How do you enrol children in school in Slovakia in 2026?

Compulsory attendance lasts ten years, starts on 1 September after the child turns six and is school-ready, and ends at the close of the school year in which the pupil turns 16 or finishes ten years. The school year runs from 2 September to 30 June, with the first term ending on 31 January.

• Kindergarten: enrolment is generally 1 to 31 May. Kindergarten usually covers ages three to six, and the final year before school is compulsory for children who turn five by 31 August where the law applies to them.
• First grade: enrolment is 1 to 30 April before the school year. The school director decides on admission by 15 June.
• Secondary school: applications usually go in by 20 February, with entrance exams in spring at many schools.

Families who arrive outside these windows can still apply during the year. The school decides based on capacity and the child's previous schooling.

State schools work on catchment areas. Pupils normally attend the school for the district where they live. For a child without permanent residence, the catchment school is set by the regional education authority, so a call to the district office is the quickest way to find the right primary school. A director can also admit a child from outside the catchment if there is room, so you may apply to the school you prefer.

State schools are free for children of foreigners with residence in Slovakia, including basic textbooks. Private and church schools charge fees. Foreign children also get Slovak language courses to help them catch up, at basic and advanced levels. How those courses work in a school depends on the school, so ask about it in the first meeting; Slovak for kids at school explains what to expect in class.

If Slovak is a barrier, fee-paying international programmes exist as an alternative, so compare them with state schools in International schools.

Bring the child's passport and residence permit, the application signed by a legal guardian, the previous school's reports, and proof of the home address. Reports from abroad may need translation. If the child needs recognition of earlier studies, ask the school and the regional education office which documents they require. Children under 18 with residence are also covered by public health insurance when a parent is insured, which schools may ask you to show; Choose health insurance explains the rule.

An address on file matters for the catchment school and for correspondence, so finish Register your address before the April window opens. Parents who are still waiting on a permit should read How to apply for a residence permit, since the child's own permit decides the right to enrol.