Bildung für ausländische Kinder in der Ukraine: staatliche Schulen, internationale Programme und rechtliche Nuancen

Bildung in der Ukraine steht auch ausländischen Kindern in staatlichen und internationalen Schulen zur Verfügung. Erfahren Sie, welche Dokumente erforderlich sind, wie Sie sich einschreiben, ob Sie Ukrainisch sprechen müssen und andere wichtige Details

Hilfe für Ausländer, die in der Ukraine studieren möchten

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Foreigners planning to live in Ukraine for a long time will sooner or later face the issue of education for their children. Are foreign children entitled to attend Ukrainian schools? What documents are required? Are there any international programs? In this article, we will examine these issues from a legal perspective.

The right to education for foreign children: what the law says

According to Article 3 of the Law of Ukraine “On Education,” every person in Ukraine has the right to education regardless of citizenship or legal status. This means that foreign children have the legal right to study in Ukrainian educational institutions.

Important: This right applies to children with a residence permit (temporary or permanent) as well as those who are in Ukraine on a visa, refugee status, or temporary protection.

Read also: How many foreign students are there in Ukraine and what are they studying?

State schools: accessibility for foreigners and admission requirements

State general education institutions are open to foreign children. In most cases, education is free of charge, provided that the parents or the child have one of the following documents:

● residence permit (temporary or permanent);

● refugee status or status of a person in need of additional protection;

● temporary protection certificate (for example, as for Ukrainian citizens in other EU countries – an equivalent is also possible in Ukraine).

In cases where a child is in Ukraine without a clear legal status, they may also be enrolled in school. However, this depends on the specific institution and the decision of the local education authority. In such cases, an official translation of previous education documents may be required.

What documents are required for enrollment in school?

To enroll a child in a Ukrainian school, you usually need to prepare the following documents:

● application from one of the parents or guardian;

● passport of the father/mother or guardian;

● child's birth certificate;

● medical certificate (form 086-1/о);

● vaccination certificate;

● document confirming legal residence in Ukraine (residence permit, visa, certificate from the State Migration Service, etc.);

● documents on previous education with translation (if necessary).

In some cases, you may need to apostille or legalize educational documents from other countries. Visit Ukraine lawyers can help you arrange all translations in accordance with Ukrainian law.

International and private schools: an alternative to public education

Foreign families also often choose private or international schools, especially those that teach in English or other foreign languages. There are currently a number of private and international schools operating in Ukraine, including:

● Pechersk School International (PSI) — Kyiv;

● British International School Ukraine — Kyiv, Dnipro;

● Meridian International School — Kyiv;

● Ukrainian Global School — online format with international accreditation.

Such schools usually:

● operate under the IB, Cambridge, and British curricula;

● award diplomas that are recognized abroad;

● are fee-paying.

Legally, a foreign child can attend such institutions on the same basis as other children, based on a contract with their parents.

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Recognition (nostrification) of foreign education in Ukraine

If a child has already studied abroad, it is necessary to go through the procedure of recognition of foreign education — nostrification. This is done by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (MES).

● For lower grades, a translation of the report card or certificate is often sufficient.

● For admission to middle or high school, an official recognition procedure is required, especially if the child is transferring to the Ukrainian education program.

The procedure can take several weeks, and legal assistance greatly simplifies the process, especially if the documents were issued in countries with non-standard requirements.

What if the child does not know Ukrainian: language adaptation

Most public schools in Ukraine teach in Ukrainian. However, this is not a barrier — many institutions organize language adaptation:

● special preparatory courses in Ukrainian;

● integration programs;

● individual approaches in class.

In addition, some private schools teach in English, French, and German. The law allows the use of minority languages — for example, in schools with Romanian, Polish, or Hungarian as the language of instruction.

How can Visit Ukraine lawyers help?

A child's education is not only about school, but also about legal compliance with status, documents, and contracts. The team of migration lawyers at Visit Ukraine provides professional assistance to foreign families in the following areas:

● Preparation of translations and legalization of documents;

● Apostille, consular legalization, and recognition of education (nostrification);

● Legal status of children in Ukraine (visas, residence permits, protection, etc.);

● Drafting contracts with private or international schools;

● Preparing applications to educational institutions.

Contact Visit Ukraine specialists to avoid bureaucratic mistakes and ensure a stable educational process for your child.

Not sure which consultation format to choose? Contact our managers via Telegram or WhatsApp – they will help you choose the best option for your situation.

Reminder! Starting in 2027, Ukrainian schoolchildren will study under a new reform that includes a number of innovations. Read about the changes the government is preparing for school education in our previous article.

Photo: Getty Images

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