Family Support FAQ

• Child benefit – Kindergeld

Germany supports parents by providing a child benefit payment until the child’s 18th birthday. If the child takes up vocational training or studies, this entitlement extends to the child’s 25th birthday at maximum. The monthly child benefit rate is 255 euros per child.

You are eligible for child benefit if you belong to one of the following groups:

– Citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland

– Expats, who hold a visa or residence permit according to § 18g (Blue Card) or § 18d (Researcher) of the German Residence Act (AufenthG)

– Expats, who hold a settlement permit (permanent residency, Niederlassungserlaubnis)

Parents holding a residence permit for the purpose of studying (§ 16 AufenthG) are not eligible to receive child benefit.

• Parental allowance – Elterngeld

Parental allowance provides support for parents who work less or not at all after the birth in order to care for their child. Parental allowance is available to every mother and father. While receiving parental allowance, you may work up to 30 hours per week. It is also possible to not work at all. You do not have to interrupt higher education or vocational training in order to receive parental allowance. You can receive parental allowance for 12 months. If both, father and mother, apply for parental allowance, you can receive it for 14 months in total. You are free to divide these months between you.

You are eligible for parental allowance if you are holding:

– an EU/EEA or Swiss citizenship

– a visa or residence permit according to § 18g (Blue Card) or § 18d (Researcher) of the German Residence Act (AufenthG)

– a settlement permit (permanent residency, Niederlassungserlaubnis)

Parents holding a residence permit for the purpose of studying are not eligible to receive parental allowance.

If you consider parental leave (independent from parental allowance), speak to your supervisor and talk to your employer’s HR department for the formalities.

• Tax allowance for children – Kinderfreibetrag

Parents who pay income tax are automatically entitled to a child allowance in the form of tax relief on their income from employment (Kinderfreibetrag).

A tax allowance for children is granted per child, either fully to a single parent (1,0) or split between both parents (both 0,5). It may exempt a part of your income from taxes and thereby reduce your taxable income. The amount of tax allowance you are entitled to should be stated on your payslip. Inform your HR department about your children and potential childbirths.

• Children from 0 to 12 months old

Childcare is not usually offered for children under 12 months of age, and children under 12 months are not entitled to a place in a daycare center. Very few daycare centers accept children as young as 10 or 11 months old. Please contact us as early as possible if you need childcare for a child under 12 months of age.

• Children from 1 to 3 years old

Children from 1 to 3 years old are entitled to a place in crèche (Krippe) or accepted by childminders (Tagesmutter/Tagesvater). Places are allocated upon application for your preferred crèche/child minder to the City of Dresden via the Kita Portal: https://kitaportal.dresden.de/elternportal/de/.

• Children from 3 to 6 years old

Children from 3 to 6 years old are entitled to a place in kindergarten (Kindergarten) or at a childminder (Tagesmutter/Tagesvater). Often but not always, crèche and kindergarten are located in the same building. There is no separate institutionalized pre-school (Vorschule). Pre-school is part of the last year in kindergarten.

Registration portal (Kita Portal): https://kitaportal.dresden.de/elternportal/de/

• City of Dresden Childcare Services

All information including the link to the registration portal (Kita Portal) are available here (in various languages):

https://welcome.dresden.de/de/zuwanderer/leben-dresden/kita-und-kindertagespflege.php

• Children from 6 – 10 years old

Children from 6 – 10 years old

In general, children start elementary school (Grundschule) at the age of 6, depending on their date of birth and maturity. Elementary school runs from 1^st to 4^th grade. In the last year of elementary school each child receives a recommendation from the school (Bildungsempfehlung) to continue with either Oberschule or Gymnasium.

• Children aged 10 – 16/18 years

Full-time schooling is mandatory for 9 years. After elementary school, children continue their mandatory schooling at:

– Oberschule (5^th to 10^th grade) leading to a secondary school certificate

– Gymnasium (5^th to 12^th grade) leading to the A-levels = university entrance qualification (Abitur)

• Whom to contact?

For general questions:

State Office for Schools and Education (Landesamt für Schule und Bildung / LASUB)
Großenhainer Str. 92, 01127 Dresden
Email: poststelle@lasub.smk.sachsen.de
Website: https://www.lasub.smk.sachsen.de/

• To apply for schooling:

Please fill out the following registration form online. The form is also available in English here.

Please keep in mind that there is a lack of places in schools for children with no or not sufficient German knowledge. That is why it might take some time, until you’ll get a place.

Please note, that you’ll have to submit the following documents together with the application:

– Child’s valid ID document

– City registration of your child

– Last school report/school documents, if applicable

– Proof of impediment (in German)

Please note that attending school in Saxony requires proof of measles vaccination. More information on the schooling system in Saxony: Brochure about the Saxon Schooling System (eng).