Nursery and Kindergarten in Austria 2026: Fees, Registration and Free Kindergarten Year

If you are raising a young child in Austria, you will eventually need to decide between nursery care and kindergarten, find out where to apply and understand the costs. The system is not uniform throughout Austria because fees are set locally. This guide explains how childcare works in 2026.

Which childcare facility is suitable for each age group?

Austria has three main types of childcare and supervision:

• Nursery: Kinderkrippe (Krabbelstube), for children up to 3 years old.
• Kindergarten: for children from 3 years old.
• After-school care: Kinderhort, generally for children from 6 years old and used after school.

Kinderhort is therefore intended for school-age children who need supervision after lessons. These facilities allow working or studying parents to manage their responsibilities while children receive age-appropriate care and social contact.

When should you register?

It is advisable to register for a Kinderkrippe or Kindergarten as early as possible. Places can fill quickly in many locations, so it is best not to wait until the last minute.

The process is different for a Kinderhort. You generally apply once you know which school your child will attend.

Where do you register your child?

The responsible office depends on where you live:

• Smaller municipalities: the municipal office (Gemeindeamt).
• Statutarstadt: the city magistrate (Magistrat).
• Vienna: MA 10, or Wiener Kindergärten, including its customer service offices (Servicestellen).
• Private facilities: directly with the facility itself.

The application method also varies. Depending on the municipality and facility, you may apply informally or using a form, in person, in writing or, in some places, electronically. The municipality, Magistrat or individual childcare facility also decides which documents are required. Always ask the relevant office or facility for the current requirements.

How much do Kindergarten and Kinderkrippe cost?

The application itself is free of charge. Once your child has been offered a place, you will generally have to pay a monthly parental contribution (Elternbeitrag).

There is no nationwide rate. The municipality, Magistrat or individual facility sets the amount. Fees can therefore differ between federal provinces and even between municipalities. Discounts may be available under certain conditions; ask the relevant office or facility for details.

The free final Kindergarten year (Gratiskindergarten)

Since the 2009/2010 Kindergarten year, a nationwide rule has provided that half-day Kindergarten during the final year before school starts is free for parents. This is known as free Kindergarten (Gratiskindergarten).

• Which year: the final Kindergarten year before starting school.
• Duration: half-day care, 20 hours per week.
• Meals: lunch is not included.
• Introduced: from the 2009/2010 Kindergarten year.

Most federal provinces provide considerably more extensive benefits than this. Provincial discounts vary, so ask locally what applies in your municipality.

School age: after-school care and all-day school

For school-age children, an all-day school format (ganztägige Schulform) is also available alongside Kinderhort. In principle, this can be offered at Volksschule, Mittelschule, polytechnic schools, special needs schools and the lower level of a grammar school (AHS-Unterstufe).

There are two formats:

• Separate format: lessons take place in the morning, followed by homework, sports and leisure activities in the afternoon. The afternoon programme can be used every day or only on selected days.
• Integrated (verschränkte) format: lessons, study time and leisure activities alternate throughout the day. Registration therefore covers every school day.

As a general rule, supervision by teaching staff lasts until at least 16:00. Participation is not compulsory, and parents can decide freely. The school operator determines the cost of meals and leisure supervision.

At federally operated all-day schools, a needs-based reduction of between 10 and 100 percent, in ten-percentage-point steps, may be requested for supervision fees. Meal fees cannot be reduced. The application must be submitted within one month of admission.

If your child is ill: Pflegefreistellung

If your child becomes ill and cannot attend childcare, employees are entitled to care leave (Pflegefreistellung). This does not reduce your regular annual leave, and you continue to receive your salary. During one working year, it can be used for up to one weekly working time, either as full days or divided into individual days or hours. The entitlement applies from the first day of employment. It can also apply when the child’s usual carer, for example because of illness, is unavailable.

Frequently asked questions

At what age can a child attend Kindergarten in Austria?

From the age of 3. Before that, Kinderkrippe may be an option.

Is Kindergarten free in Austria?

During the final year before school starts, half-day Kindergarten of 20 hours per week, without lunch, is free for parents. Most federal provinces provide additional benefits. Otherwise, a monthly Elternbeitrag usually applies.

Where do I register my child in Vienna?

For municipal Kindergärten, MA 10 (Wiener Kindergärten) and its customer service offices are responsible. For a private Kindergarten, contact the facility directly.

Does registration cost anything?

No. Registration is free in every case. Fees are payable only after a place has been offered.

Practical steps

1. Decide whether your child needs Kinderkrippe, Kindergarten or Kinderhort based on their age and care needs.
2. Contact the responsible Gemeindeamt, Magistrat, MA 10 or private facility as early as possible.
3. Ask about available places, application deadlines, required documents and the application method.
4. Request the current Elternbeitrag and ask whether a local discount applies.
5. If your child is entering the final year before school, confirm the conditions for the free half-day Kindergarten entitlement.
6. If your school-age child needs all-day care, ask about the available format, supervision hours, meal costs and any fee reduction.

This article is based on information available online and does not constitute advice. Use of the information is at your own risk. If you need professional guidance, contact a lawyer, legal professional, healthcare professional, employment-law or labour-market specialist, or another relevant professional.

Source: oesterreich.gv.at