Legal
Grey Area
Illegal
Unknown
No data

100+

Countries Tracked

270+

Regulations Catalogued

4.3M+

Homeschool Families

Browse All Regulations

112 countries found

🇮🇹
Italy
Regulation: High
Legal

Called 'Istruzione Parentale'. 11,000 families (2023). Annual notification and exams required.

Ministry of Education
+39 06 5849 1
🇩🇪
Germany
Regulation: N/A
Illegal

Strictly illegal. Schulpflicht enforced with fines, custody loss, and prison. 600-1,000 children despite illegality.

Federal Ministry of Education
+49 30 18 57 0
🇫🇷
France
Regulation: High
Legal

Prior authorization required since 2022. Annual inspections mandatory. Compulsory from age 3.

Ministry of National Education
+33 1 55 55 10 10
🇬🇧
United Kingdom
Regulation: Low
Legal

No registration required. No national curriculum mandate. 97,000 children (2023).

Department for Education
+44 370 000 2288
🇵🇱
Poland
Regulation: High
Legal

54,936 children (Feb 2024) - 400% increase since 2019! Annual exams required.

Ministry of National Education
+48 22 347 4100
🇮🇪
Ireland
Regulation: Low
Legal

Low regulation. Annual assessment. One of easiest countries.

Tusla Education Support Service
+353 1 771 8500
🇫🇮
Finland
Regulation: High
Legal

Permission from local authority required. 400-600 children. Very rare.

Finnish National Agency for Education
+358 29 533 1000
🇩🇰
Denmark
Regulation: Moderate
Legal

Undersogelsespligt (duty to examine). No formal registration. Compulsory age 6-16.

Ministry of Education
+45 3392 5000
🇨🇭
Switzerland
Regulation: Varies
Legal

Varies significantly by canton. 4,136 children (2023). Some cantons very strict.

Cantonal Education Departments
🇦🇹
Austria
Regulation: High
Legal

Treated as private school. Annual exams required. Strict oversight.

Federal Ministry of Education
+43 1 53120 0
🇷🇸
Serbia
Regulation: Moderate
Legal

Individual education possible. Permission and annual exams required.

Ministry of Education
+381 11 360 4000
🇲🇹
Malta
Regulation: High
Legal

Annual permit required. Must follow national curriculum.

Ministry for Education
+356 2598 1000
🇭🇺
Hungary
Regulation: Moderate
Legal

Legal since 2018. Registration + approval needed. Annual assessments.

Ministry for Innovation and Technology
+36 1 795 5722
🇸🇰
Slovakia
Regulation: Moderate
Legal

Individual education. Permission required. Annual assessments.

Ministry of Education
+421 2 5937 4111
🇵🇹
Portugal
Regulation: High
Legal

Parent university degree required. Must follow national curriculum. Very strict.

Ministry of Education
+351 21 393 4500
🇳🇴
Norway
Regulation: High
Legal

Special permission required. Strict criteria. Must prove valid reasons.

Norwegian Directorate for Education
+47 23 30 12 00
🇮🇸
Iceland
Regulation: Moderate
Legal

Legal. Notification required. About 100 children.

Ministry of Education
+354 545 9500
🇱🇺
Luxembourg
Regulation: High
Legal

Possible but strict. Authorization needed. Must follow curriculum.

Ministry of National Education
+352 247 85100
🇪🇪
Estonia
Regulation: Moderate
Legal

Home education permitted. Registration required. Annual evaluations.

Ministry of Education and Research
+372 735 0222
🇱🇻
Latvia
Regulation: Moderate
Legal

Home education permitted with approval. Annual testing required.

Ministry of Education and Science
+371 6722 6209
🇷🇴
Romania
Regulation: Moderate
Legal

Registration required. Follow national curriculum. Annual exams.

Ministry of Education
+40 21 405 6200
🇨🇿
Czech Republic
Regulation: Moderate
Legal

Individual education. Notification required. Annual evaluations. About 1,400 children.

Ministry of Education
+420 234 811 111
🇸🇮
Slovenia
Regulation: Moderate
Legal

Legal since 2013. Application + approval needed. Annual assessments.

