How to enrol a child in a kindergarten in Slovakia

Who this guide is for

For parents from Ukraine living in Slovakia with a child aged two to six who are looking for a place in a public or private kindergarten.

What to prepare

• The application for pre-primary education (žiadosť o prijatie na predprimárne vzdelávanie): electronic through the ePrihlášky portal or the kindergarten’s paper form; the education ministry offers a bilingual Slovak–Ukrainian form.
• A paediatrician’s certificate of the child’s health including the compulsory vaccinations (potvrdenie o zdravotnej spôsobilosti); the application is not processed without it.
• The child’s birth certificate, proof of your and the child’s status in Slovakia (for example the ODÍDENEC document), and proof of your home address, which decides your catchment kindergarten.
• Both parents’ signatures on the application, or an explanation of why only one signs (for example the other parent is abroad or unreachable).

What to do, step by step

1. 1Applications to public kindergartens are filed every year from 1 to 31 May for the school year starting on 1 September. Each kindergarten publishes the exact place and dates, so check its website or the notice on its door. Private kindergartens admit during the year under their own rules.
2. 2Know who is admitted first. Children who turn five by 31 August come first: the year before school is compulsory for them and their catchment kindergarten (spádová materská škola) takes them. Then places go to children aged three and over; two-year-olds are admitted only exceptionally.
3. 3Book the paediatrician early for the health certificate with the vaccination record. If your child has no Slovak doctor yet, find a paediatrician first: the UA Near guide on finding a family doctor shows how.
4. 4Apply to several kindergartens at once. Through ePrihlášky you can rank them by preference and upload the certificate once; a kindergarten may not refuse to accept a paper application. Ask for confirmation that the application was received.
5. 5The head issues the decision to admit or refuse in summer (on 8 July in 2026) on the ePrihlášky electronic notice board, by post or to your e-government inbox. A refusal can be appealed within the period stated in the decision; at the same time ask other kindergartens nearby about free places.
6. 6Before 1 September ask about the settling-in period, meals, the monthly contribution and language support. The child’s language is not a legal admission criterion; ask how the kindergarten helps children who do not speak Slovak yet.

Fees and deadlines

Applications to public kindergartens: 1–31 May every year. Compulsory pre-primary year: children who turn five by 31 August. Admission decisions in 2026: 8 July. Public kindergartens charge a monthly contribution set by the founder, with meals paid separately; no contribution is paid for a child in the compulsory pre-primary year.

Official sources

Open these links before submitting documents—the official authority defines the current rules.

• Ministerstvo školstva, výskumu, vývoja a mládeže Slovenskej republikyOd 1. mája budú rodičia podávať prihlášky do materských škôl
• Ministerstvo školstva, výskumu, vývoja a mládeže Slovenskej republikyPrijímanie detí na predprimárne vzdelávanie
• Ministerstvo školstva, výskumu, vývoja a mládeže Slovenskej republikyePrihlášky – Materské školy: pomoc a podpora
• Ministerstvo školstva, výskumu, vývoja a mládeže Slovenskej republikyProces prijímania do školy (informácie pre rodičov z Ukrajiny)

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