Schools for children when relocating abroad: how to choose

For a family, the school often decides the whole move. A property can be bought in a month, but a child who changes language, curriculum and friends carries that choice for years. This article sets out the questions to settle before you pick a house, not after. It does not recommend particular schools, and it quotes no fee ranges, because we could not verify current ones. Use it with our general guide to relocating abroad with family.

The four basic options

• The local state school. Free or low-cost, taught in the local language. Children usually integrate fastest, but the first year can be hard without the language. Quality varies by area, and the school is normally assigned by address, so the district of your future home matters.
• A private school in the local language. Smaller classes in some places, but the same curriculum and language as the state system.
• An international school. Usually taught in English, sometimes with a second language, following a foreign or international curriculum. Costs are normally the highest of the four, and places in good schools can be limited.
• A bilingual or national school of another country. For example a school following the programme of your home country, or a European school type of institution. Availability is narrow and mostly in large cities.

There is also home education, which is legal in some countries and restricted or prohibited in others. Check before you assume it is possible.

Language of instruction

This is the most important variable. Ask three things: in which language will the child be taught, what support exists for a child who does not speak it, and how many years does the school expect before the child follows lessons normally. Some regions of Spain, for example, have a co-official language (such as Catalan, Basque or Valencian) that can be the main language of instruction in public schools, so the region matters as much as the country. In Cyprus, public schools teach in Greek and many expat families choose private English-language schools. In Bulgaria, public schools teach in Bulgarian. In Portugal, public schools teach in Portuguese and there are also private and international schools, mainly around Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve. These are general patterns to verify with the school and the local education authority, not guarantees.

Outside Europe

In the UAE, expatriate children generally attend private schools; in Dubai, schools are inspected and rated by the local authority, and the inspection reports are public, which is a useful starting point. In Thailand, international schools are concentrated in Bangkok and in places such as Phuket and Chiang Mai, and state schools teach in Thai. Admission rules, age cut-offs and academic calendars differ from the European ones, so verify them with the school. Residence status can also matter: a family on a property-linked or long-stay visa should check that the visa does not limit school enrolment.

Joining mid-year

Most European systems start the school year in September, and many have registration windows months earlier. A move in January or March is usually possible for a state school place, but allocation can be slower and the child may be placed by age, not by level. International schools may place a child immediately or put them on a waiting list. Calendars differ, so a child may arrive in the middle of someone else's term, and may need to repeat a period or skip one.

Ask the school the following before you commit:

• Will the child be placed by age or by level, and can this be revisited after a trial period?
• Is there a language support class, and for how long?
• Which documents are required: school reports, vaccination record, birth certificate, a transfer letter?
• Do the documents have to be translated or carry an apostille? See our guides on apostille and legalisation and certified translations, which describe the same formalities for property.

Recognition of certificates within the EU

For older pupils, the question is what happens to the school-leaving certificate. As a general rule within the EU, a secondary qualification that gives access to university in one member state gives access, in principle, in others. That does not mean automatic admission: the university can still set its own subject requirements, language tests and competitive entry. National recognition centres (the ENIC-NARIC network) handle formal recognition of foreign diplomas. If the child will move between systems, check the requirements for the final years early, because switching curricula in the last two years is the hardest point. Outside the EU, recognition is decided by each receiving institution or country; ask before you enrol.

Russian-language and Polish-language supplementary schools

Many families want the child to keep Russian or Polish. In several countries there are weekend or after-school supplementary schools run by community organisations, and sometimes by an embassy or education institution of the home country. Their existence, quality and status vary widely, and we do not endorse any. Ask other families locally and look at what is actually offered: hours per week, teachers' qualifications, and whether it leads to an exam. A language class is a complement to the main school, not a substitute for it.

Practical order of steps

• Choose the country and region, then shortlist two or three schools, then look at property near them.
• Visit in term time, not in the holidays.
• Ask about waiting lists and registration windows before you sign a purchase contract.
• Ask the school what documents it needs and how long they take to obtain.
• Plan a first year with extra support for language, and for the emotional side of moving.

FAQ

Is an international school better than a local one? Neither is better in general. International schools are easier for a short stay or when the child will move on again. Local schools suit a family that will stay and wants fast integration.

Can I enrol my child in the middle of the school year? Often yes, but allocation and level placement vary. Ask the school or local education authority.

Will my child's school certificate be accepted for university in another EU country? In principle a qualification giving university access at home is recognised for access elsewhere in the EU, but universities can set their own requirements. Check with the recognition centre and the university.

Do property purchases give my child a school place? No. A place depends on the school's rules, usually on address or availability, not on ownership.

Are there fee ranges you can quote? We prefer not to: we could not confirm current figures, which change every year. Ask each school for its current fee list.

How we help

We are a trilingual platform that finds properties and coordinates independent local lawyers and tax advisers. We do not run or recommend schools, but we can help a family to shortlist areas that fit its school plans and to ask the right questions of the local lawyer. This text is informational and is not legal, tax or educational advice. Rules and admission procedures change, so verify them with the school, the local education authority and, for the EU, the Your Europe portal. See also the country overview and the country comparison.