Ministry of Education
+386 1 400 5200
🇬🇪
Georgia
Regulation: Moderate
Legal

Home education permitted. Registration required. Annual exams.

Ministry of Education
+995 32 200 2022
🇧🇾
Belarus
Regulation: Moderate
Legal

Home education permitted. Registration and annual assessments required.

Ministry of Education
+375 17 222 7474
🇺🇦
Ukraine
Regulation: Moderate
Legal

Family education recognized. Registration required. Annual certification.

Ministry of Education and Science
+380 44 481 3297
🇱🇹
Lithuania
Regulation: N/A
Illegal

Compulsory school attendance. No exceptions.

Ministry of Education
+370 5 219 1202
🇳🇱
Netherlands
Regulation: N/A
Illegal

Effectively illegal. Special permission required. Rare exceptions. About 800 families.

Ministry of Education
+31 77 465 6565
🇸🇪
Sweden
Regulation: N/A
Illegal

Special permission required. Exemptions theoretically possible but virtually never granted. About 600 children.

Swedish Schools Inspectorate
+46 8 586 080 00
🇬🇷
Greece
Regulation: N/A
Illegal

Illegal. Constitution mandates school attendance. Some exemptions for health/disability.

Ministry of Education
+30 210 344 2000
🇧🇬
Bulgaria
Regulation: N/A
Illegal

Compulsory school attendance. No homeschool provisions.

Ministry of Education and Science
+359 2 921 9020
🇭🇷
Croatia
Regulation: N/A
Illegal

Compulsory school attendance. Very rare exceptions.

Ministry of Science and Education
+385 1 459 3300
🇲🇪
Montenegro
Regulation: N/A
Illegal

Compulsory school attendance enforced.

Ministry of Education
+382 20 407 300
🇦🇱
Albania
Regulation: N/A
Illegal

Compulsory school attendance mandated by law.

Ministry of Education
+355 4 222 2650
🇨🇾
Cyprus
Regulation: N/A
Illegal

Compulsory school attendance enforced.

Ministry of Education
+357 22 800 600
🇦🇲
Armenia
Regulation: N/A
Illegal

Compulsory public education. Homeschooling not permitted.

Ministry of Education
+374 10 524 341
🇧🇪
Belgium
Regulation: High
Legal

Varies by region. Flanders most restrictive. Wallonia more flexible.

Regional Education Authorities
🇪🇸
Spain
Regulation: N/A
Illegal

Constitutional Court ruled school attendance mandatory (2010). About 4,000 families practice despite illegality.

Regional Education Departments
🇺🇸
United States
Regulation: Varies by state
Legal

Legal in all 50 states. Regulation varies significantly by state. 4.3 million homeschoolers (2022).

State Departments of Education
🇨🇦
Canada
Regulation: Low to Moderate
Legal

Legal in all provinces. Notification required in most. ~60,000 homeschoolers.

Provincial Education Ministries
🇲🇽
Mexico
Regulation: Varies
Grey Area

Legal status varies by state. Grey area in federal law. About 10,000 families.

Secretaria de Educacion Publica
+52 55 3601 1000
🇧🇷
Brazil
Regulation: Varies
Grey Area

Supreme Court approved but needs federal regulation. Legal in Parana and Distrito Federal. 35,000 students (2021).

State Education Departments
🇨🇴
Colombia
Regulation: Moderate
Legal

Legal. ICFES exams for validation. Recognized by law. About 4,000 families.

Ministry of National Education
+57 1 222 2800
🇦🇷
Argentina
Regulation: Moderate
Legal

Permission required from Provincial Council of Education. Varies by province.

Provincial Education Councils
🇨🇱
Chile
Regulation: Low
Legal

Free exams (Examenes Libres) system. No registration needed. About 5,000 students.

Ministry of Education
+56 2 2406 6000
🇺🇾
Uruguay
Regulation: Low
Legal

Legal since 2008. Constitutional Article 68 amended 2020. Low regulation.

National Administration of Public Education
+598 2 900 7310
🇹🇹
Trinidad and Tobago
Regulation: Low
Legal

Home education recognized. Notification recommended. Growing community.

