The Daycare Voucher in Hamburg

In general, every family in Hamburg with a child who has turned 1 is entitled to a daycare voucher for 5 hours of daily care. This entitlement applies to all children until they start school—regardless of whether the parents are employed. If parents need more hours of care—for example, because they are working, studying, or in vocational training—they can indicate this on the application. The Youth Welfare Office will assess the need and, if appropriate, approve longer care hours (6, 8, 10, or 12 hours). Special life circumstances, such as a child’s health limitations or cases of social hardship, may also lead to an expanded entitlement. It’s important to note that the 5-hour care is always free; only the additional hours are charged, with fees scaled according to income.

Applications for the daycare voucher are submitted to the Youth Welfare Office—the easiest way is through the City of Hamburg’s online service portal. Parents should submit the application at least three months before the desired start date, as processing can take several weeks. The application includes information about the child and parents and specifies the scope of care; proof of income must also be submitted so that the parental contribution can be calculated. Once the application is received, parents will first receive a confirmation and then—after review—the daycare voucher. This voucher is then submitted to the daycare center. Handy tip: You can submit the application even before a specific daycare spot has been secured. If you have any questions, the Youth Welfare Office’s counseling centers are available to assist you.

Thanks to the voucher system, costs are clearly regulated and socially secured. Up to 5 hours of daily care is always free of charge for parents, including lunch. For longer care hours, a parental contribution is charged, which is based on income. As a guideline: For 6 hours, the maximum cost is around €115 per month; for 8 hours, about €191; and for 10–12 hours, a maximum of approximately €204. Families with lower incomes pay less or nothing at all; recipients of social benefits are fully exempt. Important: In Hamburg, lunch is already included in the fee, so there are no additional costs.

Parents can contact daycare centers directly in their neighborhood or in a preferred location. It’s a good idea to contact your preferred daycare center early, as spots are in high demand—depending on the neighborhood. The daycare voucher can be redeemed at any accredited facility, whether municipal, church-affiliated, or private. This gives families a wide range of options and allows them to choose the facility that best suits their child.

If a family’s circumstances change—for example, due to a new job, work schedule, or educational program—parents can apply to the Youth Welfare Office to have their daycare voucher adjusted. Even if a smaller amount of care was initially selected, it is possible to increase it later. It is important to notify the agency of any changes in a timely manner, as the voucher must be recalculated and reissued. Of course, the basic 5 hours of daily care remains free of charge.