How to Enroll a Child in School in Georgia

Moving to another country always brings up many new questions. For a family, one of the most important questions is which school to select for their child and where to begin the registration process.

You have to select an appropriate educational institution, figure out registration, translate the documents, and check whether the child will be able to study in a language that they understand. Since Georgian websites and the names of government institutions are unfamiliar, the whole process at first appears quite complicated.

The sequence of actions is quite clear. If the child is entering first grade, there is no need to confirm their preschool education; however, if the child has studied in another country, an academic transcript or a certificate from the previous school will have to be submitted, along with the procedure for recognizing the completed study program.

In this article, we will explain in plain language how to enroll a child in a school in Tbilisi, Batumi, and some of the other cities in Georgia, and we will also explain what documents have to be prepared.

Information is current as of 2026. Registration dates and seat availability may change, so be sure to clarify conditions with the chosen school before submitting documents. To avoid missing important deadlines, we recommend regularly checking the Ministry of Education page and the social media accounts of selected educational institutions.

Is it possible for children from abroad to enter schools in Georgia?

Yes, children from other countries can freely study in Georgia. For citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and other countries, there is no separate admission procedure. General rules for foreigners apply to them.

The main difference relates to documents. Birth certificates, passports, transcripts, and certificates obtained from foreign schools must be translated into Georgian and then notarised.

If a child is starting first grade, the process is relatively simple. If they have previously studied in another country and are entering, for instance, fifth or eighth grade, the Georgian system needs to determine what curriculum they have completed to enroll them properly, and official recognition of their foreign education will be needed.

How to Enroll a Foreign Child in a School in Georgia

It is necessary to know which class the child is going to join right away. If the child is entering school for the first time, you should complete the normal first-grade registration process. If the child has already been studying abroad, you will need to provide documents from the previous school. This will determine the enrollment process after that.

Also, decide in advance which language of instruction suits you. In Georgia, there are public and private schools offering instruction in Georgian, Russian, Ukrainian, English, and other languages. Private schools may offer international programs. However, the selection heavily depends on the city, grade level, and available seats.

Admission of a Foreign Child to the First Grade

If the child has never attended school before, there is no need for the recognition of their foreign education. The parents go through the normal registration process, just as all the other first-graders do. They have to submit documents from abroad translated into Georgian.

For the academic year 2026–2027, children who reached their sixth birthday on or before September 15, 2026, were eligible to be entered in first grade. The rules regarding age are subject to change from time to time. It is therefore important that you check the specific conditions for the academic year in which your child begins school.

The registration is carried out in stages. At the first stage, applications are received for children with special educational needs. Then registration is given to certain priority groups, such as those who have a brother or sister already studying at the school.

Next comes registration according to place of residence, after which general registration takes place for the remaining available spots. From the 2026–2027 academic year, the territorial principle will be applied in both Tbilisi and Batumi.

Dates for all stages are published by the Ministry of Education of Georgia. Online registration takes place via the website registration.emis.ge.

What Documents Are Needed for First Grade

The main documents include the parent's application, the parent's passport, and the child's birth certificate or passport; the application specifies the residential address and phone number.

If the family has a Georgian residence permit, a copy should also be included, and foreign documents should be provided with a translation into Georgian.

Official requirements are established in Order No. 675 of the Ministry of Education.

The school may additionally ask for a photo of the child or a medical certificate. So, after completing the online registration, you should phone the school to find out exactly what hard copies are required. This will prevent the situation in which a copy or certificate is missing when the submission deadline is about to expire.

Can a Child Enroll in School Without a Residence Permit?

If a Georgian residence document is available, it should be provided. If the child does not have a residence permit or a Georgian personal identification number, it is advisable to contact the school directly.

Don't wait until the final day to speak with the administration; you should bring the child's passport, birth certificate, and the parents' documents. The school personnel will then tell you how to register an international student and what other information might be needed.

The fact that there are problems with the online form doesn't mean that the child cannot be admitted. Sometimes foreign details have to be entered manually by the school administration.

How to Transfer a Child from a Foreign School

If the child is entering a grade higher than first, the Georgian school must determine which grade they can continue their studies in.

To do this, you will have to obtain a transcript or a certificate from the previous school. The document should state the grade level, the length of the period of study, the subjects studied, and the grades obtained. The more detailed the certificate, the simpler it will be for the school receiving it to compare the foreign curriculum with the Georgian one.

For example, if the child needs to transition to seventh grade, you must confirm that they have completed the curriculum of the earlier grades; merely having a birth certificate is not enough for this.

If the school year has not been finished, then ask the previous school to provide a certificate for the part of the year that has already been completed. Still, if the child has completed the entire academic year, it is advisable to get a final transcript.

