Childcare plan for your first months after arriving

Key rules

• Bridge cover: Arrange private, nanny, childminder or family care before you start work, because a public place is unlikely to be ready.
• Padrón: Register your address as soon as you have one, since public nurseries usually ask for the certificate.
• Mid-year places: Public vacancies during the year exist, but they are limited and the application route depends on your region and town.
• Waiting list: Ask to join the public nursery waiting list on arrival.

Start with a bridge, not a public place

If you arrive outside the September cycle, a public nursery place will rarely be ready when you start work. Plan private, nanny, childminder or family cover first. Then check vacancies and register your address while that cover is running.

Options for the first months

• Private nursery with monthly enrolment. Short-term enrolment is possible in private centres that have vacancies. Ask each centre directly.
• Nanny or au pair. A temporary nanny or au pair can cover the gap, including odd hours.
• Childminder. A childminder looks after your child in their own home or yours.
• Hourly baby rooms (ludotecas). These are drop-in or hourly. They suit part-time or irregular cover.
• Relatives, or staggered leave. If family can help, or you and your partner can split parental leave, this can cover the first weeks.

Availability and cost vary a lot by city, so contact several options in the first days.

Register your address

Register on the padrón as soon as you have an address. Public nurseries usually ask for a padrón certificate with the application. Many also give points for living in the town or district. In some places a family or work address can count, so ask your town council.

Ask about a public place

Yes, you can apply outside the main window. Vacancies that come up during the year are handled by the regional admissions body, the town council or the nursery itself, depending on where you live. Places usually come from waiting lists or a regional office for late enrolments. Arrivals from abroad are generally treated as late enrolments.

Nursery places are limited, so ask to join the waiting list on arrival. Also ask whether your region gives priority points for residence or parents' employment.

Immigration status

Foreign children have the same right to education as Spanish ones, and compulsory schooling does not depend on status. For public nurseries, access is generally open to resident children. Confirm the documents with your town council or regional office. The list below shows what is usually asked for.

Do it in this order

1. Book your bridge cover.
2. Register your address on the padrón.
3. Ask the council or regional office how mid-year applications work, and join the waiting list.
4. Gather your documents, using the checklist below.

Keep the bridge in place until you have a confirmed public place.

Documents you need

• Padrón certificate, issued by your town hall, showing your address. Public nurseries usually ask for it with the application.

• Your child's identity document or passport.

• Proof of family income, which regions usually ask for when you apply to a public nursery.

Checklist

• Line up a bridge, such as a private nursery with monthly enrolment, a nanny, a childminder, an hourly baby room or a relative, so you can work straight away.

• Ask your town council or regional admissions office how to apply for mid-year vacancies.

• Ask to be put on the public nursery waiting list.

• Gather your child's passport or identity document, the padrón certificate and proof of family income.

• Ask whether your region gives priority points for residence or parents' employment, and whether a family or work address counts.

Frequently asked questions

Can my child join a public nursery if we arrive mid-year?

Yes, you can apply for public nursery vacancies that come up during the year, though places are limited. Arrivals from abroad are generally treated as late enrolments. Depending on your region, you apply through the regional admissions body, the town council or the nursery itself.

Do I need to be on the padrón before applying for a public nursery?

Yes, usually, because the padrón (the municipal register of residents) certificate is normally requested with the application. Many towns also give points for living in the town or district. Register as soon as you have an address, since in some places a family or work address can count.

Which options can cover childcare while I wait for a public place?

Private nurseries with monthly enrolment, a temporary nanny or au pair, a childminder, hourly baby rooms (ludotecas), relatives and staggered parental leave can all bridge the gap. Short-term enrolment works where a private centre has a vacancy. You can also ask to join the public waiting list on arrival.

Does our immigration status stop my child getting a public nursery place?

Status does not block your child's right to education, since foreign minors have the same right as Spanish ones. Public nursery access is generally open to resident children. Some regions give priority points for residence or parents' employment.