Family and Children
If your family is going to come with you for your period of stay in Greifswald, there are important points that will have to be sorted prior to arrival.
For example, you must be able to finance the stay of your family. Other than usual living costs, this also includes the costs for a larger flat, health insurance and costs for childcare for young children.
In most cases accompanying spouses will be expected to have at least simple knowledge of German, already when they apply for a visa.
It is usual practice in Greifswald to rent unfurnished flats to families so that you will have to expect further costs for purchasing furniture.
There are various childcare options for your children in Greifswald, depending on their age. The focal points and facilities of the different childcare providers vary according to the body running the institution. Some of the childcare options are very popular, so that you might not receive a place immediately and you might be put on a waiting list.
Childcare in day care centres is subject to fees, please contact the respective institutions directly to ask for the valid prices. The following generally applies: The younger the child and the longer the period in which childcare is needed, the higher the costs.
There are kindergartens run by the town (municipal) or independently (private), the corresponding conditions can be found on the websites.
Childcare differs according to the age of the child and the number of hours of daily supervision:
Full-time childcare up to ten hours per day
Half-day childcare up to six hours per day
Part-time childcare up to four hours per day
The University and University Medicine provide their employees with an extensive selection of services. Find out more on the following pages:
Familienservice der Universität
Familienbüro at University Medicine Greifswald [de]
General information about childcare in Greifswald
www.greifswald.de
Application platform for childcare in Greifswald
Kita Portal [de]
Day care for children up to the age of one is mainly provided by childminders.
However, as the demand for childminders is very high, but the supply very short, you should try to find a childminder for your child as soon as possible.
The Jugendamt (Youth Welfare, Social and Family Office) allocates the day care places for qualified childminders.
If you are interested in day care provided by a childminder, please contact either the childminder directly or the responsible Jugendamt (Youth Welfare Office)
Contact details can be found here:
Between the ages of one and three, childcare is provided for children in a nursery. There is a large number of nurseries in Greifswald, but as their spaces are very sought after, it is likely that you will have to wait for longer periods.
When your child reaches the age of three, it can be supervised in a kindergarten. Greifswald also has a large number of kindergartens with various specialisations.
Up until year 4 (4th grade) there is also the possibility of supervising school children after teaching has finished in a Hort.
The Hort is usually connected to the school. Hort gives the children the opportunity to do their homework, to play or, depending on the facility, to concentrate on certain topics.
Supervision is usually provided for the period that covers the end of the school day until 5.00 p.m.
In Germany, school is compulsory for children between the ages of 6 and 15. As each individual federal state is responsible for the teaching in its own state, the systems vary, even within Germany.
In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the system is as follows:
Years 1 - 4 (1st - 4th grade): primary school
Years 5 - 6 (5th - 6th grade): Orientierungsstufe (orientation phase) at general secondary schools
followed by either:
Years 7 - 10 (7th - 10th grade): Regionalschule (secondary school) - ends with Mittlerer Schulabschluss (mid-level school leaving certificate after ten years of school, roughly equivalent to British GCSEs)
or
Years 7 - 12 (7th - 12th grade): Gymnasium (grammar school) - ends with Abitur (German higher education entrance qualification)
In Greifswald, you can send your children either to a state or private school. The state schools are free of charge, pupils at private schools have to pay fees.
You generally have a free choice of schools; however, there are catchment areas that apply for the primary schools.
All of Greifswald’s schools have their own Hort that can supervise your children in the afternoons.
