School enrolment

Yes. Compulsory schooling applies to every child living in Poland, citizen or not: it starts in the year the child turns 7 and lasts until the end of primary school, and education is compulsory until 18 (Art. 35 of the Education Law). If the duty is not met, the gmina can impose a coercive fine on the parents, up to 10,000 PLN at a time.

Public school costs nothing: foreigners' children study there on the same terms as Polish citizens, at secondary school until 18 or until finishing it (Art. 165(1) and (2)). Fees at non-public and international schools are set by the school itself.

Free extra Polish lessons for up to 24 months, help from a person who speaks the home-country language for up to 12 months, and catch-up classes for up to 12 months (Art. 165(7)-(10)). If the gmina has a preparatory class, the child can attend it until the end of the school year, with a possible one-year extension.

No. The local school admits children living in its area, and you confirm your residence with a statement. PESEL will be useful later, for example for the e-register and benefits, but not having one does not block enrolment.

The head decides, based on the certificate or report from abroad and the child's age. If there are no documents, the parent makes a statement about the child's schooling and the school holds an interview. That is why it is worth translating the certificate before applying.

Yes. The local school admits a child at any point in the year once the family lives in its area. The spring admissions round is for first grades and schools outside the catchment.

Through an application to the social assistance centre if the family income is within the threshold. Since 1 January 2025 the basic social assistance income threshold is 823 PLN per person in the family. We help prepare the application.

Yes. Since 1 February 2026 a foreigner receives 800+ for a child only if the child is fulfilling compulsory schooling or education in the Polish system, and a six-year-old the year of preschool preparation. This is checked against SIO data. The second condition is the parent's work in Poland, with exceptions, e.g. for children with a disability certificate. So it is better not to delay enrolment.