Ministry of Education
+1 868 622 2181
🇨🇷
Costa Rica
Regulation: N/A
Illegal

Compulsory formal school attendance enforced.

Ministry of Public Education
+506 2256 8152
🇨🇺
Cuba
Regulation: N/A
Illegal

State-controlled education system. Homeschooling not permitted.

Ministry of Education
+53 7 860 8940
🇪🇨
Ecuador
Regulation: Not explicitly regulated
Grey Area

Legal grey area. No explicit laws permitting or prohibiting. Law passed in 2025 recognizing alternative education.

Ministry of Education
+593 2 396 1300
🇯🇲
Jamaica
Regulation: Low
Legal

Legal and viable. Growing option especially among expats. Minimal regulation.

Ministry of Education
+1 876 922 1400
🇩🇴
Dominican Republic
Regulation: Low
Legal

Legal and viable option. Growing community. Minimal regulation.

Ministry of Education
+1 809 688 9700
🇧🇿
Belize
Regulation: Low
Legal

Completely legal although uncommon. Low regulation. Small expat population.

Ministry of Education
+501 223 2312
🇸🇷
Suriname
Regulation: Low
Legal

Home education permitted. Low regulation. Small community.

Ministry of Education
+597 472 211
🇸🇻
El Salvador
Regulation: Low
Legal

Examenes de suficiencia available. Low regulation. Legal and viable option.

Ministry of Education
+503 2537 7400
🇭🇳
Honduras
Regulation: Low
Legal

Homeschooling is viable and legal. Not common but practiced. Little regulation.

Ministry of Education
+504 2222 1610
🇵🇦
Panama
Regulation: Not officially addressed
Grey Area

Grey area. Recently passed law recognizing homeschooling as legal alternative (2023). Growing community.

Ministry of Education
+507 515 2600
🇬🇹
Guatemala
Regulation: Not formally addressed
Grey Area

Not formally addressed by law. Not explicitly illegal but not officially recognized.

Ministry of Education
+502 2411 9595
🇻🇪
Venezuela
Regulation: Unknown
Unknown

Status unclear. Economic crisis may have affected education system.

Ministry of Education
+58 212 506 8111
🇳🇮
Nicaragua
Regulation: Not officially recognized
Grey Area

While not officially forbidden, not considered valid education. Homeschooled students may have limited access to professional education.

Ministry of Education
+505 2265 0445
🇵🇾
Paraguay
Regulation: Unknown
Unknown

Status unclear. Traditional education preferred. Research needed.

Ministry of Education
+595 21 450 065
🇵🇪
Peru
Regulation: Unknown
Unknown

Status unclear. Traditional schooling strongly preferred. Research needed.

Ministry of Education
+51 1 615 5800
🇧🇴
Bolivia
Regulation: Unknown
Unknown

Status unclear. Research needed for current regulations.

Ministry of Education
+591 2 244 2144
🇮🇳
India
Regulation: Low
Legal

NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling). 2.71 million students in last 5 years.

Ministry of Education
+91 11 2338 1355
🇦🇺
Australia
Regulation: Moderate
Legal

Registration required. ~30,000 homeschoolers. Popular with good reputation.

State Education Departments
🇳🇿
New Zealand
Regulation: Moderate
Legal

Certificate of Exemption required. 5,521 students (2013).

Ministry of Education
+64 800 622 222
🇵🇭
Philippines
Regulation: Moderate
Legal

DepEd Order No. 001 s.2022. Constitutional protection. National Homeschool Day: March 3.

Department of Education (DepEd)
Various regional
🇮🇩
Indonesia
Regulation: Moderate
Legal

Legal since 2003 under informal education. National exam for equivalent certificate available.

Ministry of Education and Culture
+62 21 5725 9851
🇹🇭
Thailand
Regulation: Moderate
Legal

Legal since 2004. Ministerial Regulation No. 3. Application required. Annual assessments mandatory.

Ministry of Education
+66 2 628 5858
🇯🇵
Japan
Regulation: N/A
Grey Area

Technically illegal but tolerated. Futoko children encouraged alternative education. About 20,000 students.

