The most common question for families returning to Latvia during the summer is: How can I enrol my child in a school in Riga? Whether your child is entering Grade 1, 2, 5, 9 or 12, every stage of education is equally important.
The information below has been prepared by Anita Pēterkopa, Head of the General Education Schools Division of the Education Administration, Riga Education, Culture and Sports Department, in cooperation with Daina Šulca, Remigration Coordinator of the Riga Planning Region.
The 2026/2027 Guide to Riga Educational Institutions is available at: https://izglitiba.riga.lv/media/rigas-skolu-katalogs.html
The guide will help you find a suitable secondary school, state gymnasium or vocational education institution in Riga and provides all the essential information.
Enrolling a Child in Grade 1
Children can be registered for school from the age of five and may be registered at up to five schools within their designated territorial area.
When applying for Grade 1, please note the following:
Children may be registered throughout the year. However, to participate in the main admission process for the following school year, the application must be submitted by 15 May each year.
If the child has not been registered by 15 May, parents are advised to contact the chosen school or the Riga General Education Schools Division to inquire about available places.
Priority is given to children whose declared place of residence, together with at least one parent, has been within the school's designated catchment area for at least the previous 12 months. Priority is also given to children whose siblings already attend the school, children of the school's teaching staff, and orphans.
Admission to Grades 2–9
Applications for Grades 2–9 at any Riga municipal school may be submitted until 30 August, although submitting them by 25 August is strongly recommended, regardless of the school's location within Riga.
Before applying, parents should check whether vacancies are available in the relevant grade at the selected school. Admission to Grades 2–9, as well as to other grades, is possible only where places are available.
Information about vacancies can be obtained from the Riga General Education Schools Division or directly from the school.
Applications for Grade 10
Applications for admission to Grade 10 at Riga municipal schools are submitted either electronically or in person.
The first application period opened on 27 June 2026 through the portal https://www.latvija.gov.lv or in person at a Riga Neighbourhood Residents' Centre Customer Service Office or at the chosen school. It closed on 1 July at 23:59.
A second application period will begin on 15 July, both electronically and in person.
Students may apply to several schools and indicate their order of preference.
The order of preferences cannot be changed after the application has been submitted.
Admission decisions are based on the student's academic performance and the admission criteria established by each school.
After receiving an offer of admission, applicants must confirm acceptance of the place within 72 hours.
Admission to Grades 11–12
Admission competitions for Grades 11 and 12 are held only if the number of applicants exceeds the number of available places. Applications may be submitted until 30 August, although submitting them by 25 August is recommended. Information about available places can be obtained directly from schools or from the Riga General Education Schools Division. For young people from the Latvian diaspora, Latvian centralised examination results are replaced by annual grades obtained in the country of residence. These qualifications must first be recognised as equivalent to the Latvian education system by the Academic Information Centre.
Requirements for Children of Remigrant Families
Only a parent or a person authorised by the parent may enrol a child in school.
Parents must submit an application either:
signed with a secure electronic signature and sent to the school's email address or official e-address; or
in person at the school.
If the child has previously studied abroad, parents must also submit the previous school's report card or academic transcript. These documents must be recognised as equivalent to the Latvian education system by the Academic Information Centre. Apart from this requirement, admission procedures for children from the Latvian diaspora are the same as for all other children enrolling in Riga schools.
Support Available for Children of Remigrant Families
The admission requirements for Riga schools are the same for all applicants. Children of remigrant families do not receive special admission privileges or exemptions compared with children who have continuously lived in Riga. The main exception is Latvian language support. Every child returning from abroad is entitled to two additional Latvian language lessons per week. Parents should inform the school principal and the child's class teacher of this need when enrolling their child.
Further Information
Riga General Education Schools Division https://www.riga.lv/lv/strukturvieniba/visparejas-izglitibas-skolu-nodala
Guide to Riga Educational Institutions https://izglitiba.riga.lv/media/rigas-skolu-katalogs.html
School Catchment Areas https://georiga.eu/news/skolu-teritorialas-vienibas/
Recognition of Education Obtained Abroad Academic Information Centre www.aic.lv
Electronic Applications for Riga Educational Institutions https://latvija.gov.lv/Services/7937
Contact Information
Anita Pēterkopa Head of the General Education Schools Division Riga Education, Culture and Sports Department
Telephone: +371 67181306 Email: Anita.Peterkopa@riga.lv
Daina Šulca Remigration Coordinator Riga Planning Region
Telephone: +371 26614179 Email: koordinators@rpr.gov.lv