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.

✓ Verified: 15/08/2026

WHAT TO DO

Find your local portal: Munich — KitaFinder+, Berlin — Kita-Navigator, other cities — Jugendamt website

Register in the portal and apply to multiple facilities simultaneously — the more the better
Enter your desired start date (Betreuungsbeginn) — usually 12 months of age plus a 1–2 month buffer
Once you have a place, sign the Betreuungsvertrag and get the confirmation for your employer. Budget for it: depending on city and income, up to around 500 € a month

AUTHORITY

Jugendamt

Municipal authority

Kita voucher, acknowledgement of paternity, child maintenance and legal support all go through your town's Jugendamt.

Where to go in your city →

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:

Munich: KitaFinder+
Berlin: Kita-Navigator
Other cities: Jugendamt or city 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:

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

› Details and tips

👨🏻‍💻

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.

👩🏼‍💼

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). The basis is the Rechtsanspruch under § 24 SGB VIII; disputes go to the administrative court.

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.