How to get a Kitagutschein in Berlin

Berlin offers free day-care to young children up to 9 hours a day. You need a Kitagutschein in order to apply at a Kita (short for Kindertagesstätte). The Kitagutschein is a document issued by the Jugendamt.

You find a list of Berlins Jugendämter here.

It is recommended to start searching for Kitas as soon as possible. You can sign a contract with a Kita before you have this document but you need the Kitagutschein latest the day the contract starts. The Kitagutschein has an expiry date and a Kita can be hard to find in Berlin so in most cases you want to get a Kita first, then apply for the Kitagutschein.

There are Kitagutscheine for several types of children's day-care:

• 4–5 hours daily: half day-care or Halbtagsförderung
• more than 5–7 hours daily: part-time care or Teilzeitförderung
• more than 7–9 hours daily: full day-care or Ganztagsförderung
• more than 9 hours daily: extended full day-care or erweiterte Ganztagsförderung

A Kitagutschein is valid for any Kita or a nanny (Tagesmutter) registered with the Jugendamt.

Requirements

• All official guardians must give their consent.
• You must be registered in Berlin.
• The kid must be at least 8 weeks old and does not go to school yet.
• You can apply for a Kitagutschein at least 9 months or the latest 2 months before the Kita starts.

Necessary documents

These are the most important documents you need ^source:

• The application form.
• The consent of both parents.
• Copies of all passports.
• Registration (Meldebescheinigung) – a paper stating your official address in Berlin and issued by the Bezirksamt.
• A copy of the kid's birth certificate.

You need to provide proof that you are working or studying for kids under 1 year or for child care of more than 7 hours daily. In this case, add one or several of the following documents to the application:

• A letter from your employer saying what times a day and how many hours total you are working.
• For self-employed: add copies of any papers from the tax authorities or from the tax consultant, registration of your business, tax returns etc.
• For students: certificate of study from your university or school.
• The official district website wasn't up-to-date with the required documents when we applied for our kids. Ideally, calling the Jugendamt before collecting the documents might save you additional appointments. I recommend bringing a folder with all important family documents to the appointment to be on the safe side.