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Kita Germany: How to Find a Daycare Spot When You're in Ausbildung

2024-06-17

Learn how the Kita system works in Germany, when to apply, what a Kita-Gutschein is, and how Ausbildung trainees can get priority for a daycare spot.

Finding a Kita spot in Germany can feel like applying for a competitive university — except the stakes are higher and the timeline is even less forgiving. For Moroccan families in Germany, especially those doing an Ausbildung (vocational training), securing childcare is not just a convenience; it is often the difference between completing your training or dropping out. This guide breaks down exactly how the German Kita system works, when you need to apply, and what you can do to improve your chances.

What Is a Kita and Why Does It Matter So Much?

Kita stands for Kindertagesstätte — a daycare centre for children from birth to school age (usually 6 years old). Germany has three main types of childcare:

• Krippe: for children aged 0–3 years
• Kindergarten: for children aged 3–6 years
• Hort: after-school care for school-age children

Since 2013, every child over 1 year old in Germany has a legal right to a Kita place (Rechtsanspruch). But here is the uncomfortable truth: having a legal right does not mean you will automatically get a spot. Demand massively exceeds supply in cities like Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, and Hamburg. Parents wait months or even years, and the application process is anything but straightforward.

For you as an Ausbildung trainee, finding a Kita spot is especially urgent. Your Ausbildung schedule — typically 3–4 days in a company plus 1–2 days at the Berufsschule — leaves almost no room for childcare gaps. Without a Kita place, you may be forced to take parental leave or, in the worst case, abandon your training entirely.

How the Kita-Gutschein System Works by Bundesland

Germany does not have a single national Kita application system. Each of the 16 Bundesländer (federal states) manages childcare differently. Here are the most important systems you need to know:

Berlin: The Kita-Gutschein

Berlin uses a voucher system called the Kita-Gutschein. You apply for this voucher at your local Jugendamt (Youth Welfare Office). The voucher specifies how many hours per day your child is entitled to (usually 4, 6, 8, or 10 hours), based on your employment situation.

As an Ausbildung trainee, you are entitled to up to 10 hours per day of funded Kita time because your training counts as full-time employment. The Kita-Gutschein itself is free — you pay nothing for the Kita place in Berlin (fees were abolished in 2018). You take the voucher to any licensed Kita and they use it to claim payment from the state.

Apply for your Kita-Gutschein at: berlin.de/jugendamt

Bavaria: The Decentralised Approach

Bavaria has no central application portal. Each municipality handles Kita registrations independently. In Munich, for example, you use the city's online platform KiTaFinder+ (muenchen.de/kitafinder) to apply to multiple Kitas at once. Fees in Bavaria are income-based — families earning under €25,000 per year pay reduced rates. For Ausbildung trainees (whose income is typically €600–€1,100/month), fees are often very low or even waived.

North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW)

NRW uses a system called KiBiz (Kinderbildungsgesetz). Childcare is subsidised based on parental income. The city of Cologne, for example, uses an online portal called Kita-Navigator (koeln.de/kita-navigator). Costs range from €0 to approximately €250/month depending on your income.

Hamburg

Hamburg offers up to 5 hours per day free for all children from age 2.5. For working parents (including Ausbildung trainees), additional hours are subsidised. The city uses a portal called Kita-Finder Hamburg (kita-navigator.org/hamburg).

Baden-Württemberg

Fees vary by municipality. In Stuttgart, monthly costs for a full-time Kita place can range from €150 to €450/month. Apply directly to individual Kitas or use the city's Kita portal.

Bottom line: Always check your specific city's Jugendamt website. Start there, not with Google.

When to Apply: The One-Year Rule

This is the single most important practical advice in this article: apply for a Kita place at least 12 months before you need it.

If your child will need care starting September 2026, you should be applying in September 2025. This sounds extreme, but it is the reality in most German cities. Here is a typical timeline:

• 12 months before: Register at your local Jugendamt and apply to as many Kitas as possible (aim for 10–15 different ones)
• 9 months before: Follow up with all Kitas you have applied to; visit in person if possible
• 6 months before: If you have no offer yet, contact the Jugendamt directly and explain your situation (especially your Ausbildung status)
• 3 months before: If still without a place, the Jugendamt is legally obligated to help you find one — request this formally in writing (schriftlich)

When Kitas Open New Spots

Most Kita spots become available on 1 August or 1 September each year, aligned with the German school year. Some Kitas have rolling admissions, but these are less common. Always ask each Kita when their next intake is.

