Enrolling Your Child in a German School
A practical starting point for international families moving to Germany with a school-age child.
Where should you start?
School education is organised by Germany’s federal states, so the exact process differs by location. After registering your address, check the education authority or school information for your city or district.
If your child has already been assigned a school, contact the school office (Sekretariat). If no school has been assigned, contact the responsible local education authority, often called the Schulamt or Schulverwaltungsamt.
If the school is closed for the holidays
- Check the school website, voicemail and automatic email reply for reopening information.
- Send an email so the school can respond when staff return.
- If your child has no confirmed school place, contact the local education authority instead of waiting for the first school day.
Schools usually prepare before lessons resume, but office opening times vary. Do not assume every school office is reachable throughout the holidays.
What should you prepare?
Requirements vary, but families are commonly asked for:
- the child’s identification document;
- parents’ or guardians’ identification;
- proof of address registration;
- previous school reports or records, if available;
- health or vaccination documents requested by the school or local authority.
Wait for the school’s material list before buying all notebooks and supplies, because requirements can differ by class and school.
What if your child does not speak German?
Newly arrived children may receive German-language support. The school and local education authority decide the appropriate placement based on the child’s age, previous schooling and the programmes available locally.
Do all schools start on the same date?
No. School calendars are set by each federal state. Start dates and holiday periods therefore differ across Germany. A child who moves to Germany may also be enrolled during the school year.
Quick contact guide
School already assigned: contact the school office.
No school assigned: contact the local education authority.
School closed: check reopening information, email the school, and contact the education authority if placement is still unresolved.
Official information
Because procedures differ by federal state and municipality, confirm the local process through official sources: