Kindergarten in Poland: Enrolment, Fees and Recruitment
Short answer: Public kindergarten covers ages 3-6, with at least 5 free hours a day. Extra hours cost at most 1 zloty per hour. Recruitment is run by each municipality.
If you move to Poland with a child between three and six, the first school-system step is kindergarten (przedszkole). Public kindergartens are run by the city or municipality, and the basic hours are free. This guide explains who can enrol, how recruitment works, what you pay and what to do if your child is not accepted, using the government's gov.pl service page and the Ministry of Education (MEN), as read in October 2026.
Which ages are covered
Preschool education covers children from 3 to 6 years old. In exceptional cases a child can start at 2.5 years, but such a child cannot use the normal recruitment: the head of the kindergarten decides whether to admit them.
A child aged 6 must complete one year of preschool preparation, in a kindergarten, a preschool class in a primary school or another form of preschool education. The municipality must provide a place for every 3-, 4- and 5-year-old whose parents want one, and for every 6-year-old. MEN adds that the duty applies to children who live in the municipality.
What a public kindergarten is
According to MEN, a public kindergarten follows the national core curriculum, offers free teaching, education and care for a time set by the municipality of at least 5 hours a day, recruits on the principle of universal access and employs qualified teachers.
What you pay
The gov.pl service page says that enrolling is free. Beyond the free hours, the municipal council sets a fee for the extra time, and MEN says it cannot be higher than 1 zloty per hour of classes. Meals are usually charged separately and the amount depends on the kindergarten, so ask for the current price list. We did not find a nationwide figure for meals on an official page.
How recruitment works
Each municipality runs its own recruitment, with its own dates, so start on the website of your city office. The gov.pl page describes the usual steps:
- Choose a public kindergarten and find out when recruitment starts and whether it is online.
- If it is not online, pick up the application at the kindergarten, fill it in and submit it there.
- If it is online, register on the municipality's platform and fill in the form. The municipality must let you choose at least three places. List them in your order of preference.
- Wait for the list of qualified children, confirm your place and bring any extra documents.
- After the list of admitted children is published, sign the agreement with the kindergarten.
If your child already goes to a kindergarten and you want them to stay, you submit a declaration of continuation to the head, no later than 7 days before recruitment begins.
Who gets a place first
Under the national rules, the children who are considered first include those from large families, children with a disability, children whose parents or siblings have a disability, children raised by a single parent and children in foster care. Each municipality can add local criteria, so read the rules of your own city.
Extra documents may include a statement that the family is large, a disability certificate, a court judgment on divorce or separation or a parent's death certificate, and a statement that you raise the child alone. The municipality can check that the information is true. If you hold the Large Family Card, see our guide to the Large Family Card for foreigners.
Living in one municipality, applying in another
You can take part in recruitment outside the municipality where you live. A kindergarten admits children from its own municipality first. If places remain after recruitment, it may admit children from elsewhere.
If your child is not admitted
You can ask the recruitment committee to explain the decision, no later than 3 days after the list of admitted and non-admitted children is published. Then you can appeal to the head of the kindergarten within 3 days of receiving the explanation. If the head refuses, you can complain to an administrative court. You can also join the supplementary recruitment, which works like the first round, or ask the municipal office to point you to a kindergarten.
Language and settling in
The gov.pl page does not set a Polish-language requirement for kindergarten. Ask the kindergarten how it works with a child who does not yet speak Polish. For older children, see our guide to school enrolment for foreign children, and plan around the school calendar.
Notes on the sources
The gov.pl service page was last updated on 16 June 2023, and the MEN page cites an earlier consolidated version of the education law. The rules described are long-standing, but local dates, fees and criteria change every year. Confirm them with your city office.
Frequently asked questions
Is kindergarten compulsory in Poland?
Only for 6-year-olds, who must complete one year of preschool preparation. Places for 3- to 5-year-olds are guaranteed if you want one.
Is public kindergarten free?
The basic hours (at least 5 a day) are free. Extra hours are charged at up to 1 zloty per hour, according to MEN. Meals are usually extra.
Can I apply to a kindergarten in another city?
Yes, but kindergartens admit children from their own municipality first, and take others only if places remain.
When does recruitment start?
It depends on your municipality. Check your city office's website for the dates and the online platform.
What if my child is not admitted?
Ask the committee for a written reason within 3 days, appeal to the head within 3 days after that, and look at supplementary recruitment.