State Schools
Käthe-Kollwitz-Grundschule
Knopfstraße 25/26
17489 Greifswald
Tel. 03834 3255
www.kollwitz-gs.de [de]
Karl-Krull-Grundschule
Bleichstraße 36
17489 Greifswald
Tel. 03834 540590
www.karl-krull-grundschule.de [de]
Erich-Weinert-Grundschule
Makarenkostraße 53
17491 Greifswald
Tel. 03834 812022
www.weinert-gs.de [de]
Grundschule Greif
Max-Planck-Straße 9
17491 Greifswald
Tel. 03834 812063
www.grundschule-greif.de [de]
Martin-Andersen-Nexö-Grundschule
Warschauer Straße 16
17493 Greifswald
Tel. 03834 840189
www.nexoe-grundschule.de [de]
Evangelisches Schulzentrum "Martinschule"
Loissiner Wende 5
17491 Greifswald
Tel. 03834 820366
www.martinschule-greifswald.de [de]
Ostseegymnasium
Pappelallee 1
17491 Greifswald
Tel. 03834 872450
www.privatgymnasium-greifswald.de [de]
Kinderkunstakademie Greifswald
Grimmer Straße 51
17491 Greifswald
Tel. 03834 831 53 88
ILL Kinderkunstakademie Greifswald
Private Schools
Montessori-Schule
Helsinkiring 5
17493 Greifswald
Tel. 03834 834511
www.montessori-schule-greifswald.de [de]
Freie Waldorfschule
Hans-Beimler-Straße 79-83
17491 Greifswald
Tel. 03834 502612
www.waldorf-greifswald.de [de]
Regionale Schule" Ernst Moritz Arndt "
Arndtstraße 37
17489 Greifswald
Tel. 03834 500062
www.arndtschule.de [de]
Integrierte Gesamtschule "Erwin Fischer "
Einsteinstraße 6
17491 Greifswald
Tel. : 03834 500775
www.fischerschule-hgw.de [de]
Regionale Schule "Caspar David Friedrich"
Usedomer Weg 1
17493 Greifswald
Tel. 03834 840196
www.caspar-david-friedrich-schule-greifswald.de [de]
State Gymnasien (Grammar Schools)
Alexander-von-Humboldt-Gymnasium
Makarenkostraße 54
17491 Greifswald
Tel. : 03834 80560
www.humboldt-greifswald.de [de]
Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Gymnasium
Dietrich-Bonhoeffer-Platz 1
17489 Greifswald
Tel. 03834 7920
www.jahngymnasium.de [de]
Montessori-Schule
Helsinkiring 5
17493 Greifswald
Tel. 03834 834511
www.montessori-schule-greifswald.de [de]
first Abitur year group planned for 2022
Freie Waldorfschule
Hans-Beimler-Straße 79-83
17491 Greifswald
Tel. 03834 502612
www.waldorf-greifswald.de [de]
Evangelisches Schulzentrum "Martinschule"
Loissiner Wende 5
17491 Greifswald
Tel. 03834 820366
www.martinschule-greifswald.de [de]
Ostseegymnasium
Pappelallee 1
17491 Greifswald
Tel. 03834 872450
www.privatgymnasium-greifswald.de [de]
Private Gymnasien (Grammar Schools)
Throughout the year, there are activities on offer for families and their children in Greifswald and the surrounding region. The following list only represents a small overview of possible activities. Current information and event tips can be found in the Ostsee-Zeitung and by asking colleagues or other parents.
The magazine Landknirpse provides information in particular for families with children, including family events in and around Greifswald.
landknirpse.de [de]
The first thing we have to list is of course the Baltic Sea that is always worth a visit, no matter which season: Swim at the beaches in summer, fly a kite in autumn, enjoy the fresh air in the winter and search for the “gold of the North” (amber) after the spring storms. Apart from the lido, Strandbad Eldena, in Greifswald’s Eldena district, there are other beautiful beaches in the surrounding area, e.g. in Lubmin.
The public swimming pool in Greifswald makes it possible for you to have a swim whatever the weather.
Various courses are on offer that will help keep you fit and healthy.
Further information on opening hours and prices can be found on the pool’s website.
Freizeitbad Greifswald
www.freizeitbad-greifswald.de [de]
The University regularly holds the “Children’s and Youth’s University”. The event gives children and youngsters the chance to discover the secrets of everyday life and more unusual phenomena.
Find out more here [de]
Every semester, the University of Greifswald offers lectures for the whole family [de]
Greifswald also has a small zoo, the Tierpark Greifswald, which is home to both native and exotic animals. There, you will also find a petting zoo and an adventure playground. The Information Centre displays information regarding various details of the endemic flora and fauna.
www.tierpark-greifswald.de [de]
On the islands of Rügen and Usedom you will find the “Treetop Paths” (Baumwipfelpfade), which takes visitors through the treetops at heights of between 4 and 17 metres.
