Completion of compulsory education abroad, in a foreign school in the Czech Republic or in a European school

Main information

As the child’s legal representative (parent), you have the option to choose the following for compulsory education:

  • school abroad (if you live abroad with your child),
  • a foreign school in the territory of the Czech Republic (if the school has issued a permit for the fulfilment of compulsory schooling) or
  • European School (if you, as a parent, belong to the group of people whose children are designated by the European School).

If the pupil:

  1. completes attendance abroad and cannot attend a local (primary) school, has the possibility to choose whether to take exams at the so-called (Czech) tribal school from all subjects according to the curriculum of the primary school and thus obtain a Czech primary education.
  2. he/she attends abroad and attends a local (primary) school, he/she has the possibility to choose whether he/she will take examinations of selected subjects in his/her elementary school and thus obtain a Czech primary education.
  3. performs attendance at a foreign school in the territory of the Czech Republic, which has the permission of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, must take examinations of selected subjects in its elementary school and thus obtain a Czech basic education.
  4. they attend the European School, they do not have to pass any examinations, because in the European School education is automatically recognised.

The records of pupils completing compulsory education in the above-mentioned ways are kept by:

  • a primary school, if the pupil is registered in that school (and may also take the relevant examinations in that school), or
  • MŠMT, if the pupil does not have a tribal school (and the MŠMT will also document the fulfilment of compulsory schooling abroad).

This applies to you if

Are you the legal representative of a child who:

  • has Czech citizenship and
  • fulfils compulsory school attendance abroad or in a foreign school in the territory of the Czech Republic.

When to use this service

Anytime during the school year.

Vyřízení služby - osobně

What you need if you are using this service

In the case of a primary school, it is necessary to submit an application for admission to education by official means (in person or by post) and at the same time to attach a notification of education abroad or in a foreign school in the territory of the Czech Republic, which must include:

  • the expected period of compulsory schooling abroad or in a foreign school in the Czech Republic or in the European School,
  • address of the pupil's place of residence,
  • Or the address of the school.

To notify the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, it is possible to use the form published on the website of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports and send it by post or deliver it in person to the mailroom.

To prove the course of education abroad, send a document from a foreign school (e.g. a school certificate from a school abroad) or a declaration on the pupil’s individual teaching.

Translate the annexes proving the course of education into Czech (with the exception of Slovak).

Where and how to solve this service

The service is provided by a primary school, where the pupil completes compulsory schooling. In case you do not have a tribal school, the service is handled by MŠMT .  

  1. Deliver the application for admission, including the notification (see above), to the tribal school
    • in person or
    • by post.
  2. Send the form to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports by post or deliver it in person to the following address:

Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports 

How much will you pay

None

Vyřízení služby - elektronicky

What you need if you are using this service

In the case of a primary school, it is necessary to send (by data message or e-mail with electronic signature) a notification of education abroad or in a foreign school in the Czech Republic, which must contain:

  • the expected period of compulsory schooling abroad or in a foreign school in the Czech Republic or in the European School,
  • address of the pupil's place of residence,
  • Or the address of the school.

The Tribal School Notification Form may be used to notify the Tribal School.

For the notification of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, it is possible to use the form published on the website of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.

To prove the course of education abroad, send a document from a foreign school (e.g. a school certificate from a school abroad) or a declaration on the pupil’s individual teaching.

Translate the annexes proving the course of education into Czech (with the exception of Slovak).

Where and how to solve this service

The service is provided by a primary school, where the pupil completes compulsory schooling. In case you do not have a tribal school, the service is handled by MŠMT .  

  1. Deliver the notification (see above) to the Tribal School
    • a data message; or
    • by e-mail with electronic signature.
  2. Please send the registration form to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports: 

How much will you pay

None

Additional information

What is the benefit of this service

The benefit of the service is the possibility of obtaining basic education in accordance with Czech legislation while staying abroad.  

By taking the relevant examinations at a primary school in the Czech Republic, education abroad is considered equivalent to that achieved at a Czech primary school (unless education is recognised automatically – details on Recognition of the equivalence of foreign certificates to European School graduates) and enables seamless access to education in secondary schools or conservatories.

By successfully passing the relevant examinations in a primary school in the Czech Republic, the pupil directly obtains basic education under Czech law and education abroad is considered equivalent to that obtained in a Czech primary school (unless education is recognised automatically – details on Recognition of the equivalence of foreign certificates to European School graduates).

Appeal options

This is not an authorisation, but a notification. It's not a matter to be decided.

Legislation

Sanctions

If, as a legal representative, you neglect the fulfilment of your child’s compulsory schooling (this obligation also applies to Czech citizens abroad), this may be an offence with a fine of up to CZK 5000.

Frequently asked questions

By when do legal representatives have to notify the primary school of the completion of compulsory schooling abroad?

If the legal representative of a child who resides abroad for a long time decides to choose the option of proving the fulfilment of compulsory school attendance at a primary school, the child registers for compulsory school attendance between 15 January and 15 February of the calendar year in which the child is to start compulsory school attendance.

If the legal representative decides to register at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, he/she sends the form by the end of September of the calendar year in which the child is to start compulsory schooling. 

Which elementary school is tribal for my child?

It is possible to choose a primary school established by a municipality or a union of municipalities established in the school district in which the pupil has a permanent residence (hereinafter referred to as a catchment school) or any other school. The enrolment consists in forwarding (sending) the application for admission to education to the headmaster of the school. The legal representative then continues to prove the fulfilment of compulsory school attendance at this (tribal) school.

In which cases is compulsory schooling directly announced by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports?

The legal representative may decide to remove the pupil from the tribal school or not to register the pupil there. In this case, however, they must report the fulfilment of compulsory schooling directly to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. Also, if the parent of a pupil who, from the outset, completes compulsory schooling abroad and does not choose a primary school for his or her child, documents the fulfilment of compulsory schooling directly to the Ministry.

Further information on the fulfilment of compulsory schooling abroad is available on the website of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.