International School Admissions in Krakow: 2026 Step-by-Step Guide

Quick answer: how do international school admissions work in Krakow? Most schools run rolling admissions: an online application with a PLN 500 to 1,500 fee, two years of school reports, an English and maths assessment, a family interview and an offer within about two weeks. Places are confirmed with a one-off entrance fee of PLN 3,000 to 12,000, and the main intake is late August.

Last reviewed: September 2026 by Emma from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.

Krakow's international school sector has grown with the city's business services boom. Shared service centres and technology firms have brought a steady flow of foreign families, and six English-medium schools now compete for their children. The good news is that international school admissions in Krakow are less cut-throat than in Warsaw or Western European capitals: waiting lists exist in certain year groups, but a well-prepared family that applies early will almost always find a suitable place. This guide walks through the process step by step for 2026 entry, including the Polish legal formalities that catch many newcomers out.

Krakow's school geography

The international schools are spread around the city rather than clustered. International School of Krakow sits in Lusina, just beyond the southern city limit and a 20 to 30 minute drive from the centre. British International School of Cracow and Embassy International School are closer in, on the western and northern sides respectively, while Open Future and Cracow International School are in residential districts to the south-west. Popular expat neighbourhoods include Wola Justowska and Zwierzyniec for houses with gardens, Kazimierz and the Old Town for apartments, and Ruczaj and Zabłocie for newer developments near the technology parks. Traffic is manageable by Polish standards, but the Vistula river crossings slow down noticeably in the morning rush.

Curricula available in Krakow

International Baccalaureate: the IB Diploma at International School of Krakow and British International School of Cracow, with the PYP and MYP at Open Future and Da Vinci's International Schools.
American: a US-style programme through Grade 12 at International School of Krakow.
British: the English National Curriculum and Cambridge IGCSE at British International School of Cracow, Embassy International School and Cracow International School, with A Levels at Cracow International.
Bilingual Polish-English: integrated tracks at Cracow International School and Open Future that also satisfy Polish core curriculum requirements.

The schools and how their admissions differ

International School of Krakow (ISK)

ISK, founded in 1993, is the city's most established international school and the one most corporate relocations default to. Admissions are handled year-round through an online portal; the school asks for two years of reports, a confidential teacher recommendation and, for older students, standardised test results or an in-house assessment. Because so many ISK families are on fixed assignments, places open up every June and January, which helps mid-year arrivals.

British International School of Cracow (BISC)

BISC follows the English National Curriculum to IGCSE and then offers the IB Diploma in the sixth form. Admissions involve a short taster day for younger children and English and maths assessments from Year 3 upward. Entry to Year 12 depends on IGCSE or equivalent grades, so families arriving with a 16-year-old should send predicted grades early.

Cracow International School

Cracow International School runs a Cambridge pathway to IGCSE and A Levels alongside a bilingual Polish-English track, which makes it a favourite of mixed Polish-foreign families. Applicants for the bilingual programme sit a Polish assessment as well as English; international applicants can enter the English-only track without Polish.

Embassy International School

Embassy is a smaller British-curriculum school with a reputation for personal attention and a quick, informal admissions process: a visit, an application, a classroom trial and a decision, often within a week. It is a good option for families who arrive at short notice or whose children need a gentler transition into English-medium schooling.

Open Future International School

Open Future offers the IB Primary Years and Middle Years Programmes with a strong Polish-language component. Admissions include a play-based observation for the youngest children and a meeting with the coordinator; the school is popular with local families, so early-years places should be requested a full year ahead.

The admissions process step by step

Step 1: enquiry and visit. All six schools offer in-person tours and most offer video calls for families still abroad. Ask directly about availability in your child's year group before you pay any fee.

Step 2: application. Complete the online form and pay the application fee, typically PLN 500 to 1,500 per child, non-refundable. Upload a passport copy, birth certificate, the last two years of school reports and any learning support documentation.

Step 3: assessment. Children from about age seven sit English and maths assessments, either standardised tests such as CAT4 or MAP or the school's own papers. Younger children are observed in class. Non-native English speakers are usually accepted with EAL support, but ask whether that support is charged separately.

Step 4: interview and offer. Expect a conversation with the head of section and, for older students, with the child alone. Offers typically arrive within one to two weeks and are held for seven to fourteen days.

Step 5: acceptance. Confirm the place by paying the one-off entrance or capital fee, PLN 3,000 to 12,000 depending on the school, and in some cases a deposit equal to one term's tuition. Annual tuition for 2026 runs roughly PLN 60,000 to 95,000 at ISK, PLN 55,000 to 85,000 at BISC, PLN 40,000 to 65,000 at Cracow International School and PLN 35,000 to 60,000 at Embassy and Open Future. Add PLN 3,000 to 5,000 for lunches, PLN 5,000 to 9,000 for a school bus and separate exam fees in IGCSE, A Level and IB years.

Step 6: the Polish formalities. Poland's compulsory schooling duty applies from the school year in which a child turns seven until the end of eighth grade, with a compulsory pre-school year at six. Parents whose child attends a non-public or international school must notify the head of the local district public school, the szkoła obwodowa, that the duty is being fulfilled elsewhere. Schools will remind you, but the responsibility is yours. Bring immunisation records translated into English or Polish, as schools request them at enrolment.

Practical advice for families applying in Krakow

Apply before you have a signed lease. Schools do not require a Polish address to process an application, and the most competitive year groups, Years 1 to 3 and the start of IGCSE and IB, fill between February and May for an August start.

Mid-year entry is realistic. Because a large share of families are on two- and three-year contracts, places open in January and after Easter. Ask to be placed on the waiting list for your preferred school even if you accept another offer; there is usually no penalty beyond the entrance fee.

Check what counts as a year group. Polish, British, American and IB systems each cut the age bands differently. Provide your child's date of birth and current grade and let each school tell you where they would place them, then compare.

Compare schools across Poland

Before you commit, compare your Krakow shortlist against the independent ranking of the best schools in Poland, which draws on verified profiles, reviews and fee data.

More guides to schools in Krakow

Frequently asked questions

When should we apply to an international school in Krakow?

Apply between October and February for an August start if you want a choice of schools, because the youngest primary years and the entry points to IGCSE and the IB Diploma fill first. Admissions remain open year-round, and mid-year places appear regularly in January and after Easter as expatriate families rotate out, so a later application is far from hopeless.

Does my child need to speak Polish to be admitted?

No. The English-medium tracks at all six Krakow international schools admit children without Polish, and Polish is then taught as an additional language. Only the bilingual programmes at Cracow International School and Open Future assess Polish at entry. Children who speak little English are generally accepted with EAL support, which some schools charge for separately.

What documents do Krakow schools ask for?

Expect to provide a passport or ID copy, birth certificate, the previous two years of school reports, a teacher recommendation for older students, immunisation records and any educational psychology or learning support reports. Documents in languages other than English or Polish should be translated. Schools also ask parents to confirm they have notified the district school about compulsory education.