Since 1 September 2025, compulsory education has applied to Ukrainian children with temporary protection in the age categories specified by law. This is an existing obligation, not a proposed reform. The basis is section 161r of School Act 245/2008 and section 83 of School Administration Act 321/2025. This guide was checked on 2 October 2026.
Age and status: check the child’s circumstances
The special obligation concerns a Ukrainian-citizen child for whom the temporary protection procedure has begun. The pre-primary route covers children who turn five by 31 August of the relevant calendar year. The school route covers those who turn six by that date and have not yet turned 16. A shorthand age range of “five to sixteen” is insufficient; the reference date and the child’s circumstances matter.
General schooling rules may apply to other statuses. Lack of permanent residence does not remove educational entitlement, and temporary protection does not automatically exempt a child from education. If the child is already 16 or reaches that age during the year, discuss continuing education with the school: the end of the special obligation is not a ban on further study.
The three months start when the protection procedure begins
Under section 161r(3), the legal representative must request placement within three months of the start of the child’s temporary protection procedure, not three months after the final document is issued. Keep evidence of that starting date and of your school application. Applying soon after arrival leaves time to arrange grade placement, language support and an available place.
Earlier arrivals had transitional duties: children whose protection procedure began or protection was granted by 31 December 2024 had to start education from 1 September 2025. Cases from 1 January–31 August 2025 had a separate three-month period after 1 September 2025. By October 2026, these deadlines have passed. If your child remains unenrolled, contact a school and municipality now rather than wait until spring.
If the chosen school is full
Submit your request to the headteacher with the child’s age, temporary protection address and previous education. If placement is impossible, section 161r(6) requires the headteacher to notify the family, municipality and relevant regional school administration. The regional authority then identifies a school. One institution’s refusal does not end the placement process.
Keep a dated record of applications, schools, replies and responsible staff contacts. Send it to RÚŠS if placement remains unresolved. Discuss language difficulties alongside the adaptation plan; extra language courses should not become a reason to postpone enrolment indefinitely.
Online schooling and attendance
Ukrainian distance schooling does not itself remove Slovak obligations. An alternative lawful education arrangement must be formally established under the School Act with the competent school; simply saying “we study online” is insufficient. After admission, confirm absence, illness and travel procedures, and discuss the workload of two programmes with the class teacher.
Under section 83 of Act 321/2025, failure to request placement and statutory levels of unjustified absence can constitute an offence. The municipality handles these cases and can impose a fine up to €331.50, including repeated fines. This is a maximum, not a fixed charge for each missed lesson. Contact the school promptly about attendance difficulties and retain evidence explaining absences.
When leaving Slovakia permanently
When leaving permanently, notify the headteacher in writing that education will end and agree the date. Do not simply stop attending. Obtain records for the next school, close meal and after-school arrangements, and keep a copy of the notice. This helps prevent unexplained absences and supports the transition to a new school.