Attending pre-school education is optional, so the child’s guardian is responsible for starting the enrollment process, as provided for by law.
Children who turn 3 by the 15 September are admitted;
Children who turn three between 16 September and 31 December may also be accepted for enrollment on a conditional basis. Their attendance is only guaranteed if there is a vacancy at the desired educational establishment on the start date of the teaching activities. (Article 7 of Directive no. 75/2014, of 18 November 2014).

– In the public network, the pre-school education enrollment request is made between 15 May and 15 June of the school year prior to the year of enrollment, at the
organizational unit/school in the area of residence of the child or student (Article 7 of Directive no. 75/2014 of 18 November 2014);

– Other enrollment periods may apply in the private, cooperative and charity sectors, defined by each of these institutions, as the rules and regulations are only applied with the necessary adaptations (as set out in article 2, paragraph 2 of the Regulation on the Administrative and Educational Management of Students attached to Directive no. 75/2014 of 18 November 2014).

– Enrollment form.

The submission of additional documents may be suspended until the beginning of the school year, specifically:
– The student’s civil ID card;
– Vaccination book;
– Copy of a document proving the health subsystem that covers the student;
– Passport-type photo.

Pre-school education is free of charge in public schools.
In the case of private, cooperative or charity educational establishments, attending pre-school education is subject to a monthly fee, calculated based on the income and composition of the family unit (Directive no. 2/2003, of 16 January, with the amendments introduced by Directive no. 5/2016, of 26 January).

The organizational unit/school in the area of residence of the child or student, according to the guidelines given by this unit to the school community, preferably by Internet, on a website provide by each organizational unit. Guardians may also be provided by enrollment forms by email or post if not possible by digital means, in which case they should be returned in the same way.

Compulsory education: https://edu.azores.gov.pt/seccoes/matriculas-escolaridade-obrigatoria/