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STEP

Kita-Anmeldung: Getting on the Nursery Waiting List

Krippe (nursery for under-3s) and Kita places are allocated 12–18 months in advance. Join the waiting list as soon as you have the Geburtsurkunde. From age 1, every child has a legal right to a place.

WHAT TO DO

What and when

Kita (Kindertagesstätte) is the German term for daycare and early childhood education. Krippe is for children under 3; Kindergarten for ages 3–6.

Places are allocated 12–18 months in advance. Register as soon as you have the Geburtsurkunde — that is, when your child is less than a week old.

Under §24 SGB VIII, every child in Germany has a legal right to a Kita place from age 1 (Rechtsanspruch auf frühkindliche Förderung). The state is obligated to provide it — if it cannot, it must pay compensation for a private alternative.

How to register

Find your local portal:

Apply to multiple facilities at once — usually 5–10 preferences can be selected. Never limit yourself to one.

Enter your desired Betreuungsbeginn: when you want care to start. Typically 12–14 months of age + a 1–2 month buffer in case of delays.

After receiving a place

The Kita will send a Zusage (acceptance letter) by post. Next steps:

  1. Sign the Betreuungsvertrag
  2. Plan the Eingewöhnung (settling-in period) — usually 2–4 weeks of gradual transition
  3. Get the acceptance letter for your employer for the return from Elternzeit
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Max recommends:

Registered on KitaFinder+ 5 days after getting the Geburtsurkunde. Listed 8 Kitas. Got a place 3 months before our desired start date. Without that early registration, we would have waited another year.

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Lea recommends:

Call Kitas directly as well as using the portal. Many run their own waiting lists independent of the official system. Personal contact makes a difference.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

From what age can my child attend Kita? ▾

From age 1, every child in Germany has a statutory right to a nursery or Kita place (§24 SGB VIII — Rechtsanspruch). If the Jugendamt cannot provide a place, it is obligated to cover the costs of a private facility.

How much does Kita cost? ▾

Depends on the state, family income, and type of provider. In Berlin, Kita is free. In Bavaria, it is income-dependent (€0–approx. €500/month). Other states have different subsidy systems. Ask your local Jugendamt.

What if we don't get a place? ▾

Send a written request to the Jugendamt specifying your desired start date. If no place is provided by that date, you are entitled to reimbursement of private Kita costs (Schadensersatz). German courts consistently rule in favour of parents in such cases.

Municipal Kita or independent provider? ▾

Independent providers (Caritas, AWO, parent initiatives, etc.) operate on equal footing with municipal Kitas and often have shorter waiting lists. Quality varies — read reviews and visit before choosing.

OFFICIAL SOURCES