The Public Employment Service (DYPA) has opened electronic applications for the free registration and re-registration of infants and toddlers at its 28 nurseries across Greece for the 2025–2026 school year, according to DYPA.

Applications may be submitted online via gov.gr from Tuesday, May 20 at 18:00 until Thursday, June 19 at 23:59. The nurseries, known as DYPA’s Vrefonipiakoi Paidikoi Stathmoi (VNS), offer full-day care and educational activities for children aged 6 months to 4 years and operate from September 1 to July 31, Monday to Friday, 6:45 to 16:00.

According to DYPA, eligible applicants include parents or guardians who:

  • Completed at least 25 insurance days during 2024–2025 under eEFKA OR received relevant unemployment/maternity benefits;

  • Have been registered as unemployed with DYPA for at least two months by the application deadline; OR

  • Are recipients of unemployment benefits for self-employed individuals (formerly insured under OAEE, ETAP-MME, ETAA).

Selection is based on economic and social criteria, with priority given to low-income families, single-parent households, large families, and children with disabilities, according to DYPA.

Once applications close, temporary lists of accepted, substitute, and excluded children will be published. Applicants will have three days to file objections.

DYPA nurseries operate in the following Attica municipalities: Agia Varvara, Ano Liosia, Elefsina, Keratsini, Menidi, Moschato, Olympic Village, Peristeri, and Chaidari. A new nursery in Ilion is scheduled to open in September.

Regional nurseries operate in Agrinio, Arta, Drama, Igoumenitsa, Ioannina, Kavala, Kalamata, Karditsa, Karpenisi, Komotini, Messolonghi, Naoussa, Xanthi, Patras, Pylaia (Thessaloniki), Serres, and Trikala. The Larissa nursery, which was damaged by storm Daniel, is expected to reopen in early 2026.

According to DYPA, these nurseries participate in the EU co-funded program “Promotion and support of children for their inclusion in preschool education,” implemented under the NSRF 2021–2027. Beneficiaries of the program can redeem their issued vouchers at DYPA nurseries.