Coming with Family

Direct family members (partner and children) may apply for a visa based on your status as researcher or employee in Germany. After arrival, all family members can apply for a residence permit. The legal basis of the visa/residence permit is family reunification (Familiennachzug). Please contact your local German Consulate about the exact requirements for obtaining a visa for your upcoming stay in Regensburg.

General visa requirements:

• Proof of sufficient income in Regensburg
• Proof of sufficient housing
• Proof of health insurance for each family member
• Important documents: Marriage certificate (with Apostille) and birth certificate of children (with Apostille)

For children ages 0-3, there are two main childcare options: nurseries and private nannies. More information on both options is listed below.

Nursery/Preschool (Kinderkrippe)

What:

• Nurseries (Kinderkrippen) are for babies and children under 3 years old.
• Run by a mixture of private, public and religious organizations.
• At Krippe, the emphasis is on playing, singing and socialization in groups under the supervision of educators trained in early childhood education.
• In Regensburg, there is more demand than supply of early childcare spots, so it is important to get on a waiting list early. It is difficult to get a childcare spot without signing up at least 6 months in advance.

When:

• You can choose half-day or full-day care.

Cost:

• Fees vary depending on hours of care and parents’ income. Generally, nurseries cost approx. 300 Euro/month.

⇒ Information on the costs: Stadt Regensburg Jugendhilfe - KiTGS (Information in German)

⇒ Overview of the nursuries and pre-schools in Regensburg (Information in German)

Private Nanny (Tagesmutter/Tagesvater)

What:

• Nannies, or Tagesmütter/Tagesväter, are a popular childcare option in Germany and a good alternative if you don’t receive a childcare spot at a nursery or pre-school.
• Nannies offer full-day or half-day care, take care of a handful of children at a time, and focus on the same kind of mental and social child development as nurseries and preschools.

Cost:  

The cost depends on how many hours of care a family needs.

⇒ Contact: Stadt Regensburg - Referat für Bildung (Information in German)

Children ages 3-6 can attend Kindergarten before officially starting school with the 1st grade.

Public Kindergarden

What:

• Public Kindergartens are of high quality in Germany, with trained staff and a clear pedagogical concept.
• In Regensburg, the demand for Kindergarten (ages 3-6) spots is greater than the supply, so it is important to get on a waiting list early. It is difficult to get a Kindergarten spot without signing up at least 6 months in advance.

When:

• You can choose half-day or full-day care.

Cost:

Public Kindergartens cost around 200 Euros per month, based on how many hours care is needed per day.

⇒ Information on the costs: Stadt Regensburg Jugendhilfe - KiTGS (Information in German)

Elementary School (Grundschule)

In Germany, children start going to school at 6-years-old. Public school in Germany is free for all and is of high quality. Private, international school is also an option in Regensburg. School attendance in Germany is mandatory for any child who will be here for 3+ months.

What:

In Regensburg, elementary school (Grundschule) includes grades 1-4. There are special classes called German classes (Deutschklassen) set up for children who don't know German. The focus is mostly on learning German in an international context. When the children reach a certain level, they are integrated into the regular classroom.

Who:

The local Schooling Authority (Schulamt) determines which school your child will attend based on your address in Regensburg. The Welcome Center can contact the local Schooling Authority for you if you would like. Please email us your child’s name, birthdate, languages spoken and understood, and information about your address in Regensburg.

When:

The school year in Bavaria starts in mid-September and goes until the end of July. It is year-round-school.

School day length:

• In regular elementary school, classes are from 8:00 to 11:30 a.m. or 1:00 p.m., depending on the day of the week. Children return home for lunch and have the rest of the day off.
• For working parents (or to encourage more language integration), you can pay for "after-school-care" (Nachmittagsbetreuung) or "homework help" (Hausaufgabenhilfe) until 2 or until 4 p.m. It is important to sign up for this early, as spaces are limited!
• The German classes (Deutschklassen) for children who don't speak German normally last until 4 p.m. to increase language exposure time.

Seconday School

The Bavarian school system has at least three different types of schools for children in the 5th grade (age 11) and up (for example, Sonderschule, Mittelschule, Realschule, Gymnasium), not to mention German classes (Deutschklassen) for children who do not yet know German.

Regensburg has a private International School, the Swiss International School, which serves children from Kindergarten through High School.

General information about Swiss International School Regensburg:

• Curriculum is in both English and German.
• There is a one-time registration fee and monthly fees at the Swiss International School.
• If interested, you should apply and enroll you child(ren) yourself. You can contact the Swiss International School directly in English with any questions.
• The International School has a waiting list, so be sure to contact them as soon as possible.

⇒ Information about the Swiss International School in Regensburg

The school year in Bavaria starts mid-September and goes until the end of July.

It is year-round-school with breaks at the following times:

1 week in late Oct./early Nov.

2 weeks in late Dec.

1 week in Feb.

2 weeks in April

2 weeks in June

6 weeks all of August and the beginning of September

For more information on exact dates and other relevant information regarding the public school calendar, see the following links with detailed information in English:

⇒ School holidays in Bavaria 2021-2022

⇒ 2021 - 2022 school vacations & holiday dates in Germany (iamexpat.de)

Family Services at the University of Regensburg offers support to students, researchers, and employees looking for babysitters, childcare during school holidays or emergency care, and more. For information about events, services, and how to contact them, please see the Family Services website. 

⇒ Familien-Service - Universität Regensburg (Information in German)

Child Benefit (Kindergeld)

As a citizen of the EU, EEA countries, or Switzerland, or as a citizen of a non-EU country, you can receive the child benefit (Kindergeld), financial support for children, if you meet certain criteria. You must apply for the child benefit at the corresponding family insurance fund (Familienkasse) in the district in which you live.

⇒ Information about Child Benefits on the Family Portal

See the Familienkasse Regensburg’s website for the application and contact information, as well as further information.

⇒ Finanzielle Unterstützung für Familien und Kinder - Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Information in German)

Parental Benefit (Elterngeld)

Parental benefit (Elterngeld) is a monetary compensation for parents who have just had a child. The payment of the parental benefit is made available for those who are taking parental leave, as a way to supplement their income while caring for their newborn child. To receive this financial support for parents, you must meet certain criteria.

For further information, see these two websites:

⇒ Family benefits (familienportal.de)

⇒ Parental benefit (Elterngeld)

For application materials, you can visit the following websites:

⇒ Zentrum Bayern Familie und Soziales (Information in German)

⇒ Make it in Germany: Spouses joining EU citizens

⇒ Make it in Germany: Spouses joining non-EU citizens

⇒ EURAXESS Germany: Childcare and schools 

⇒ Research in Bavaria : Childcare services, free schools and job opportunities