Moving with family to Spain

Schools, visas and a home in the right catchment. Everything you need to relocate with children in the order it actually happens - from choosing a region to enrolling your kids.

Download the free buyer's guide

Your 6 essential reads

Working-age families relocating to Spain with children, focused above all on schools, visas and finding a family home. If that's you, this is the path from researching schools and areas to enrolling your kids.

Education in Spain: An overview of the Spanish education system
There’s a reason Spain consistently ranks as one of the best countries in the world for quality of life. With its sunny climate, low crime rates, and strong sense of community, it’s no wonder families from around the world are choosing to make a new life here.But while lifestyle might be the initial draw, education is often the deciding factor. Especially for parents planning a long-term move. The good news? Spain offers a wide range of schooling options that are affordable, welcoming, and surprisingly flexible.We spoke to Jade Buckley, a former Executive at Kyero.com, whose parents moved to Spain when she was ten years old. Jade attended an international school and shared what it was like to grow up and study in Spain. She also reflected on the positive impact this experience had on her confidence, language skills, and academic direction – insights that may help you decide whether an international school could be the right fit for your own family.Whether you’re navigating preschool or planning for university, this guide will walk you through the Spanish education system step by step. From understanding key stages like ESO and Bachillerato to choosing between public, private, concertado and international schools, we’ve got everything covered.Let’s explore what school really looks like in Spain, and how to make it work for your family.
A comprehensive guide to Spanish visas
If you’re planning to buy a property in Spain and are a non-EU citizen who wants to stay there for more than 90 days at a time, understanding the Spanish visa system is crucial. Spain offers various types of visas, including the newly introduced digital nomad visa, each with its own specific entry requirements and application procedures. In this comprehensive Spain visa guide, we explore the different types of long-stay Spanish visas, their eligibility criteria, and how to obtain one. 
Best destinations to live in Spain for families
If you’re considering moving your family to Spain, you'll be pleased to hear that all the expats families we talk to who have made the move, say it’s the best thing they have ever done. With year-round outdoor activities on your doorstep, a well regarded education system (and dozens of international schools) and a family-friendly vibe everywhere you go, here are Kyero’s top picks for places to live in Spain with a family.
How to get a mortgage in Spain: a foreigner's guide to funding a property purchase
Buying your own property in Spain is a very realistic prospect for people in a range of different financial circumstances. Whether it’s a chic city apartment, a sun-baked finca, or the kind of villa that makes your friends turn green on Instagram, a Spanish mortgage is the most popular way to making it happen. The good news: foreigners can get a mortgage in Spain. The slightly less glamorous news: you’ll need paperwork, deposits, and a decent grasp of the buying process to pull it off smoothly.In this guide, we’ve teamed up with Alex Radford, English-speaking lawyer at My Lawyer in Spain, to walk you through both how to get a mortgage in Spain and various other ways you can get your hands on the keys to your new home in Spain. Alex’s expert tips are sprinkled throughout, and he’s refreshingly frank about the process.
How to buy property in Spain: the full process, explained by an expert lawyer
Thinking of buying a home in Spain? Whether you're picturing lazy days on the coast or a rural finca with space for olive trees, the buying process can feel like a bureaucratic maze. But with the right guidance - and a good lawyer - it doesn’t have to. In this article, we walk you through every step of buying property in Spain, with insider insight from expert property lawyer Alex Radford of My Lawyer in Spain. You'll learn what to expect, how to protect yourself, and the key questions to ask along the way. Want the full scoop straight from the source? Don’t miss the video interview embedded below.
The cost of buying property in Spain
Besides the property's actual cost, purchasing a home in Spain involves various additional expenses related to the buying process. As a general rule, buyers should allow 10% to 12% of the purchase price to cover fees and taxes.Buyers should be aware of these costs to assess whether their budget adequately covers the entire transaction, thereby avoiding unpleasant surprises later on. Ana Roncel Olbrich is a Spanish lawyer specialising in real estate, based in Estepona, she gave us a summary of the most important costs that should be taken into account when deciding to purchase a property in Spain, depending on the type of property that you plan on purchasing.

Key things to watch

School places hinge on the empadronamiento and catchment area. Register your address early - it drives which schools you can apply to.
Weigh international vs bilingual vs state schools before you commit to a location - fees, language and curriculum vary widely.
Non-EU family visas carry income thresholds. Check them well before you commit to a move date.
Pet imports need lead time. Start the microchip-and-rabies sequence months ahead, not weeks.