Georgia’s Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia has outlined the deadlines, eligibility criteria and revised registration procedures for first-year pupils entering state public schools in the 2026–2027 academic year.
New age requirement
Under amendments to the Law on General Education, only children who turn six years old by September 15, 2026 will be eligible to enroll in Year One for the 2026–2027 school year.
Territorial registration
Main change this year is the introduction of a new third stage, territorial online registration, to increase the likelihood that pupils are admitted to schools near their place of residence.
Twelve cities will participate in the territorial system:
- Tbilisi
- Kutaisi
- Batumi
- Rustavi
- Poti
- Zugdidi
- Telavi
- Ambrolauri
- Akhaltsikhe
- Ozurgeti
- Mtskheta
- Gori
In Tbilisi, school catchment areas will apply and families living near administrative boundaries may apply to a school in an adjacent zone if it is located within one kilometre of their registered address.
Registration during the territorial stage will be based on the pupil’s registered address as recorded in the electronic database of the Public Service Development Agency as of April 1, 2026.
Registration Timeline
Stage I (February 18 – March 2, 2026):
Children with special educational needs register directly at their chosen school. Assessment is conducted by specialists from the Inclusive and Special Education Support Center under the School Marshal Service. Document submission runs from March 4 to April 17.
Stage II (April 21 – May 8, 2026):
Priority registration for children who:
- Have a sibling at the chosen school
- Have a parent employed at the school
- Are entering Year One simultaneously with two or more siblings
Stage III (May 15 – 25, 2026):
Territorial online registration via the official EMIS portal. Required documents must be submitted between May 27 and June 12.
Stage IV (June 15 – July 3, 2026):
General open online registration through EMIS. Documents must be submitted between July 6 and 17.
Stage V (July 20 – 31, 2026):
Final stage for children who were not registered earlier or wish to change schools. Registration is handled directly by schools based on available places.
Failure to submit required documents within the designated timeframe will result in automatic cancellation of registration.
Required Documents
Parents or legal guardians must submit:
- A formal application including residential address and contact details
- Copy of the guardian’s identification document
- Proof of residence in Georgia (if applicable)
- Copy of the child’s birth certificate or ID
- Certified Georgian translations for documents issued in foreign languages
