School Registration in Germany — Process, Deadlines and Tips

Compulsory Education in Germany

In Germany, compulsory education applies. This means: Every child living in Germany must attend school — regardless of nationality or residence status. Compulsory education begins at age 6 and lasts 9 to 10 years (depending on the state).

From when is my child subject to compulsory education?

The cut-off date varies by state:

Children born after the cut-off date can be admitted early on request (Kann-Kinder). Children not yet school-ready can be deferred by one year.

When and where do I register my child?

Grundschule (Grade 1)

• Registration takes place 1 to 1.5 years before Einschulung (usually October–February of the previous year)
• You typically receive a letter from the school office with the registration deadline
• Your child is assigned to the appropriate Grundschule (district school)
• A school change request to another school is possible but not guaranteed

Secondary School (Grade 5 onwards)

• Registration takes place in February/March of the final Grundschule year
• You choose the school type: Hauptschule, Realschule, Gymnasium or Gesamtschule
• The Grundschule provides a recommendation (binding in some states)

Mid-year entry (new to Germany)

If your child moves to Germany mid-school year:

1. Go to the school office (Amt für Bildung) in your city
2. They will assign an appropriate school
3. Often there are welcome classes or preparatory classes (DaZ-Klassen) for children without German skills

What documents do I need?

For Schulanmeldung you need:

• Birth certificate of the child (original or certified copy)
• ID card/passport of child and parents
• Registration confirmation (registration at local residents' office)
• Residence permit (if not EU citizen)
• Vaccination proof (measles vaccination required since 2020!)
• Custody documentation (if parents live separately)
• Possibly school certificates from country of origin (translated and certified if needed)

Pre-enrolment Medical Examination

Before Einschulung, a pre-enrolment medical examination (SEU) takes place. A health department doctor checks:

• Vision and hearing
• Speech development (especially important for non-German-speaking children)
• Motor skills (fine motor skills, coordination)
• Overall health status

The examination is free and mandatory. The result provides a recommendation on school readiness or need for support.

Language Support for Foreign Children

Pre-school language support

Many states offer language support programs:

• Vorkurse Deutsch (Bavaria) — 240 hours of German language support in the final kindergarten year
• Sprachstandfeststellung (NRW) — assessment 2 years before Einschulung, language course if needed
• Vorschulklassen — special preparatory classes

At school

• DaZ instruction (German as a second language) — additional German lessons
• Willkommensklassen / Vorbereitungsklassen — intensive German courses for newcomers (6–12 months)
• Herkunftssprachlicher Unterricht — in many states, native language taught as a subject (Turkish, Arabic, Polish, Russian, etc.)

Costs

School education in Germany at public schools is free. However, you should expect these costs:

Financial assistance

• Bildung und Teilhabe (BuT) — subsidies for school materials, lunches, trips and tutoring. Eligible are families receiving citizen allowance, housing benefit or child allowance.
• School starter package — many municipalities and organizations distribute free school supplies
• Free tutoring — through BuT or volunteer organizations (e.g., Caritas, AWO)

Tips for Foreign Parents

1. Attend parent meetings — You'll learn all important information about school life. If you face language barriers: ask for an interpreter or bring someone with you.
2. Maintain contact with teachers — Regular conversations help identify problems early.
3. Support homework — Even if you don't speak German, show interest.
4. Use clubs and activities — Sports, music or art clubs help your child make friends and learn German.
5. Become a parent representative — You have the right to engage in the parent council, even as a foreign parent.

Important Terms

• Grundschule — grades 1–4 (in Berlin/Brandenburg: 1–6)
• Hauptschule — grades 5–9, practically oriented
• Realschule — grades 5–10, intermediate qualification
• Gymnasium — grades 5–12/13, Abitur (German A-level)
• Gesamtschule — all qualifications possible
• Förderschule — for children with special support needs
• Ganztagsschule — care until afternoon (often with lunch)

Status: March 2026. All information without guarantee.