Your kid’s been sitting at home for three months while you’re trying to figure out how to get them into a French school. The prefecture says one thing, the mairie says another, and the school looks at your Ukrainian documents and says “il faut une traduction assermentée.” Sound familiar? About 18,000 Ukrainian children are already studying in French schools, and the enrollment process is actually simpler than it seems - if you know what to prepare in advance. Let’s break it all down step by step.
The golden rule: education in France is every child’s right¶
First and most important: in France, education is mandatory for all children aged 3 to 16, regardless of citizenship or immigration status. It’s written in the Code de l’éducation. Even if you don’t have a titre de séjour or APS - the school can’t refuse to enroll your child.
Public school (école publique) in France is free. You don’t pay for education - only for the school cafeteria (cantine), insurance (assurance scolaire), and school supplies.
This applies to maternelle (preschool, from age 3), école élémentaire (primary school, 6-11), collège (middle school, 11-15), and lycée (high school, 15-18).
Where to go: mairie or DSDEN¶
The enrollment process depends on your child’s age:
Child aged 3 to 10 (maternelle and école élémentaire)¶
You register through the mairie (town hall) where you live. Here’s the sequence:
- Go to the mairie with your documents (list below)
- The mairie assigns a school based on your address (carte scolaire - the school district map)
- You get a certificat d’inscription - enrollment certificate
- Take the certificat d’inscription to the school’s directeur/directrice for final admission
Some mairies have online registration (inscription en ligne), but for Ukrainians it’s usually easier to go in person - your documents aren’t standard and it’s better to explain the situation face to face.
Child aged 11 to 18 (collège and lycée)¶
Different route here. You go to either: - The collège/lycée near your home directly - Or the DSDEN (Direction des Services Départementaux de l’Éducation Nationale) - the departmental education authority
The DSDEN will figure out which school to place your child in and arrange proficiency testing. Find your DSDEN’s contact info at academie-[academy name].fr.
One Ukrainian mother shared in an expat group: “We went to the collège directly, they said no spots available. Contacted the DSDEN - within a week my daughter was placed in a collège with a UPE2A class in the next neighborhood. DSDEN gets things done faster than the school itself.”
Documents for enrollment: the full list¶
Here’s what you need to prepare and what needs translation:
For mairie (primary school)¶
| Document | Translation? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Child’s birth certificate | Yes | Sworn translation (traduction assermentée) |
| Child’s passport | No | Copy |
| Parent’s passport | No | Copy |
| Parents’ APS or titre de séjour | No | Copy, document is already in French |
| Justificatif de domicile (proof of address) | No | Utility bill, quittance de loyer, or attestation d’hébergement |
| Carnet de santé or vaccination record | Yes | Vaccination records - sworn translation |
| Livret de famille (if issued in France) | No | Replaces birth certificate if you have one |
For collège/lycée (middle and high school)¶
| Document | Translation? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Everything from the table above | - | Plus additionally: |
| School report cards / transcripts from Ukraine | Yes | Sworn translation for the last 2 years |
| Education certificate / diploma (if applicable) | Yes | Sworn translation |
| Certificate of previous enrollment | Yes | Certificat de scolarité from Ukrainian school - sworn translation |
Key point: if you don’t have a livret de famille yet (and most Ukrainians don’t), the birth certificate with sworn translation is mandatory. Without it, the mairie won’t register your child.
Sworn translation: costs and where to order¶
In France, official documents require translation by a traducteur assermenté - a sworn translator who took an oath before the Cour d’appel (Court of Appeal). Only their translation is legally valid.
Prices in 2026¶
| Document | Approximate price |
|---|---|
| Birth certificate | €30-50 |
| Report card (1 page) | €30-45 |
| Certificate of enrollment | €30-45 |
| Medical certificate / vaccinations | €35-55 |
For a family with two children enrolling both in school, the minimum translation budget: 2 birth certificates + vaccination records = €120-200. If the kids are going to collège and you need report cards - add another €60-90.
Where to find a sworn translator¶
- Official registry: annuaire.traducteurs-experts.fr - select the language pair ukrainien → français and your region
- Through ChatsControl - your document gets translated and certified by a sworn translator, usually faster and cheaper than going directly
- Through Ukrainian support associations - they often have lists of translators with reasonable rates
Turnaround time: 2-7 business days depending on the translator. Rush translation (1-2 days) typically costs 50-100% more.
Vaccinations: what’s required and how to translate records¶
This is a separate topic that causes the most headaches. In France, children must have mandatory vaccinations to attend school.
What’s required¶
For children born before January 1, 2018 - 3 mandatory vaccines: - DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, polio)
For children born after January 1, 2018 - 11 mandatory vaccines: - DTP + whooping cough, Hib, hepatitis B, pneumococcus, meningococcus C, measles, mumps, rubella
How it works with Ukrainian vaccination records¶
A French doctor can’t read a Ukrainian vaccination card without translation. Here’s what you need to do:
- Order a sworn translation of the vaccination card (or the vaccination pages from the medical record)
- Visit a French doctor (médecin traitant or PMI - Protection Maternelle et Infantile) with the translation
- The doctor compares your Ukrainian vaccinations with the French calendrier vaccinal
- If anything’s missing - your child gets the needed vaccinations in France (free at PMI or through Ameli)
Good news: you have 3 months from enrollment to get vaccinations up to date. The school can’t refuse enrollment during this period.
