If you are coming to Passau with family, there are a number of things to consider. Here you will find a list of the most important topics. Please do not hesitate to contact us, should you have any questions.
If you come to Germany with your family, please make sure to bring all important documents for all your family members and apply for visas for them as well. Feel free to ask us for help!
If you and your family are moving to Germany temporarily, we recommend you to bring certified copies and originals of the following documents (including certified translations if applicable) with you in order to facilitate the completion of the bureaucratic steps necessary upon your arrival.
Passport/ID—issued within the last ten years and with at least three months validity left after the planned date of departure from Passau.
Biometric passport pictures—required for visa or residence permit applications. It is advisable to bring along four to six passport pictures of you and the family members travelling with you. Of course, you can have pictures taken in Passau, too.
Visa—Submit your visa application as early as possible, since the process takes at least four to six weeks, and sometimes even longer than a year.
Credit/debit card—For your first days in Germany, you may need an international credit/debit card to withdraw money— make sure it will work in Germany. Otherwise, make sure you have enough cash to cover your expenses during your first few days in Passau (i.e. until you are able to open a local bank account).
Birth certificate—sometimes required to register with the Immigrations Office in Passau, also required for the family members accompanying you.
Marriage certificate—required to register with the Immigrations Office, also required for your spouse’s residence permit (If applicable).
Proof of funding for your stay—required for visa or residence permit applications (e.g. employment contract, salary slip, scholarship certificate).
Written confirmation from a professor that he/she is willing to supervise your thesis project. This is required for visa or residence permit applications and when you enrol as a doctoral student.
University entrance qualification (original copy and certified English/German translation if applicable). This is required for enrolling as a doctoral student or when signing an employment contract.
Degree certificates (original copies and certified English/German translations if applicable). This is required for enrolling as a doctoral student or when signing an employment contract.
Proof of admission to doctoral study— required when applying for a visa or residence permit
(Travel) health insurance certificate—required when applying for a visa or residence permit.
Copy of your medical records—sometimes required by health insurance companies.
International certificate of vaccination or prophylaxis—you can find a list of vaccines that are required to enter Germany on the World Health Organization website. Talk to your doctor in your home country and get vaccinated at least four to six weeks before departure, if required. Some vaccines require more than one dose, make sure there is enough time for you to get them before you travel to Germany. Once in Passau, we recommend you to get a vaccination against TBE (in German: FSME), a disease transmitted by ticks.
International driving permit—the driving licence from your home country will be valid for six months. Afterwards you will need to convert it into a German licence.
The University of Passau wishes to ensure that its members are able to balance their family life and work or studies. Therefore, our own nursery, situated at the western end of the campus next to the sports grounds, takes care of children aged ten months to three years. The nursery, which is called 'Krümelkiste' (literally “box of crumbs”) is located at Innstrasse 47. Two group rooms offer plenty of place for playing, climbing, sliding or doing craftwork. Furthermore, the children take lunch together.
The opening hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. The 'Krümelkiste' was founded in 1990 on the initiative of students and staff with children. The Student Services Association ('Studentenwerk') took over the management of the nursery in 2008. If you intend to bring your children to Passau for your stay, please get in touch as early as possible, either directly with the nursery or with us. For more information on registrations, fee, services and a picture gallery, visit Campus e.V. (please note that the website is only available in German).
Kindergarten is for children aged three to six, however, unlike primary and secondary school, attendance of a kindergarten is not compulsory. The City of Passau and other providers offer various fee-based childcare facilities.
Further information as well as an overview of all facilities are available on the website of the City of Passau. Unfortunately, the website is only available in German. Please contact us if you need help finding a suitable kindergarten.
For children aged six to fifteen, school is compulsory in Germany. Up to 4th grade, children attend primary school, followed by one of three types of secondary school: Mittelschule, Realschule and Gymnasium: the former two provide vocational and higher vocational qualifications respectively, while the latter leads to the Abitur, the German higher education entrance qualification.
Which type of school the pupil goes to depends to a large part on their performance in primary school. If you are planning on a longer stay with a child in Germany, you need to register with a school or apply for an exemption. The website of the City of Passau has more details and a list of all schools located in Passau and its surrounding area; however, the website is only available in German. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need help finding a suitable school.
Child benefit is granted for all children up to 18 years and in some cases even beyond that age.
As a public sector employee, you will receive child benefit from the state’s family fund. Please fill in the application form for child benefit.
Please send the form to the State Office for Finance at the following address:
Landesamt für Finanzen — Dienststelle Bayreuth, Tunnelstrasse 2, 95448 Bayreuth.