Ministry of Education (MEXT)
+81 3 5253 4111
🇰🇷
South Korea
Regulation: N/A
Grey Area

Alternative education recognized. Technically illegal but tolerated. About 2,000 students.

Ministry of Education
+82 2 6222 6060
🇨🇳
China
Regulation: N/A
Illegal

Illegal for Chinese citizens. Legal for foreign nationals. ~18,000 children (mostly expats).

Ministry of Education
+86 10 6609 6114
🇹🇼
Taiwan
Regulation: Moderate
Legal

Legal since 2014. Notification required. About 4,000 students. Growing.

Ministry of Education
+886 2 7736 6666
🇲🇾
Malaysia
Regulation: Moderate
Legal

Legal. Registration required. Must follow national curriculum or approved alternative.

Ministry of Education
+60 3 8884 6000
🇸🇬
Singapore
Regulation: High
Legal

Exemption required. Very strict criteria. Must show educational plan. Rare.

Ministry of Education
+65 6872 2220
🇭🇰
Hong Kong
Regulation: Moderate
Legal

Legal. Registration required. Home education permit needed. Annual assessment.

Education Bureau
+852 2891 0088
🇻🇳
Vietnam
Regulation: High
Legal

Legal but must follow Vietnamese national curriculum. Registration + regular progress reports required.

Ministry of Education and Training
+84 24 3869 4167
🇵🇰
Pakistan
Regulation: No regulation
Legal

Legal with no government regulation. No registration, notification, or testing required. Growing community especially in urban areas.

Ministry of Federal Education
+92 51 921 1576
🇰🇿
Kazakhstan
Regulation: Moderate
Legal

Family education recognized. Registration and certification required.

Ministry of Education and Science
+7 7172 74 13 33
🇷🇺
Russia
Regulation: Moderate
Legal

Family education recognized. Registration required. Mandatory exams in grades 4 and 9.

Ministry of Education
+7 495 539 5599
🇰🇵
North Korea
Regulation: N/A
Illegal

State-controlled education system. Homeschooling not permitted.

Ministry of Education
🇦🇪
United Arab Emirates
Regulation: Moderate
Legal

Legal for expats. Must use accredited curriculum. Popular with expat families.

Ministry of Education
+971 2 404 2000
🇮🇱
Israel
Regulation: Low
Legal

Legal. Notification required. About 2,000 families. Growing community.

Ministry of Education
+972 2 560 2222
🇹🇷
Turkey
Regulation: N/A
Illegal

Illegal. School attendance compulsory. Religious education can be done at home.

Ministry of National Education
+90 312 413 1010
🇲🇲
Myanmar
Regulation: Unknown
Unknown

Status unclear. Political situation complex. Traditional education system.

Ministry of Education
+95 67 40 5373
🇰🇭
Cambodia
Regulation: Unknown
Unknown

Status unclear. Research needed for current regulations.

Ministry of Education
+855 23 219 964
🇳🇵
Nepal
Regulation: Unknown
Unknown

Status unclear. Growing tourism/expat population. Research needed.

Ministry of Education
+977 1 4200 932
🇱🇦
Laos
Regulation: Unknown
Unknown

Status unclear. Research needed for current regulations.

Ministry of Education and Sports
+856 21 216 007
🇲🇻
Maldives
Regulation: Unknown
Unknown

Status unclear. Small island nation. Research needed.

Ministry of Education
+960 334 2241
🇧🇩
Bangladesh
Regulation: Unknown
Unknown

Status unclear. Research needed. Population: 172M.

Ministry of Education
+880 2 9514977
🇧🇹
Bhutan
Regulation: Unknown
Unknown

Status unclear. Research needed for current regulations.

Ministry of Education
+975 2 325 520
🇲🇳
Mongolia
Regulation: Unknown
Unknown

Status unclear. Research needed for current regulations.

Ministry of Education
+976 11 322 785
🇰🇬
Kyrgyzstan
Regulation: Unknown
Unknown

Status unclear. Research needed for current regulations.

