A Practical Guide for Foreign Parents Living in Czechia
Primary schools in the Czech Republic will soon begin enrolment for first grade. Starting this year, there are important changes not only to the enrolment timeline, but also to the rules on postponing compulsory school attendance. These changes are especially important for foreign parents living in Czechia.
This article explains:
- when and how enrolment works,
- what documents are required,
- what has changed regarding postponements (school readiness deferrals),
- and what rights and obligations apply specifically to children of foreigners, including legal references.
When Does Primary School Enrolment Take Place?
From this year onward, enrolment for first grade takes place earlier than in previous years.
- Enrolment period: 15 January – 15 February 2026
- Each primary school sets its own specific date(s) (usually one or two days).
Parents must check the website of:
- their catchment (district) school, or
- any other school they wish to apply to.
Which Children Must Be Enrolled?
Compulsory enrolment applies to children who:
- will be six years old before the start of the 2026/2027 school year, i.e. children born between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2020, or
- were granted a school attendance postponement in the previous year.
This applies equally to Czech citizens and foreign nationals living in the Czech Republic.
How to Apply for Primary School
Application Form
Parents must submit an Application for Admission to Primary Education.
- The form is usually available on the school’s website.
- It can often be completed online, printed, and signed in advance.
Some municipalities use online enrolment systems (e.g. Zápisy online), which:
- allow parents to reserve a time slot,
- pre-fill application data,
- generate a PDF application.
Important: Online registration alone is not sufficient. The application must still be officially delivered to the school.
Ways to Submit the Application
The application can be submitted:
- in person at the school,
- via the school’s data box (datová schránka),
- by email with a recognised electronic signature,
- by post (preferably registered mail).
If parents cannot attend in person on the official enrolment day, they must contact the school and request an alternative solution.
Documents Required at Enrolment
Parents typically need:
- completed application form,
- child’s birth certificate (or passport for foreign children),
- ID of the legal guardian,
- proof of the child’s residence in Czechia (if different from the guardian’s address).
The child’s presence at enrolment is not mandatory.
Stricter Rules for School Attendance Postponement
Significant changes apply to school readiness postponements (odklad).
Who Is Affected?
For children born between 1 September 2019 and 31 March 2020, postponement is now granted only in exceptional cases, where:
- the child’s health condition long-term prevents participation in education (e.g. serious illness, intensive medical treatment, moderate to severe intellectual disability).
Postponement Is NO Longer Granted For:
- socio-emotional immaturity,
- ADHD or attention disorders,
- speech development delays (e.g. dyslalia),
- chronic illnesses such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy,
- autism spectrum disorders without significant intellectual impairment,
- adaptation difficulties due to foreign language or cultural background.
This is particularly important for foreign children – lack of Czech language skills is not a valid reason for postponement.
Children born after 1 April 2020 may still apply for postponement under previous rules.
Rights and Obligations of Foreign Children in Czech Schools
Right to Education
Legal basis: § 20(2)(a) of Act No. 561/2004 Coll. (Education Act)
Foreign children have the same right to basic education as Czech citizens, provided they are residing in the Czech Republic.
👉 A child cannot be refused admission to primary school due to insufficient knowledge of the Czech language.
🔗 Act No. 561/2004 Coll.: https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2004-561
Compulsory School Attendance
Legal basis: § 36(2) of Act No. 561/2004 Coll.
Compulsory school attendance applies to:
- EU citizens residing in Czechia for more than 90 days,
- third-country nationals with long-term or permanent residence,
- applicants for international protection (asylum seekers).
Foreign children subject to compulsory education have:
- up to 90 days for adaptation after arrival in Czechia,
- the obligation to submit a school application within this period.
School attendance may begin later (e.g. during holidays), but early enrolment is recommended whenever possible.
Priority Admission Based on Residence
Legal basis:
- § 36(5) of Act No. 561/2004 Coll.
- § 93(1–2) of Act No. 326/1999 Coll. (Act on the Residence of Foreign Nationals)
Catchment school rules apply equally to foreign children.
- Residence address in Czechia is used to determine school district.
- If official residence records do not match actual residence, the school may request parents to update the address with the Ministry of the Interior.
🔗 Act No. 326/1999 Coll.: https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/1999-326
Admission Procedure for Foreign Children
Legal basis: Act No. 500/2004 Coll. (Administrative Procedure Code)
- Admission is always conducted as administrative proceedings.
- Applications must be submitted in Czech (Slovak is also accepted).
- Schools may accept bilingual applications.
For children displaced due to the war in Ukraine, the Ministry of Education provides a standard application template.
Who May Submit the Application?
An application for a minor foreign child may be submitted by:
- the legal guardian,
- a person entrusted with the child’s care,
- a court-appointed guardian,
- an institutional care facility.
For Ukrainian children, legal guardians may also include grandparents or adult siblings, according to Ukrainian law.
Documents Required for Foreign Children
Legal basis:
- § 36(5) of Act No. 500/2004 Coll.
- § 5b(1) of Act No. 67/2022 Coll.
- § 50 of Act No. 258/2000 Coll.
- § 20(3) of Act No. 561/2004 Coll.
Schools may require:
- proof of identity of the legal guardian (passport),
- proof of identity of the child (passport or birth certificate),
- information about residence status (for asylum seekers, temporary protection holders, etc.).
For children with temporary protection (Ukraine), schools record:
- visa sticker number, or
- passport number and residence permit number.
👉 Foreign children are NOT required to:
- prove vaccination status,
- present a residence permit as a condition for admission.
How Parents Can Support School Readiness
The National Pedagogical Institute of the Czech Republic recommends focusing on:
- quality communication and reading together,
- emotional security and social interaction,
- regular daily routines,
- physical activity and independence,
- positive motivation and anticipation of school.
🔗 Source: https://www.npi.cz
If you are a foreign parent unsure how to navigate school enrolment in Czechia, early preparation and communication with schools is key. Language barriers should never prevent your child from accessing education.
