Find a daycare place (Kita) in Germany

Every child in Germany has a legal right to a daycare place (Kita or Tagespflege) from their first birthday — but demand far outstrips supply, so places are won by applying early and widely, not by turning up on the day. You apply directly to individual Kitas or through your city's central Kita portal, often many months before you need the spot.

⏱️Public Kita fees are income-based (free in some states); apply 6–12 months ahead, ideally during pregnancy.

Good to know — wherever you live

• ✓Register your interest as early as possible — many parents in your city apply during pregnancy, because popular Kitas keep long waiting lists.
• ✓Some cities (e.g. Berlin, Hamburg) use a Kita-Gutschein (voucher) system: you first apply to the city for a voucher confirming your child's entitled hours, then use it to secure a place.
• ✓The legal right to a place (Rechtsanspruch) starts at age one; if the city genuinely can't offer one, it must find an alternative — keep written proof of every application.
• ✓Fees depend on your income and the Bundesland — several states have made Kita free or capped it — and meals (Verpflegung) are usually charged separately.
• ✓Childminders (Tagesmutter / Kindertagespflege) are an equally valid, often more flexible option for under-threes when Kita spots are full.