apply for exemption: Submit the exemption request online at rundfunkbeitrag.de with proof of your BAföG or social benefit status. The exemption must be renewed periodically (usually every year or whenever your BAföG period renews).

You should register within 1 month of moving in. Here's how:

• Go to rundfunkbeitrag.de (available in English)
• Click 'Wohnung anmelden' (Register a residence)
• Fill in your personal details and your address
• You'll receive a Beitragsnummer (contribution number) by mail
• Set up SEPA direct debit (Lastschrift) — this is the easiest payment method. Alternatively, you can pay by bank transfer every quarter.

Billing is quarterly: you'll pay €55.08 every three months.

What happens if you don't register? The Beitragsservice (collection agency) cross-references data from the Einwohnermeldeamt (residents' registration). They WILL find you — usually within 3–6 months — and you'll owe back-payments from the month you moved in. There's no way to avoid it retroactively, so you might as well register proactively and avoid the extra hassle.