Moving to Latvia with children? Here is everything you need to know about the local education system, from kindergartens to universities, fully updated according to the latest reforms.
Language of Instruction: The 2026 Reality
Critical Update: Following the transition to the "Unified School" (Vienota skola) reform, there are no longer any bilingual or Russian-language programs in Latvian public schools or kindergartens. * Instruction in all municipal and state institutions is 100% in Latvian.
Education in English, French, or German is available, but primarily in private schools.
General School System
Education is divided into primary (pamatizglītība, grades 1–9) and secondary (vidējā izglītība, grades 10–12).
Compulsory Education: Education is mandatory from age 5 (pre-school preparation) up to grade 9 (or age 17).
Children start the 1st grade at the age of 6 or 7.
Public and municipal schools are free of charge.
How to register a child from abroad:
To enroll your child, parents must submit an application to the school, a birth certificate (or ID document with a personal code), and the parent's ID. If your child studied abroad, the school principal will review their academic records. If necessary, schools provide individual language support and consultations to help foreign children smoothly integrate into the Latvian-language environment.
Academic Year: Starts on September 1 and ends in early June.
Pre-School Education (Kindergartens)
Children can attend kindergarten from 1.5 years old. The final two years (ages 5 and 6) are mandatory for school preparation.
Municipal Kindergartens: Free of charge, but parents pay for meals. Note: Due to long queues, it is highly recommended to register your child electronically via the Latvija.lv or E-Rīga portal immediately after birth or relocation.
Private Kindergartens: Queues are short or non-existent. In 2026, the average cost ranges between €400–€600 per month (including meals). However, local municipalities often provide co-funding (līdzfinansējums) to cover part of this cost if there are no spots available in public daycares.
Secondary and Vocational Education
After the 9th grade, students choose between two paths:
General Secondary Education: Focuses on academic subjects to prepare students for university.
Vocational Secondary Education (Tehnikums): Combines secondary education with professional training (e.g., IT, design, engineering, hospitality, or medicine).
Popular Private International Schools in Riga:
If you prefer your child to study in English or other European languages, consider these international options:
Exupéry International School (English/French)
International School of Latvia (ISL) (English)
Deutsche Schule Riga (German/English)
King's College, The British School of Latvia (English)
Higher Education
Latvia offers competitive higher education with both state-funded and private universities.
Language: While local programs are in Latvian, there is a wide selection of Bachelor's and Master's programs taught entirely in English for international students.
Recognition: To enroll with a foreign diploma, your documents must first be verified by the Academic Information Centre (AIC)(Akadēmiskās informācijas centrs).
Rankings: Latvia's leading universities, such as Riga Technical University (RTU) and the University of Latvia (LU), are steadily ranked among the top global universities in the QS World University Rankings.
Application Deadline: For international students, applications usually close around July 1, though some universities have earlier deadlines for non-EU citizens.
Almost every district in Riga has a municipal children and youth center offering affordable extracurricular classes (robotics, Lego, ceramics, coding, sports, dancing, and theater).
Cost: Municipal clubs are either completely free or require a symbolic co-financing fee from parents, usually not exceeding €5–€10 per month.
Pro-tip: Registration for municipal interest groups opens in August. Spots in popular free classes fill up very quickly!
Private alternatives: There are numerous private sports academies and language schools. Available options can be searched on local directories or the classifieds portal ss.com.
Adult Education & Reskilling
If you move to Latvia as a third-country national and hold an EU Blue Card or a specific residence permit (e.g., through marriage or scientific work), you have access to state support.
If registered with the State Employment Agency (NVA), you can access:
Free Latvian language courses (critical for local integration and employment).
Vouchers for professional retraining and upskilling (including advanced IT and digital skills courses).
