Kindergarten enrollment in Czechia (zápis do mateřské školy) in 2026 runs from March 15 to April 15 — the exact day within this window is set by each kindergarten together with the municipality. Applications go directly to the chosen kindergarten, and children age 3+ who live within its catchment area (spádový obvod) are guaranteed a place.
The zápis used to take place in the first half of May, but the so-called odklad amendment to the Education Act (Act No. 239/2025 Coll.) moved it to an earlier date — the new rules were first applied for enrollment for the 2026/27 school year. Let's go through how admissions work, which criteria matter, what documents you'll need (vaccination records being the main sticking point), and how much state kindergartens, dětské skupiny, and private kindergartens cost.
Preschool education in Czechia is provided by several types of institutions, each with its own admission rules:
Children of foreigners with legal residence in Czechia are enrolled in state kindergartens under the same conditions as Czech children: to determine spádovost, the child's actual place of residence (místo pobytu) is used instead of permanent registration. For parents, a kindergarten spot is also a way to get back to working in Czechia: a municipal kindergarten typically operates from 6:30–7:00 to 16:30–17:00.
Under the updated Education Act, zápis do mateřské školy runs from March 15 to April 15 — a month to a month and a half earlier than the previous May window. The exact date (usually 1–3 days) is set by the kindergarten's director in agreement with the municipality, so dates vary between cities and even between Prague districts: in spring 2026, Praha 4 accepted applications on March 17–18, Praha 11 on March 30–31, and Brno on April 13–15.
| Stage | When |
|---|---|
| Criteria and dates published on the kindergarten's website | February – March |
| Application submission (zápis) | March 15 – April 15 |
| Admission decision (správní řízení) | usually within 30 days of submission |
| Start of school year | September 1 |
Large cities run electronic pre-registration systems: in Prague, these are district portals called zapisdoms (e.g., zapisdoms-praha4.praha.eu), and in Brno, zapisdoms.brno.cz. These generate an application that you then bring to the kindergarten in person, send via datová schránka, or mail. Results are posted as lists of registration numbers — children's names are not published.
There's no single unified queue — each kindergarten runs its own admissions process based on criteria published by the director. But the Education Act sets the basic rules:
The law doesn't forbid admitting children under 3, but they have no guaranteed right to a place — they're accepted only if spots remain free, and children under 2 aren't accepted at all. You can apply to several kindergartens at once, which improves your odds, since each application is reviewed independently.
Preschool education in Czechia becomes mandatory from age 5. If a child turns 5 before August 31, they must attend kindergarten starting September 1 — for the 2026/27 intake, this applies to children born between September 1, 2020 and August 31, 2021. This obligation also applies to children of foreigners staying in Czechia longer than 90 days, including holders of long-term residence, permanent residence, and temporary protection. Parents who fail to enroll a child face a fine of up to 5,000 CZK.
What's important to know about the mandatory year:
For the next step, see our guide on enrolling a child in a Czech school.
Vaccinations are the most common reason for rejecting children under 5. If your child was vaccinated under a different national schedule, a Czech pediatrician will compare the vaccination record with the Czech schedule and administer any missing doses if needed — register your child with a pediatrician in advance. Our directory of vetted doctors can help you find one accepting new patients, and for translating the birth certificate and vaccination record you'll need a certified translation — reach out to our translators.
The fee (úplata) at state kindergartens is set by the municipality, but the law caps it at 8% of the minimum wage. With the 2026 minimum wage at 22,400 CZK, the ceiling is 1,792 CZK per month; in practice, many cities charge less.
| Type of institution | Monthly price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| State MŠ | up to 1,792 CZK | the final (mandatory) year and any postponement year are free; low-income families (recipients of state social assistance that replaced přídavek na dítě) are exempt |
| State-subsidized dětská skupina (child under 3) | around 7,200 CZK for daily attendance | 2026 cap: 343 CZK per day; for attendance of only 2–3 days a week — 377.30 CZK per day |
| Dětská skupina (child 3+) | per the group's own price list | the state cap no longer applies |
| Private MŠ | 7,000 – 20,000 CZK | language-immersion and Montessori kindergartens in Prague can run up to 30,000 CZK or more |
Meals (stravné) are billed separately everywhere, according to each kindergarten's own rate. The "školkovné" tax credit was abolished as of 2024, so kindergarten fees can no longer be deducted from taxes. For exact úplata amounts, check your municipality's decision — these are published by June 30 for the following school year.
Technically yes — from age 2, but without a guaranteed place: they'll only be accepted if capacity allows, which is rare in big cities. Below age 3, a dětská skupina or private kindergarten is a more realistic option.
Yes, there's no limit — each kindergarten reviews the application separately. Once you get positive decisions, choose one kindergarten and notify the others so they can free up the spot for other children.
A child under 5 without confirmed vaccination per the Czech schedule (or proof of immunity or a medical exemption) must be legally refused by a state kindergarten. Foreign vaccinations are recognized: the pediatrician will compare the record with the Czech schedule and administer any missing doses. This requirement doesn't apply to pre-schoolers in the mandatory year.
Yes, language ability is not an admission requirement. For foreign children in the mandatory pre-school year, kindergartens provide free language support (jazyková příprava). To brush up on Czech before school, tutors can help, and free options for parents are listed in our guide where to learn Czech.
The director can still admit a child outside the main intake — throughout the year, if spots are available. But for a five-year-old, enrollment is mandatory: if the deadline is missed, submit the application as soon as possible, or you risk a fine of up to 5,000 CZK.
No. The mandatory attendance rule applies only on school days — it doesn't cover school holidays (including July and August), and absences during that time don't need to be justified.
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