Which German broker accepts your residence permit?
Opening your first Depot (brokerage account) as a non-EU newcomer isn’t about the lowest fee — it’s about who will actually verify your Aufenthaltstitel. Seven German brokers, ranked by how newcomer-friendly the onboarding is. Educational methodology, never advice.
All 7 are German brokers → they auto-handle your German tax
Because they’re German-domiciled, they withhold Abgeltungsteuer and the annual Vorabpauschale for you — a big advantage over foreign brokers (e.g. IBKR) where you must self-declare and pre-pay the tax yourself.
7 brokers
Eligibility for non-EU nationals changes — always confirm your permit situation with the broker before relying on any of this.
#1
Scalable Capital
Best for newcomers
Video-ID; if a non-EU passport fails, you get a QR code → Postident at any Deutsche Post branch with passport + Aufenthaltstitel. Needs a German address.
English: full app + support
Sparplan
Free (from €1); PRIME ETFs free from €250
Depotgebühr
€0 (Free plan) · €4.99/mo PRIME+
Order-Kosten
€0.99/trade · free ≥ €250 on PRIME ETFs
Best for: The safe first broker — Postident works with a residence permit, fully English.
#2
Trade Republic
Good
Residence + tax residency in Germany. Requires a valid PLASTIC Aufenthaltstitel card; often rejects a Fiktionsbescheinigung; locks the account if the card expires until you re-verify.
English: full app + support
Sparplan
Free (no execution fee)
Depotgebühr
€0
Order-Kosten
€1 external-fee per trade
Best for: Great once you hold the physical permit card — clean English app, free Sparpläne.
Won't accept a Fiktionsbescheinigung, and locks out when your permit card expires — keep it current.
#3
DKB
Moderate
Broadest formal acceptance of foreigners (except sanctioned countries). Bilingual DE/EN ident form + English VideoIdent. It's a full bank, so a Schufa check runs.
English: partial
Sparplan
Free (promo until 2026-09-30, then €1.50/execution)
Depotgebühr
€0 (always free)
Order-Kosten
Mid-range, varies by venue
Best for: Widest acceptance if you're comfortable with some German in the app.
#4
ING
Moderate
English VideoIdent available, but often rejects non-EU applicants without permanent residence.
English: partial
Sparplan
Free on many ETFs
Depotgebühr
€0
Order-Kosten
€4.90 + 0.25% of volume
Best for: Usable with English VideoIdent — but thin/temporary status may be rejected.
#5
comdirect
Conditional
Possible for non-Germans if Schufa can verify a German credit history (prior phone/rent contract). Support is mostly German.
English: weak
Sparplan
Free 12 months, then 1.5%/execution · ~500 ETFs permanently free
Depotgebühr
€0 for new customers (else €1.95/mo, waived if active)
Best for: Fine once you have a German Schufa footprint; German-heavy.
#6
flatex
Weak fit
German-residence oriented; no strong English onboarding.
English: weak
Sparplan
Free (5,000+ ETFs/funds); Aktiensparplan 1.0%
Depotgebühr
€0 (since 2023)
Order-Kosten
€5.90 + €2 venue fee on some exchanges
Best for: German-oriented; low English support — not a first pick for newcomers.
#7
Finanzen.net Zero
Not yet
German residence + German ID with a German address + Steuer-ID typically required; non-EU residents generally not admitted.
English: none
Sparplan
Free (~1,880 ETFs/ETPs)
Depotgebühr
€0
Order-Kosten
Free ≥ €500, else €1
Best for: German-residents only — don't surface as a first broker for new arrivals.
German-only and effectively closed to non-EU newcomers right now.
Financial education — not investment advice. These calculators are illustrative and hypothetical. GermanDost is not a licensed investment adviser and provides no personalized recommendation (Anlageberatung) within the meaning of the German Wertpapierhandelsgesetz (WpHG) or under BaFin supervision. Investing carries risk — your capital is at risk and past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Figures use public rates (e.g. BMF Basiszins, Bundesbank, Deutsche Rentenversicherung) and simplifying assumptions; taxes depend on your situation. We describe how products work and list broad index funds by methodology — we never tell you which specific product to buy. Before investing, opening a Depot, or taking a mortgage, consult a licensed adviser (Steuerberater / Honorar-Anlageberater / Baufinanzierungsberater). Provider links may be affiliate links — see our Terms.