DCT Family Guide

Daycare Enrollment Waitlist,
It’s Much Easier When You Prepare in Advance

At first, I had no idea that daycare enrollment waitlists were this complicated. I thought “Can’t you just apply?” But it turns out the order is determined by priority points. Understanding the scoring criteria, application timing, and required documents in advance can help reduce your waiting period.

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1. Application Timing – September to November is Key

Daycare enrollment applications are concentrated in September through November each year. You need to apply during this period to secure a spot for March enrollment the following year.

Honestly, if you think “I still have time” and miss the November deadline, it becomes much harder to get into your preferred daycare. I recommend applying as soon as applications open in September.

• September: Online application starts on the national childcare portal (register first, then use the enrollment waitlist application menu)
• October-November: Select 1st through 3rd choice daycares
• December: Enrollment waitlist ranking confirmation notice
• Note: Public daycares can have waiting periods from 6 months to over 2 years depending on the area, so applying to home-based or private daycares as well can give you peace of mind

Experienced parent tip: Register for the childcare portal account in advance. If you set up your digital certificate (or simple authentication) beforehand, you can proceed immediately when applications open.

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2. Required Documents

Document preparation takes more effort than you’d think. Having them ready in advance makes the application process much smoother.

• Family registration certificate (issued within 30 days)
• Health insurance eligibility certificate
• Vaccination record
• Dual-income proof (employment certificate, business registration, etc.)
• Single-parent or multiple children documentation (if applicable)

One tip: You can get family registration certificates directly from the government portal, and vaccination records can be printed from the disease control center’s vaccination helper website. Save them as PDFs in advance for convenience.

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3. Priority Points – This is the Key

Daycare enrollment order is ultimately determined by these points. It’s helpful to check in advance which categories you can get bonus points from.

Category	Bonus Points	Notes
Dual-income	+10 points	Both parents need employment verification
Multiple children (2 or more)	+5~10 points	Additional bonus for third child and beyond
Single parent	+10 points	Single parent family certificate required
Local residence	+5 points	Same district as daycare location
Sibling enrollment	+3 points	When sibling attends same daycare

Note: Bonus point categories and scores may vary by region. If you want to know the exact criteria for your area, contacting your local community center is the most reliable way.

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4. Public vs Private vs Home-based Daycares

It’s easy to think “public daycares are always better,” but each type has its pros and cons. The important thing is choosing what fits your family situation.

Type	Tuition	Wait Time	Advantages	Disadvantages
Public	Fully covered	6 months~2 years	Great facilities, no cost burden	Very long waiting periods possible
Private	Partially covered	1~6 months	Diverse programs available	Additional costs may occur
Home-based	Fully covered	1~3 months	Small-scale, personalized care	Smaller facility size

My experience: I put my name on the public daycare waitlist but sent my child to a home-based daycare first. The home-based daycare had fewer children, so my child adapted quickly. Later when a public daycare spot opened up, we transferred smoothly because my child was already well-adjusted.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Does the daycare waitlist ranking change?
A. Yes, it’s recalculated monthly. If new applicants with higher scores apply, your ranking can get pushed back. That’s why applying early is advantageous.

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