How do you enrol a child in kindergarten in Montenegro, and what does it cost? For 2026/27, online enrolment ran from 23 May to 15 June 2026 on upisi.edu.me. A public kindergarten costs parents on average 50 euros a month for a full day and 25 euros for half a day; private kindergartens in Podgorica charge 180 to 400 euros a month.
Preschool education in Montenegro covers children from birth until they start school at about six. It is run by 24 public and 35 private preschool institutions, and in 2024 they had 25,932 children enrolled. There is no legal guarantee of a place, so in the larger towns it pays to apply in the enrolment window.
Which age groups are there?
| Group | Age |
| Nursery (jaslice) | Up to 3 years |
| Kindergarten (vrtić) | From 3 years until the child starts school |
| Primary school | From the calendar year in which the child turns 6 |
How the move to primary school works for foreign children, and which documents a school asks for, is explained in our guide to schools in Montenegro for foreign children.
How does enrolment work?
| Step | What happens |
| When | Each spring; for 2026/27 from 23 May to 15 June 2026 |
| Where | Online at upisi.edu.me, open 24 hours a day, for public and private kindergartens |
| Who applies | Children enrolling for the first time and children who were taken out of kindergarten during the previous year |
| What you enter | The child's personal identification number; the system fetches the other data from official records |
| Without the online form | You can apply in person at the kindergarten |
| Children already enrolled | No new application: the parent only signs a contract with the kindergarten |
If your child does not yet have a Montenegrin personal identification number, for example because you have only just arrived, apply in person at the kindergarten. A place is not guaranteed, and popular units in the capital can fill up.
What does a public kindergarten cost?
In public kindergartens parents pay on average 50 euros a month for a full-day programme and 25 euros for a half-day programme, and single parents pay half. The state covers about 80% of the real cost. For children without parental care, from families on social assistance and from other vulnerable groups, the fee is paid by the local social welfare centre.
What does a private kindergarten cost?
In January 2026 private kindergartens in Podgorica charged 180 to 400 euros a month. The standard package covers a full day and three to four meals; bilingual programmes and Montessori methods are at the top of the range. Many charge a one-off enrolment fee of around 50 euros, and sports, dance or language activities cost extra.
If there was no place for your child in a public kindergarten, the City of Podgorica pays parents a subsidy of 30 to 50 euros a month towards a licensed private kindergarten. You need proof that no public place was available and a contract with a licensed private institution.
| Option | Monthly cost for parents |
| Public kindergarten, full day | About 50 € |
| Public kindergarten, half day | About 25 € |
| Private kindergarten in Podgorica | 180 to 400 € |
| Private kindergarten with the Podgorica subsidy | 30 to 50 € less |
What should foreign parents keep in mind?
- Apply in the enrolment window even if you are not sure of your move date; the next window is a year later.
- Ask whether the kindergarten has a group in English or another language: in public kindergartens the programme is in Montenegrin, which is often the fastest way for a child to learn it.
- Check what the monthly fee covers, especially meals and opening hours, before you sign.
- Plan childcare for the hours the kindergarten does not cover; babysitters can be found through Glatko's babysitting services.
How the school year runs once your child starts school, including the winter break in January 2027, is in our overview of school holidays in Montenegro 2026/27. Who is covered by the Health Insurance Fund and who needs a private policy is explained in our guide to health insurance for foreigners.
Frequently asked questions
When is kindergarten enrolment in Montenegro? Once a year in spring. For 2026/27 the online window ran from 23 May to 15 June 2026 on upisi.edu.me.
How much does kindergarten cost in Montenegro? On average 50 euros a month for a full day in a public kindergarten and 25 euros for half a day; private kindergartens in Podgorica charge 180 to 400 euros a month.
From what age can a child go to kindergarten? From birth in nursery groups up to age 3, and in kindergarten groups from 3 until the child starts school.
Can foreign children go to kindergarten in Montenegro? Yes. If your child has no Montenegrin personal identification number yet, apply in person at the kindergarten instead of online.
Is there a subsidy for private kindergarten? In Podgorica, yes: 30 to 50 euros a month if there was no place in a public kindergarten and the private kindergarten is licensed.
Is a kindergarten place guaranteed? No. The law does not guarantee a place, and some units in the capital fill up.
Sources
The enrolment dates and procedure come from the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation's announcement on electronic kindergarten enrolment for 2026/27. The age groups come from Eurydice's page on early childhood education and care in Montenegro (updated 4 May 2026), and public fees, the number of institutions and enrolment figures from its page on access to preschool education (updated 11 July 2025). Private kindergarten prices and the Podgorica subsidy come from a January 2026 survey by Inflacija.me. The information was checked on 25 September 2026. Fijaka is a classifieds platform; fees and places vary between kindergartens, so confirm them before you sign.