School and education

Most children start school when they are six years old. There is a different cut-off date for this in every state. Children who have turned six by this date enter year 1. Children who turn six after this date start school in the following year.

You will be informed in advance by your school administration office when your child should start school.

The cut-off date for starting school is 30 September. That means that all children who will be six years old by 30 September are enrolled. Children who turn six years old after 30 September will be enrolled in the following year.

The cut-off date for starting school is 30 September. That means that all children who will be six years old by 30 September are enrolled. Children who turn six years old after 30 September will be enrolled in the following year.

The cut-off date for starting school is 30 September. That means that all children who will be six years old by 30 September are enrolled. Children who turn six years old after 30 September will be enrolled in the following year.

The school your child will attend depends on where you live. It is possible that you will have a choice between multiple schools in your area.

You can receive information about the school from your school administration office (Schulverwaltungsamt) and from family counselling agencies. Many schools also offer an “open house day” (“Tag der offenen Tür”) so that you and your children can see the school in advance.

Generally, to enrol your child in school, you need your ID card, your child's ID card, your child's birth certificate and the letter from the school administration office (Schulverwaltungsamtes). Registration is usually done directly by the school.

Even in case you do not have valid documents, it might be possible to register your child with a school.

In this case, speak to a counselling agency before registering your child with the school. The agency will contact the school and clarify what documents are necessary for registration. It is possible that the school will then waive the requirement for the documents.

Be sure to get support from an MBE (Migrationsberatung [Immigration counselling]) office or a family counselling agency.

Yes, even if you do not have guaranteed residency status in Germany, your child has the right and obligation to go to school. The time from which your child is obliged to attend school depends on the state in which you live. Generally there are special preparatory classes to prepare children who do not speak German very well for lessons in German.

You can find further information on the regulations in each state here.

School attended in a foreign country can be recognised. The decision as to what year and in what type of school is made by the school in coordination with the school board.

School completion certificates obtained in foreign countries can be recognised under certain circumstances. They are recognised as comparable to a German certificate.

The accreditation office (Zeugnisanerkennungsstelle) for each state decides whether your certificate is comparable to a German Hauptschulabschluss (lower secondary school), a mid-level certificate (a so-called 'Realschulabschluss') or a general or subject-specific qualification to attend higher education for vocational purposes (e.g. to begin vocational training). The accreditation is free of charge.

On the other hand, the universities are responsible for the recognition of school completion certificates for the purpose of attending university (“Abitur”).

A fee is charged for this accreditation. Ask whether the employment agency (Agentur für Arbeit) or your Job Centre can cover the costs.

If you are living in Germany without a residence permit, that is, you are illegally residing, whether your child can or must attend school depends on your state.

Be sure to get support from an MBE (Migrationsberatung [Immigration counselling]) office or a family counselling agency.

Children living illegally in Baden-Wuerttemberg are not obliged to attend school. However, they are allowed.

Children living illegally in Bavaria are obliged to attend school.

Children living illegally in North Rhine-Westphalia are obliged to attend school.