Moving to Costa Brava with Children: The Practical Guide
Relocating to the Costa Brava with children is a different process from moving as a couple or an individual. The school calendar does not wait, healthcare registration requires several steps in sequence, and the order in which you sort things matters more than most relocation guides admit. This article covers what actually needs to happen — and in what order — based on how the system works here in 2026.
The Costa Brava is an unusually good region for families. The pace is slower than Barcelona, the outdoor environment is exceptional, and the local infrastructure — schools, clinics, hospitals — is more developed than the area’s reputation as a holiday destination might suggest. But none of that is automatic. Families who arrive without a plan tend to spend their first months fixing administrative problems instead of settling in.
The First Thing to Do: Empadronamiento
Before you can register a child in school, access public healthcare, or apply for a residency card, you need to complete your empadronamiento — registering your address with the local town hall (Ajuntament in Catalan, Ayuntamiento in Spanish).
This is not complicated, but it cannot be skipped. You will need your NIE numbers, proof of address (a rental contract or property deed), and passports. In towns like Lloret de Mar, Blanes, and Palafrugell, the process is done in person at the local town hall and appointments are required. Waiting times vary: in quieter months you may be seen within a few days, but in summer or in larger towns allow up to two weeks. It is worth booking your slot before you arrive, not after.
Once completed, you receive a certificado de empadronamiento. This document unlocks almost everything else: school enrolment, healthcare card applications, and residency permit processes for non-EU families.
One practical note: your empadronamiento address determines which public school and which health centre you are assigned to. If you are still deciding between renting in Lloret de Mar or Blanes, factor this in — it affects which catchment area your children fall into and how far your assigned GP will be.
Schools on the Costa Brava: What Your Options Actually Are
The public school system
Spanish public schools on the Costa Brava are free and functional. Children are taught primarily in Catalan — the language of instruction in Catalonia — with Spanish as a second language. For younger children, language immersion tends to work faster than parents expect. For teenagers arriving without Spanish or Catalan, the adaptation is more demanding and requires honest planning.
Public schools have a programme called aula d’acollida (welcome classroom) specifically for newly arrived children without Catalan or Spanish. It is not a full substitute for the regular curriculum, but it is a genuine support structure that exists in most schools across the region.
Main registration runs in spring for the following September. Mid-year arrivals are accommodated, but the process requires your empadronamiento certificate and your child’s previous school records, ideally translated into Spanish or Catalan.
The main towns — Lloret de Mar, Blanes, Palafrugell, Palamós — all have public schools at primary and secondary level. Quality and atmosphere vary between schools, and local families have strong opinions. If you are choosing a rental or purchase partly based on school proximity, it is worth asking specifically rather than assuming all local schools are equivalent.
The international option: ISCB
For English-speaking families, or families who want continuity with a recognised international curriculum, the school to know on the Costa Brava is the International School Costa Brava (ISCB), located in Platja d’Aro. It is the only fully British international school in the province of Girona, covering Nursery through to Year 13 and following the British National Curriculum with 100% English instruction.
The school accepts admissions throughout the year, including mid-year entry — directly relevant for families whose relocation does not align with the September start. Class sizes are small. The student body is genuinely international and includes a significant number of Russian-speaking children. The school holds Pearson Edexcel certification for iGCSE and A-Levels, meaning qualifications are recognised for UK and international university entry.
Platja d’Aro is roughly 25–30 minutes by car from Lloret de Mar, and 15 minutes from Palafrugell. Families choosing property location partly around ISCB access tend to cluster in the central Costa Brava — Platja d’Aro itself, Sant Feliu de Guíxols, or the Palafrugell area.
Other private and semi-private options
For families in or around Girona city, Saint George’s School in Fornells de la Selva offers English-medium private education covering infant through Baccalaureate. Note that Saint George’s follows the Spanish national curriculum delivered in English — not the British National Curriculum — which matters for families who need internationally portable qualifications.
Several well-regarded Spanish private schools (colegios concertados) operate across the region with bilingual Spanish-English or Spanish-English-Catalan programmes. These are typically lower in cost than full international schools and integrate children well into the local system long-term. Waiting lists at popular schools can be long — enquire before you commit to a specific address.
Healthcare: How to Access It and What to Expect
The public system
Spain’s public healthcare system is high quality and, once you are registered, largely free at point of use. After completing empadronamiento, you register at your local CAP (Centre d’Atenció Primària — the primary care centre). Bring your empadronamiento certificate, NIE, passport, and proof of social security registration if applicable. You will be assigned a family doctor based on your address and receive a Tarjeta Sanitaria Individual, which covers GP visits, specialist referrals, hospital care, and subsidised prescriptions.
The main public hospitals serving the Costa Brava are the Hospital de Palamós for the central coast and the Hospital Universitari de Girona as the main regional hospital, around 45 minutes from most of the Costa Brava. For everyday family care — children’s illnesses, GP appointments, minor injuries — the local CAPs in Lloret de Mar, Blanes, Tossa de Mar and other towns handle the volume well.
Language at public health centres is Catalan and Spanish. English-speaking staff exist in some practices but it is not guaranteed, particularly in smaller towns. For non-Spanish speakers, having a bilingual contact or being prepared to use a translation app for routine appointments is practical advice, not a criticism of the system.
A note on children specifically
Under Spanish law, children are entitled to public healthcare regardless of their parents’ residency or insurance status. This applies from the moment of empadronamiento. You do not need to resolve your own healthcare situation before registering your children with a GP — these are separate processes.