Every document produced by the school has to be translated into Georgian, and for it to be processed, a notarized translation is officially required.

When Recognition of Foreign Education Is Required

Foreign school education is recognized by the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement — EQE.

The Center checks whether the named school exists, whether the school in fact issued the document, and whether the child's completed curriculum matches that of the Georgian education system.

Usually, parents first find a school in Georgia and then hand the documents to the school's administration. The school reviews the transcript, determines the likely grade level, and draws a conclusion about curriculum alignment. The documents are then sent in for recognition.

For the procedure, you will need:

• Application;

• Copies of the child's and parent's passports;

• Birth certificate;

• Transcript or certificate from the foreign school (with notarized translation);

• Conclusion of the receiving Georgian school.

How Much Recognition of Education Costs

On the official EQE website, the following timeframes and fees are listed:

Detailed requirements and payment details are published on the official EQE webpage.

You should not start by submitting an application to EQE on your own if a school has not been selected yet. First, talk to the administration of the institution where the child will continue their education. The school must participate in determining the grade level and preparing the necessary documents.

How to Find a School with a Russian-Language Sector

In Tbilisi and Batumi, there are public and private schools where children can study in Russian. However, the phrase "Russian school" can mean completely different options.

In one case, it is a public Georgian school with a separate Russian-language sector. In another, it is a private school where the main instruction takes place in Russian. There are also schools where Russian is taught as a separate subject, but other classes are conducted in Georgian or English.

Therefore, when speaking with the administration, it is better not to limit yourself to the question: "Do you have Russian language?" Clarify in which language mathematics, natural sciences, history, and other core subjects are taught.

In Tbilisi and Batumi, there are also separate Ukrainian-language sections—established for children arriving from Ukraine—based at Schools No. 41 and 220 in Tbilisi and Schools No. 20 and 13 in Batumi. All instruction is conducted in Ukrainian.

Parents should ask in advance:

• Is there space in the required grade?

• What is the language of the main lessons?

• Must the child already know Georgian?

• Was an interview held before admission?

• Does the school provide help with the recognition of the foreign transcript?

• Is there going to be an extra charge for education?

In public schools, education is usually free, but admission depends on current registration rules and seat availability. Private schools admit children under their own rules and set their own tuition fees.

It is important not to mix the Russian section with the Ukrainian one. In Tbilisi and Batumi there are also individual Ukrainian-language programs which have been set up for children who came from Ukraine.

What is a Georgian personal number and is it necessary to obtain one?

A personal number is an identification number used by state systems to find the child's data. Having one significantly simplifies online registration for a school or municipal kindergarten.

When a number has been assigned, make sure to give it in the application; if no number exists, this does not mean that the child will be unable to study. In that case, the parents will probably have to go to the institution's administration in person.

How to Properly Translate Documents

For admission to a state institution, a simple self-made translation is usually not enough.

Get the original documents and then contact a translation agency in Georgia or a notary. The passport, the birth certificate, the school transcript, and the enrollment certificate all have to be translated into Georgian, and then the translations must be notarised.

You should note how the first and last names are spelled. In all documents, the names must be translated in the same way; if the surname is given one way in the passport and another way in the birth certificate translation, this could result in processing delays.

An apostille is not specified as an absolute requirement for every school document. However, during authenticity verification, EQE may request additional information. Therefore, do not throw away original documents, envelopes, transcript attachments, or any papers received from the previous school.

Where to Get a Medical Certificate

For school admission, a medical certificate is usually mandatory. The easiest way is to issue it at one of the clinics in Georgia.

To quickly and comfortably visit all the necessary specialists, choose the right medical center, and get an official school form without waiting in lines, you can check the current catalog of clinics in Georgia in the "Clinics of Georgia" section.

Bring the child's passport or birth certificate, as well as any existing medical records. If you have a vaccination record, show it to the doctor as well.

Make sure you inform the doctor of any allergies, chronic illnesses, medicines you are taking, and any dietary restrictions. The reason for obtaining this information is not merely for formal purposes but rather to ensure the child's safety.

Medical certificates can also be asked for, even though they are not always part of a single mandatory list. Make sure to verify this after you register.

Useful Official Websites

School registration information is published by the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia. First-grader registration is conducted through the EMIS system.

Document requirements for school can be checked on the state legislative portal Matsne. Foreign education recognition issues are handled by the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement (EQE).

Do not worry if the enrollment process seems complicated at first. Start with a simple phone call to the chosen school. Explain the child's age, citizenship, language of instruction, and which grade they completed. After that, it will become clear what exact documents will be required in your situation