One mom shared on a forum: “Our Ukrainian vaccinations covered almost everything, we were only missing meningococcus C. Got it done at PMI for free in 15 minutes. The main thing is don’t forget to translate the card, because without a translation the doctor won’t even look at it.”
UPE2A: how your child will learn French¶
If your child doesn’t speak French - don’t worry, that’s what UPE2A is for (Unité Pédagogique pour Élèves Allophones Arrivants - Teaching Unit for Newly Arrived Non-French-Speaking Students). These are special classes within schools that provide intensive French instruction.
How UPE2A works¶
- Your child is enrolled in a regular class based on age
- At the same time, they attend UPE2A - up to 12 hours per week of intensive French
- For subjects where language isn’t critical (PE, music, art), your child joins their French classmates right away
- Gradually, UPE2A hours decrease and regular class hours increase
- Usually within a year, the child is fully integrated into the regular class
CASNAV: testing and placement¶
CASNAV (Centre Académique pour la Scolarisation des Élèves Allophones Nouvellement Arrivés) is the academic center that evaluates your child’s level and determines their needs. Testing includes:
- Reading and comprehension assessment in the native language (Ukrainian)
- Math test (can be non-verbal)
- French language assessment (if they have any knowledge)
Based on the results, CASNAV recommends a school with UPE2A and the right learning format. Testing is free.
A mother from Kyiv shared: “My daughter didn’t know a single word of French. After 4 months in UPE2A, she could already chat with classmates. After a year - she was writing dictations at the same level as the French kids. Children pick up languages way faster than adults.”
School insurance and cafeteria¶
Assurance scolaire (school insurance)¶
Technically, insurance isn’t mandatory for attending classes. But without it, your child can’t: - Eat in the cafeteria (cantine) - Go on school trips - Attend after-school activities (périscolaire)
Price: €10 to €30 per year. The most popular one is MAE (mae.fr). You can sign up online in 5 minutes.
Cantine (cafeteria)¶
Meal prices depend on the commune and family income. For low-income families (and most Ukrainians with temporary protection fall into this category): - From €0.50 to €2 per meal - In some communes - free for families receiving ADA
To set up the rate, submit income documents to the mairie. If you’re receiving CAF benefits - an attestation CAF will help you get the reduced rate.
Step-by-step guide: from zero to school¶
Step 1: Gather documents¶
Prepare the birth certificate, passports, APS, justificatif de domicile. If your child is over 11 - find school report cards from Ukraine.
Step 2: Order sworn translation¶
Get the birth certificate and vaccination records translated. For collège/lycée - also report cards and enrollment certificates. Allow 2-7 days for translation. Order through ChatsControl or directly from a sworn translator.
Step 3: Go to the mairie or DSDEN¶
For école maternelle/élémentaire - the mairie. For collège/lycée - DSDEN or the school directly.
Step 4: CASNAV testing¶
If your child doesn’t speak French - CASNAV will assess them and place them in a school with UPE2A.
Step 5: Get insurance and cafeteria sorted¶
Buy assurance scolaire (€10-30/year) and submit documents to the mairie for a reduced cantine rate.
Step 6: Vaccinations¶
Bring the translated vaccination card to a doctor. If additional shots are needed - get them within 3 months of enrollment.
Common problems and how to fix them¶
Mairie says “no spots available” By law, the mairie can’t refuse enrollment. If they do - ask for a written refusal and contact the DSDEN or Défenseur des droits (rights defender, similar to an ombudsman). Usually a spot appears very quickly after that.
School demands a titre de séjour or APS This is illegal. Schools can’t require a residence document to enroll a child. If they insist - refer to Circulaire n° 2002-063 from March 20, 2002, which explicitly prohibits this.
No school records from Ukraine If documents were left in Ukraine or destroyed due to the war - write an explanatory note (free form, preferably in French) about the circumstances. DSDEN and schools are aware of the situation in Ukraine and have instructions to accept children even without a full document package.
Child is far behind French peers That’s exactly what UPE2A is for. Don’t worry if your child is placed a year below their age group - it’s standard practice and often beneficial for adaptation.
FAQ¶
How long does it take to enroll a child in school in France?¶
From the moment you contact the mairie or DSDEN to actual enrollment, it usually takes anywhere from a few days to 2-3 weeks. In major cities (Paris, Lyon, Marseille) it can take longer due to CASNAV testing queues. But by law, the school must accept the child as quickly as possible.
Do I need a sworn translation of the birth certificate for school?¶
Yes, the mairie typically requires a sworn translation (traduction assermentée) of the birth certificate. A regular translation won’t be accepted. The translation must be done by a traducteur assermenté registered with a Cour d’appel. Cost: €30-50 per document.
Do I need an apostille on the birth certificate for school?¶
No, an apostille isn’t needed for school enrollment. The original birth certificate plus a sworn translation is enough. An apostille might be needed for other procedures (like getting a livret de famille at the mairie), but not for école.
What if my child doesn’t speak French?¶
That’s not a barrier to enrollment. Your child will be placed in a class by age and simultaneously enrolled in UPE2A - a special unit for intensive French learning. Typically within 6-12 months, children communicate freely and study on par with their classmates.
Can I enroll my child in school without APS or titre de séjour?¶
Yes. The right to education in France is guaranteed regardless of immigration status. Schools and mairies can’t require a residence document to enroll a child. If they refuse - it’s a violation of the law, and you can file a complaint with the DSDEN or Défenseur des droits.
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