Preschool education in Germany

Depending on the age, the child may be enrolled to:

• nursery (kinderkrippe) – up to 3 years old; and/or
• kindergarten – from 3 to 6 years old.

Preschool institutions vary depending on their ownership structure (municipal, private, etc.), and concept (bilingual, integrative, etc.). A general term for all the kindergartens is "Kita". Application to preschool: apply to the Youth Welfare Office (Jugendamt). You can find a list of all the "Kitas" in your area and an application form by following this link.

Important!

The "Kitas" are fee-based and the cost varies depending on the family income and the scope of care.

If you have a low income, you can apply for a so-called "day-care voucher" (Kita-Gutschein) to reimburse the costs of visiting "Kita". You can find an application form on the website of the local Youth Welfare Office (Jugendamt) or directly at their office.

In this case, you should provide:

• proof of your income;
• a confirmation letter from "Kita"; and
• fee assessment from "Kita".

Important!

Your child must be vaccinated against measles before entering "Kita".