Priority Criteria: Does Your Ausbildung Help?

Yes — being in Ausbildung can genuinely improve your chances. Kitas consider several priority factors when assigning spots:

• Both parents working or in training: This is a major positive signal. Ausbildung officially counts as employment.
• Single parent status: Single parents are typically given top priority.
• Child's age: Some Kitas prioritise older children (e.g., those turning 3 soon) to fill Kindergarten spots.
• Siblings already in the Kita: Having an older child already placed there increases your priority.
• Financial hardship: Low income (which applies to most Ausbildung trainees) can be a factor.
• Special needs: Children with disabilities are prioritised by law.

When you apply or contact a Kita, state clearly in writing that you are in Ausbildung. Bring your Ausbildungsvertrag (training contract) to any meetings with the Jugendamt. This document proves that you are employed and that childcare is not optional for your family.

Kita Costs: What You Will Actually Pay

Here is a realistic cost overview across different cities:

| City | Monthly Cost (Full-Time) | Notes | |---|---|---| | Berlin | €0 | Completely free since 2018 | | Hamburg | €0–€150 | First 5 hours/day free; sliding scale after | | Cologne | €0–€250 | Income-based, Ausbildung trainees usually low-end | | Munich | €100–€450 | Income-based via KiTaFinder+ | | Stuttgart | €150–€450 | Varies by district |

As an Ausbildung trainee earning €700–€1,000/month, you will typically qualify for the lowest fee bracket or even full fee waivers. Always ask the Jugendamt about Gebührenbefreiung (fee exemption) and whether you qualify for support through the Bildungs- und Teilhabepaket (BuT).

What People Get Wrong About Finding a Kita in Germany

This section could save you a lot of stress:

• Waiting until you arrive in Germany to apply: Do not do this. Register online as soon as you have a German address — even if your child is a newborn or not yet born.
• Applying to only 1–3 Kitas: Apply to as many as possible, even ones far from your home. You can always decline later.
• Ignoring Tagespflege: A Tagesmutter or Tagesvater (registered childminder who looks after children at home) is a legitimate, subsidised alternative. They are often easier to find than Kita spots and are registered with the Jugendamt. Search at frühkindliche-bildung.de or ask your Jugendamt.
• Not following up: Kitas receive hundreds of applications. A polite follow-up call or visit can genuinely help. German Kita directors often prefer parents who seem engaged.
• Assuming the legal right means automatic placement: You have a right to a place, not the place you want. If you enforce your legal right through the Jugendamt, you may be assigned a spot far from home.
• Not informing the Jugendamt of your Ausbildung: Your training contract is evidence of necessity. Use it.

What Happens If You Cannot Find a Kita Spot?

If you have applied early, followed up diligently, and still have no spot, you have options:

1. Contact your Jugendamt in writing and invoke your child's legal right to a place. Use the phrase "Ich mache den Rechtsanspruch auf einen Kindertagesstättenplatz geltend."
2. Ask your Ausbildungsbetrieb (employer) whether they offer childcare subsidies or know of nearby Kitas with vacancies.
3. Contact local family support centres (Familienzentren) — they often maintain waiting list networks across multiple Kitas.
4. Look into Tagespflege as a bridge solution while you wait for a Kita spot to open up.
5. Check with your Agentur für Arbeit — in some cases, childcare costs can be covered as part of training support (Berufsausbildungsbeihilfe, BAB).

Germany's system is bureaucratic and competitive, but it is also designed to support working families. The key is to be early, be documented, and be persistent.

Conclusion

Finding a Kita spot in Germany is one of the most stressful administrative tasks for families — but it is absolutely manageable if you start early and understand how the system works. Whether you are in Berlin with a free Kita-Gutschein or navigating Munich's KiTaFinder+, the rules are the same: apply 12 months ahead, use your Ausbildungsvertrag as evidence, and never rely on a single application.

Your Ausbildung and your family's future in Germany deserve a solid plan. If you need help preparing your German CV, cover letter, or understanding the documents you need for your Ausbildung application, Book a consultation with our specialist and use our CV builder to get started on the right foot.