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Can a foreign child study in a Georgian public school for free?

What the law says about funding foreign pupils.

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Short answer

The Law of Georgia on General Education explicitly includes foreign citizens among those whose school education the state funds through a voucher for each pupil. This is a provision of Article 22 (paragraph 7). The law speaks of funding the studies and does not cover separate costs such as uniforms, meals and clubs. Check the enrolment procedure and documents for foreign children with the school or the ministry.

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Why

  1. Article 22 of the law: the state ensures complete general education and funds studies through a school voucher for each pupil.
  2. Paragraph 7 of Article 22 lists who is covered by the funding: citizens of Georgia, holders of a temporary ID card, foreign citizens (including citizens of other states with the status of compatriot residing abroad), stateless persons and persons with international protection.
  3. The voucher follows the pupil when moving from one school to another.

Details

The law has no separate provision on admitting foreigners: the general admission rules apply. Children are admitted to the first grade at the age of 6 (Article 6, paragraph 6). More on levels and age: How many grades are there in Georgian schools, and from what age do children start school? Academic year dates: When does the school year start in Georgia?

Questions about enrolling a child, the documents needed and the recognition of foreign education documents are handled by the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia, hotline (995 32) 2 200 220 (as of 10.11.2026), and by the school itself.

Tip

Before submitting documents, call the school you have chosen and ask whether it has free places and which papers it needs.

What may differ

The law is amended, so check the current text on matsne.gov.ge. Availability of places, language of instruction and documents depend on the school and the district, and the family's status (residence permit, protection, compatriot) may affect the paperwork.

Common misconception

Foreigners in Georgia can send their children only to private or international schools.

What actually happens

Article 22 of the Law on General Education includes foreign citizens among those whose studies the state funds through a voucher, and there is no special ban for them.

People also ask

  • Can foreigners attend public schools in Georgia?
  • Is public school free for foreigners in Georgia?

Sources

This answer is for reference only. Admission rules and documents change, so check them with the school and the ministry.

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