When children need an epidemiological clearance certificate for school or kindergarten, and which medical documents they must provide in 2026

Parents do not need to take every child to a doctor for an epidemiological clearance certificate before each new school year in Romania. The documents are generally requested when children enter a new level of education, not whenever classes resume in the autumn.

According to information from the Health Ministry, the medical documents required at the start of a new educational cycle include a certificate confirming the child is clinically healthy, an epidemiological clearance certificate and proof of vaccination. These requirements apply when children enter a nursery, kindergarten, preparatory class or ninth grade.

Children starting nursery or kindergarten in September 2026 must submit the documents required for entering a community setting. The family doctor issues the certificate confirming the child is clinically healthy, which must be presented on the first day the child attends the institution. The epidemiological clearance certificate or vaccination record must be issued no more than five days before the child begins attending, according to guidance published by the Education Ministry.

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A certificate from the family doctor stating that the child is clinically healthy; the certificate is required on the first day the child attends the educational institution.

The procedure can differ for children entering the preparatory class. If the kindergarten they previously attended has a school medical office, the medical record and certificate are issued by the school doctor. If there is no medical office, as is reportedly the case in most rural kindergartens, the family doctor provides the documents. A similar rule applies to students entering ninth grade: the school medical office handles the paperwork when one exists, otherwise the family doctor issues it.

Children already enrolled in kindergarten, school or high school do not need a new epidemiological clearance certificate simply because a new academic year begins. The same applies to returning after school holidays. A separate requirement applies after an infectious and contagious illness: preschool children must have an epidemiological certificate confirming they are fit to rejoin the community. The article stresses that returning after a holiday and returning after illness are different situations.

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The epidemiological clearance certificate or vaccination record, prepared according to the provisions developed by the Health Ministry regarding the child's entry into the community, issued by the child's family doctor no more than five days before the child begins attending the institution.