The treetop path can be accessed either by car or by train. Find out more on the following webpage: Tree top walk
Greifswald’s Music School (Musikschule Greifswald) teaches pupils various instruments. These classes are subject to a fee. The classes range from early age music for pre-school children to classes and courses for school children and adults. Find out more on the Musikschule’s website.
Musikschule Greifswald (de)
There is also the Musikfabrik, a private music school offering lessons for various instruments. Find out more on the Musikfabrik’s website.
www.musikfabrik.com [de]
Footballer Toni Kroos was born in Greifswald and started his successful international career at one of Greifswald’s football clubs. If it’s not football you’re looking for, there is a huge range of other types of sports clubs in Greifswald, find out more here:
Sports clubs in Greifswald A-Z [de]
If the weather is bad and the children still want to let off some steam, the indoor playground Kunti-Bunt is exactly what they need. Play equipment such as slides, trampolines and climbing frames have been set up here in a former indoor tennis court, covering 3400 m². If you are planning on going there with several children (e.g. birthday party), we recommend you make a reservation in advance.
http://www.kunti-bunt.de/greifswald [de]
If you would like to hire a children’s bike or a bike with a child seat, you can do so at “Greif’n Bike”. To do so, just call “Greif’n Bike”, because they don’t have a business premises. The requested bike(s) will be brought to the desired location and adjusted to the right height. Of course they also have adult bikes on offer. Further information and contact details can be found on their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/greifnbike [de]
Depending on the circumstances, some foreign parents are entitled to German Kindergeld (child benefits) for their children. Please note that this does not apply to students or scholarship holders. Entitlement depends also on your residence permit.
Possible entitlements for any child benefit in the home country will be checked and cleared. Please check the leaflet about cross-border cases below.
The place for requesting child benefit is the Familienkasse (Family Benefit Office).
The State’s Familienkasse (Family Benefits Office) provides comprehensive information material:
Familienkasse (Family Benefits Office)
Child benefit leaflet
Child benefit in cross-border cases (European Union, European Economic Area and Switzerland) leaflet
Application form
Appendix to the application form
The application form, notifications, etc. have to be sent to the following address:
Familienkasse
20069 Hamburg
Please notice that is very important to give notice to the Familienkasse about all changes related to child benefit payments, especially when you'll move abroad.
Depending on the circumstances foreign parents might be entitled to parental allowance (Elterngeld, Elterngeld plus). Please notice that this does not apply to foreign students or scholarship holders.
The responsible state ministery provides comprehensive information material:
Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth
Please take note of the following information:
We assume no liability for the content of this webpage. This is because the content is general and cannot cover every individual circumstance bindingly. Furthermore, the content is not necessarily complete, comprehensive or up to date. The information provided represents no legally binding provision of information. It can therefore not substitute advice provided by experts on the respective question or respective topic.
Family members are only allowed to join foreign nationals if the foreign national has a residence or permanent residence permit and enough living space. Further requirements must be met, depending on the status of the foreign national already living in Germany.
More detailed information can be obtained from the relevant German embassy or from Greifswald’s Immigration Office (Ausländerbehörde).
The age limit for children joining one of their parents is 16. Youths between the ages of 16 and 18 can receive a residence permit in cases of hardship or if their integration is expected to be trouble-free. A child under the age of 16 joining a parent with sole custody of the child is legally entitled to the required residence permit.
Citizens of EU or EEA states or Switzerland have unlimited permission to live permanently in Germany, this also applies to family members joining at a later date.
As with all German citizens, you have to register in the Resident Registration Office within seven days after your move to Greifswald.
For citizens of EU countries, the registration certificate issued by the Resident Registration Office is sufficient proof for a legitimate stay in Germany.
Exceptions: Citizens of EEA states or Switzerland also have to register at the Immigration Office.
The same regulations apply to those of the working spouse, a difference is made between EU citizens, EEA citizens and citizens from third countries. Your spouse has to apply for his/her own visa.