Ministry of Education
+996 312 62 42 32
🇱🇰
Sri Lanka
Regulation: Unknown
Unknown

Status unclear. Traditional education strongly preferred. Research needed.

Ministry of Education
+94 11 269 6211
🇺🇿
Uzbekistan
Regulation: Unknown
Unknown

Status unclear. Former Soviet republic. Traditional education system.

Ministry of Public Education
+998 71 244 6258
🇹🇯
Tajikistan
Regulation: Unknown
Unknown

Status unclear. Former Soviet republic. Traditional system. Research needed.

Ministry of Education
+992 37 221 4061
🇹🇲
Turkmenistan
Regulation: Unknown
Unknown

Status unclear. Highly controlled education system. Likely very restricted.

Ministry of Education
+993 12 35 24 24
🇿🇦
South Africa
Regulation: Moderate
Legal

Legal since 1996. 57,000+ homeschoolers. Fastest growing education model.

Provincial Education Departments
🇰🇪
Kenya
Regulation: Unclear
Grey Area

Legal grey area. Alternative Education Policy acknowledges non-formal education. Growing practice with advocacy for clearer recognition.

Ministry of Education
+254 20 318 581
🇬🇭
Ghana
Regulation: Implicit
Legal

Implicitly legal. No specific laws but constitution grants parental rights for education. Growing interest.

Ministry of Education
+233 302 666 068
🇳🇬
Nigeria
Regulation: Unregulated
Grey Area

Legal but unregulated. Growing movement especially post-COVID. About 10,000 families.

Federal Ministry of Education
+234 9 314 7327
🇲🇦
Morocco
Regulation: Not explicitly regulated
Grey Area

Not common but not explicitly prohibited. Growing expat homeschool community.

Ministry of National Education
+212 537 77 18 79
🇪🇬
Egypt
Regulation: Unknown
Grey Area

Status unclear but likely tolerated for expats. Ministry created online lessons during COVID suggesting some flexibility.

Ministry of Education
+20 2 2795 6841
🇩🇿
Algeria
Regulation: Unknown
Unknown

Status unclear. Research needed for current regulations.

Ministry of National Education
+213 21 60 55 60
🇱🇾
Libya
Regulation: Unknown
Unknown

Status unclear. Research needed for current regulations.

Ministry of Education
🇹🇳
Tunisia
Regulation: Unknown
Unknown

Status unclear. Compulsory education system. Research needed.

Ministry of Education
+216 71 794 433
🇭🇹
Haiti
Regulation: Unknown
Unknown

Status unclear. Education system faces significant challenges.

Ministry of Education
+509 2245 3885
🇦🇿
Azerbaijan
Regulation: Unknown
Unknown

Status unclear. Former Soviet republic. Research needed.

Ministry of Education
+994 12 496 3760
🇲🇩
Moldova
Regulation: Unknown
Unknown

Status unclear. Former Soviet republic. Research needed.

Ministry of Education
+373 22 233 333
🇧🇧
Barbados
Regulation: Unknown
Unknown

Status unclear. Small island nation. Research needed.

Ministry of Education
+1 246 430 2700
🇧🇸
Bahamas
Regulation: Unknown
Unknown

Status unclear. Small island nation. Research needed.

Ministry of Education
+1 242 502 2700
🇬🇾
Guyana
Regulation: Unknown
Unknown

Status unclear. Small population. Research needed.

Ministry of Education
+592 223 7900

Key Global Trends

Common themes emerging across homeschool regulations worldwide

Legal in Most Countries

Homeschooling is legal in the majority of countries worldwide, though regulation levels vary dramatically from zero oversight to strict government control.

Regulation Spectrum

Countries range from no regulation at all (like the UK and parts of the US) to requiring teaching qualifications, annual exams, and government approval.

Rapid Growth Post-COVID

The global homeschool movement has surged since 2020, with countries like Poland seeing 400% increases and the US reaching 4.3 million homeschoolers.

Sub-National Variation

In many countries like the US, Canada, Australia, Brazil, and Switzerland, homeschool laws vary significantly by state, province, or canton.