Arriving with your family
Germany offers a range of financial benefits and support programs for families, designed to help with the costs of raising children, education, and general family welfare. These benefits are available to both German citizens and eligible foreign residents, depending on their residence status. The following are the main benefits available to families in Germany, including eligibility and how they work:
Child Benefit (Kindergeld)
What it is: A monthly allowance to support parents with the costs of raising children.
Who is eligible?
EU/EFTA nationals are generally entitled to child benefit if they live or work in Germany. Third-country nationals (non-EU/EFTA citizens) must have one of the following residence permits:
- Settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis)
- Permanent EU residence permit (Erlaubnis zum Daueraufenthalt-EU)
- Certain residence permits under §§ 18a, 18b, 18d, 19c, 21, 25 (1) or (2) of the Residence Act (e.g., EU Blue Card, residence permit for researchers or skilled workers)
- If the residence permit includes a work permit, child benefits may also be granted.
Those who work in Germany and pay taxes or receive certain social benefits (e.g., unemployment benefits) are generally entitled to child benefit.
Eligible Child: The child must be under 18 years old (or under 25 in specific cases, such as during education or university studies), must live in Germany or an EU/EFTA country; adopted children, foster children and stepchildren may also qualify.
Amount: As of 2024, the amount of Kindergeld (child benefit) in Germany is:
- €250 per month per child (for all children). This amount may vary slightly depending on the number of children and specific circumstances.
Additional Notes: International students/postdocs: Non-EU postdocs with a limited residence permit ("Befristete Aufenthaltserlaubnis") are not eligible for Kindergeld unless they have permanent residence status. It is recommended that you contact the International Office, who can confirm your eligibility and guide you through the application process.
Contact Information:
Telephone: 0800 4 5555 30 (for child benefit and child supplement inquiries)
Visitor Address: Bonner Straße 351, 50968 Köln
Postal Address: Familienkasse Nordrhein-Westfalen West, 50574 Köln
Childcare
In Germany, there are several childcare options (Kinderbetreuung) available for children below school age. Foreign nationals have the same rights to access childcare as German citizens, provided they have legal residence. Here are the main options:
Public Childcare (Kita - Kindergarten & Krippe)
Public daycare centers (Kindertagesstätten or Kitas) are state-funded and are available for children from infancy to school age. There are three types of public daycare centers:
Krippe (nursery) for children aged 0 to 3 years. Kindergarten / KiTa for children aged 1 to 6 years. Kinderhäuser with mixed-age groups that accept children from infancy to school age.
More information can be found here.
Application & Costs:
- Apply via the online portal: Little Bird (Cologne's daycare registration system).
- Costs depend on income, care hours, and number of children in the family (some families qualify for subsidies).
Tagesmutter (Childminder)
- Flexible home-based childcare for small groups (up to 5 children).
- Suitable for infants and toddlers (0-3 years) when Kitas have long waiting lists.
- Costs are similar to Kitas, but more flexible hours are possible.
- The Youth Welfare Office (Jugendamt) helps find and approve childminders.
Little Pumpkins – childcare facility at the MPIPZ (0-3 years)
It is a parents’ initiative run by parent representatives with the support of the MPIPZ administration. If you are interested in their services, please contact our International Office. Further information is available here. The MPIPZ also maintains a parent-child room that can be booked and used by institute staff and visitors.
How to find a childcare place in cologne?
- Official Kita Portal “Little Bird”
- Jugendamt (Children’s Services) via City of Cologne website here and here.
- Tagesmütter (Childminder) via Jugendamt or Tagespflegebörse Köln.
Families with School-Age Children
If your family is moving to Germany with school-age children and you need an integration school (or kindergarten), the following websites can help you find one:
Stadt Köln (Schooling for newly arrived children)
Profamilia (Köln)