Enrolling Ukrainian children in school in the EU in 2026: documents, deadlines, language support

Who has the right to school. Children with temporary protection have the right to education on equal terms with citizens of the host country — this is guaranteed by EU Directive 2001/55/EC (Art. 14: children under 18 study under the same conditions as locals). On 13 June 2025 the EU Council reached political agreement to extend temporary protection for Ukrainians until 4 March 2027, and the Council adopted the formal decision on 15 July 2025 — so access to education is preserved. As of 30 September 2025, 4.3 million people held the status, of whom almost a third (31.0%) were children.

What to prepare: the basic set of documents

The list differs by country and specific school, but almost everywhere they ask for:

• a passport or birth certificate of the child;
• a card or confirmation of temporary protection;
• a document of one of the parents and proof of address of residence;
• details of medical insurance and information about vaccinations;
• previous school reports / certificates from the Ukrainian school (to determine the class).

If there are no school documents from Ukraine, the school usually enrols the child by age and assigns an interview or tests.

Poland

From 1 September 2024, attending a Polish school is compulsory for children from Ukraine on equal terms with Polish pupils (obowiązek szkolny). Key rule: from 1 June 2025 the 800+ and Good Start (300 zł) benefits depend on fulfilling the obligation to study — the child must attend a Polish school, kindergarten or official home schooling in person; an exception is made for pupils in the final year of a Ukrainian school, who may complete their studies remotely. Separately, under the "special law" (specustawa) leaving Poland for more than 30 days terminates the UKR status, and with it the right to these benefits.

Changes in 2026: after the phased repeal of the "special law" (from 5 March 2026), the right to 800+ for Ukrainians is additionally tied to the official employment of one parent and payment of social contributions in Poland, and checks on fulfilment of the school obligation began in February 2026. Check the exact conditions and exceptions with ZUS — they may change.

• Language support: at least 4 hours of Polish per week, free of charge, for up to 36 months; a preparatory unit (oddział przygotowawczy) is available for newcomers.
• Good Start: the application is submitted from 1 July to 30 November via Emp@tia, a bank or ZUS PUE; submitting in July–August guarantees payment by 30 September.

Czechia

Education is compulsory from age 6 and lasts 9 years. From 1 September 2025 the updated School Act applies, which changes the rules for foreign children:

• Ukrainian children are enrolled in the standard April deadlines, like Czech children;
• free Czech language preparation is expanded to 400 hours / 20 months (the entitlement — up to 24 months for school-age children);
• creating separate classes for Ukrainian children only is prohibited — the course is towards integration into ordinary classes;
• when entering secondary schools, Ukrainians with temporary protection have a number of concessions: the Czech exam can be replaced by an interview, mathematics — taken in Ukrainian on request; and if the test is conducted in Czech only, the child gets +25% time and a translation dictionary.

Germany

Schulpflicht applies — schooling is compulsory. Education is the competence of the federal states (Bundesland), so the enrolment procedure and documents differ by region — contact your local Schulamt. Integration takes place through Willkommensklassen (introductory classes with intensive German) followed by transfer to ordinary classes. In the 2nd quarter of 2025, more than 227,000 Ukrainian children were studying in German schools.

Hungary

• Kindergarten — from age 3, school — from age 6; the school year starts on 1 September, enrolment of first-graders — in spring.
• Free meals for the first 6 months after enrolment, free textbooks;
• schools receive funding for a minimum of 5 hours of individual lessons per week (language or catch-up);
• in Budapest there are two free schools with Ukrainian as the language of instruction.

Parallel study at a Ukrainian school

A child can combine the local school with a simplified "Ukrainian component" remotely (Ukrainian language, literature, history, geography). Registration — through the single window ukrainian.studies.mon.gov.ua, operating since 2 June 2025. In 2025 the programme was expanded: in addition to Ukrainian studies, other subjects (mathematics, English) are also available by choice.

Order of actions

1. Identify the local school by your address of residence and contact it or the education authority.
2. Gather the basic set of documents (passport/certificate, protection card, vaccinations, reports).
3. Clarify the enrolment deadlines: in Czechia and Hungary — in spring; in Poland — throughout the year, but in person.
4. Sign up for language support (preparatory class / Willkommensklasse).
5. If needed, register the "Ukrainian component" at ukrainian.studies.mon.gov.ua.
6. In Poland — submit the application for Good Start (1.07–30.11), confirm in-person attendance and clarify the employment conditions for keeping 800+.