Schulpflicht: Compulsory Schooling in Germany for Foreign Families

Schulpflicht (compulsory schooling) in Germany applies to every child residing in the country, full stop — regardless of nationality, visa status, or how long the family plans to stay. There is no exemption for foreign families, and homeschooling is not a legal alternative in Germany the way it is in some other countries.

Full-time compulsory schooling starts at age six and runs for nine years (ten in some states) of Vollzeitschulpflicht. After that, anyone who isn't continuing into a general or vocational upper-secondary track still has to attend part-time vocational schooling until age 18 — so the overall obligation effectively runs from six to eighteen.

Education is organized at the state (Bundesland) level, not federally, which means curricula, school types, and even the exact structure of secondary school (Gymnasium, Realschule, Hauptschule, Gesamtschule) vary depending on where in Germany you live — a family moving between states mid-schooling should expect some real differences, not just a change of building.

For newly arrived families without German language skills, most states run Willkommensklassen or Vorbereitungsklassen (welcome/preparatory classes) specifically to build German proficiency before a child transitions into a regular mainstream class — ask your local Schulamt (school authority) about availability, since provision varies by city and by how many newly arrived children the area is currently absorbing.

Registering a child for school in Germany happens through your local Schulamt or directly at the school your address is zoned for, and you'll typically need your Meldebescheinigung (from your Anmeldung), your child's birth certificate, and any previous school records — bring certified translations of foreign documents if you have them, since not every school office reads every language.

Ignoring Schulpflicht is not a low-consequence choice: German authorities take compulsory attendance seriously, and unexplained absence can trigger contact from the Schulamt, fines for parents, and in persistent cases involvement of the Jugendamt — treat enrollment as one of the first practical steps after moving with school-age children, not something to delay.