Non-EU families: the first year and beyond
This is the section most relocation guides get wrong, so it is worth being precise.
For non-EU nationals, private health insurance is a legal requirement for most residency visa applications, including the non-lucrative visa. You cannot use the Convenio Especial as a substitute at the application stage, because the Convenio requires 12 months of continuous legal residence before you can even apply for it.
In practice this means: year one requires private insurance, both for the visa itself and because the public access route is not yet open to you. After completing 12 months of registered residence, non-EU families who are not contributing to social security can apply for the Convenio Especial — a voluntary scheme that grants access to the public system for €60 per month per adult under 65. This is a per-person fee; each adult applies separately. Children are covered by Spanish law independently and do not need the Convenio.
Important limitations: the Convenio Especial does not cover prescription medications, dental care, prosthetics, or certain specialist treatments. Many families keep private insurance alongside the Convenio for these gaps, or for faster specialist access.
Private health insurance
Many international families in the region supplement public care with private insurance for faster specialist access, English-speaking doctors, and prescription and dental coverage. Major providers operating in Catalonia include Sanitas, Adeslas, and Asisa. Costs vary significantly by age and plan: broadly €50–€120 per adult per month, meaning a family of four can expect €2,400–€6,000 annually depending on ages and coverage level. Get quotes from at least two or three providers — prices and exclusions differ considerably.
Practical Timeline: What to Sort and When
Before arrival — allow more time than you think
NIE numbers for all family members should be started as early as possible. For non-EU nationals applying through a Spanish consulate abroad, realistic waiting times are 3 to 6 months depending on the country and consulate. Do not assume 8 weeks is enough — in some consulates queues run considerably longer. Start the NIE process as the first administrative step, before anything else.
If enrolling in ISCB or another international school, contact the school before your arrival date. Mid-year places are available but not unlimited, and the school will need your child’s current school records to begin the process.
Arrange initial accommodation with a signed rental contract. You will need this document for empadronamiento — you cannot register from a hotel or without a fixed address.
First week
Book your empadronamiento appointment at the local town hall before you arrive if possible. Complete the registration as soon as your appointment allows. Begin public school enrolment if applicable, bringing translated school records. Visit the local CAP to start the health card process.
First month
If non-EU, begin the TIE (residency card) application — this requires NIE, empadronamiento, proof of financial means or employment, and valid private health insurance. Open a Spanish bank account, required for most ongoing payments including school fees, utilities, and property costs. Register children with a family doctor and arrange any ongoing prescriptions or specialist referrals.
A Note on Location and What It Changes
Where you live on the Costa Brava materially affects your family’s daily logistics.
Lloret de Mar and Blanes are the most practical for year-round family life — the widest range of services, public schools, supermarkets, and medical facilities within the towns. Both have CAPs. Lloret de Mar has a larger Russian-speaking community than most other towns on the coast, which some families find valuable during the first months.
Palafrugell and Sant Feliu de Guíxols are the closest bases to ISCB in Platja d’Aro, with good year-round services and a practical, mixed local character.
Smaller villages — Tamariu, Llafranc, Begur — are exceptional for lifestyle but require a car for everything school and healthcare related. Families with young children who choose these locations do so consciously, with the daily commute factored in from the start.
At VivendaNova we regularly help families think through the location decision in terms of daily logistics — not just property values. If you are weighing up areas with children in mind, it is worth having that conversation before shortlisting properties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do children need to speak Spanish to join a public school in Catalonia?
No. Public schools in Catalonia are required to accommodate children who arrive without Spanish or Catalan. Most have a dedicated language support programme (aula d’acollida) for new arrivals. The adaptation period varies — younger children typically integrate within one school year; older children take longer. The school will assess your child’s level on arrival and adjust support accordingly.
Can I enrol my child in ISCB mid-year?
Yes. ISCB accepts mid-year admissions and has a process designed for families whose relocation does not follow the September calendar. Contact the school directly with your child’s current school records and planned arrival date. Places are not unlimited, so earlier contact is better.
Is private health insurance required to move to Spain?
For non-EU nationals applying for most residency visas, yes — private health insurance is a legal requirement. The Convenio Especial is not a valid substitute for the visa application because it requires 12 months of prior residence. For EU citizens, private insurance is not legally required but is practical in the first months before public registration is complete.
How long does it take to get a health card in Catalonia?
After completing empadronamiento and visiting your local CAP, the Tarjeta Sanitaria is typically issued the same day or within a few working days. The empadronamiento appointment is the bottleneck — book it as early as possible, ideally before you arrive in Spain.
What is the school year calendar in Catalonia?
The academic year runs from early September to late June. Christmas holidays are approximately two weeks, Easter approximately two weeks, with shorter breaks during the year. Public school hours are typically 9am to 5pm; private and international schools vary. Confirm specific dates with the school directly as they can shift slightly year to year.
Before You Choose a Property, Think Through the School Question
The school decision and the property decision are connected in ways that are easy to underestimate. A house in the right village at the wrong distance from your chosen school adds 30–40 minutes of daily driving to your life — every school day, for years.
At VivendaNova we help families look at these questions together. If you are planning a move with children and want to think through location, timing, and what the process actually looks like from arrival to settled — get in touch directly.
For more on the property side of the move, read our guide to buying property in Costa Brava in 2026 and our piece on whether to rent or buy first.