If you are not a public-sector employee, you will still get child benefit, but the administering unit is the Federal Employment Agency ('Bundesagentur für Arbeit') rather than the state finance office. For further details and the application form, visit: https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/en/financial-support
The service number for child support of the Federal Employment Agency is: +49 800 4555530.
Parental benefit is a state benefit intended for parents who wish to take some time off from their work to look after their child during the first few months of its life (parental leave). If you have a baby during your stay in Germany, you are also entitled to parental benefit. However, rather than being a permanent subsidy, it is limited to the first 12 to 14 months immediately following the child’s birth.
The amount of Elterngeld you will receive is based on the net income of the parent dedicated to caring for the newborn, ranging from a minimum amount of 300 Euro to a maximum of 1,800 Euro. Even if you were not in regular employment before birth, you are entitled to parental benefit. If both parents share the parental leave entitlement and lose income, they receive a maximum of 14 months parental benefit together. In this case, one parent can claim a minimum of two and a maximum of 12 months parental benefit.
Nationals of EU Member States and Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland are entitled to parental benefit in the same way as German nationals if they live or work in Germany. For other foreign citizens, the entitlement depends on the residence title. People with a settlement permit ('Niederlassungserlaubnis') are entitled to parental benefit, while those here on a temporary residence permit ('Aufenthaltserlaubnis') are only entitled if they are also entitled to work in Germany or have already legally worked here.
For further details, visit the following websites:
After birth, parents receive a medical examination record for their child, which details when certain health checks are due. In general, this routine schedule consists of ten health checks (called U1 to U9, including U7a). The examinations are covered by statutory health insurance.
The first health check (U1) takes place immediately after birth. The U2 health check takes place between the 3rd and 19th day of life – at the hospital or at a paediatrician’s practice. Health checks U3 to U9 are carried out at the paediatrician’s practice during the period up to the 64th month of life. The adolescent health check J1 between ages 12 and 14 also takes place at the paediatrician.
In Germany, vaccinations are mostly voluntary, but many vaccinations are highly recommended. The costs of these recommended vaccinations are covered by your German health insurance.
One important exception for children is the vaccination against measles. Since March 2020, children who visit a kindergarten or school need proof of vaccination. In Bavaria a vaccination against ticks is also recommended.
Since infectious diseases for infants and children are especially dangerous, you should have your children vaccinated for the first time in their third month. Your child should be vaccinated against all major diseases by their 14th month at the latest. Make sure to receive a vaccination certificate – here all the vaccinations will be recorded – and keep it safe!
Students, academics and university employees with children are now offered a well-equipped separate room on the University’s premises that allows them to work and study without worrying about childcare: Parents can use a computer desk to keep up with university assignments or work, while a play area with toys, stuffed animals and children’s books meets the little ones’ needs. A cosy couch and a portacrib further offer both parents and children the chance to take a rest; a kitchenette is available for heating up meals. The parent-and-child room forms part of the University’s efforts to strengthen its family-friendly profile. The parent-and-child room is located on the first floor of the Central Library (Room 117). The room is locked; keys can be borrowed from the central information desk. You will need to leave your CampusCard as a deposit while in possession of the key. Guest researchers are welcome to make use of this facility. If accompanying partners without a CampusCard want to use the room, please let us know and we will arrange to get the key for you!
The Student Services Association ('Studentenwerk') offers a free meal for children up to the age of six whose parents are enrolled at the University of Passau. The children’s menu consists of one main course and one side dish (soup and dessert are counted as side dishes).
To make use of this offer, parents have to show their “Kinderteller-mensacard” at the till. This card can be requested at the Mensa-Office in Room 163 in the Central Library building (Innstrasse 29). Please bring along a copy of your child’s birth certificate and your enrolment certificate when requesting the card.
The University has a Family Service, which can be found at Family at the University of Passau. Here you can find further support.
Old Town
Haidenhof-Nord
Haidenhof-Süd
The Passau Family Pass ('Passauer Familienpass') gives you access to numerous discounts and special offers that are good for your family budget. The Family Pass should encourage all families to spend quality time together. The free pass is available at the Passavia citizens’ office (Bürgerbüro Vornholzstrasse 40). Parents with a child younger than 18 years can apply for the pass.
You can download your application here: https://www.passau.de/stadtleben/familie-betreuung/familienpass/
As a newly appointed professor, the Dual Career Service offers your spouse or partner advice on career reorientation in the Passau region. Contact the Dual Career Service for an initial consultation prior to your appointment negotiations.
The Dual Career Service works closely with the University's Family Services and the Welcome Centre for international academics to make sure you and your family get settled quickly in Passau.
Contact:
Telephone: +49(0)851/509-1301
E-Mail: dualcareer@uni-passau.de
