What happens to school language if we move to another region?

Key rules

• Records: Grades and the school record transfer between regions, and the new school places your child in the matching year.
• Language: Teaching language and some content change with the region, so expect support rather than an entry test.
• Exemptions: Exemptions and transition periods depend on the region, so ask the receiving school before you move.
• Timing: September and early school years are the easiest times to switch.

The short answer

Moving regions changes the language your child is taught in, and some regions give transitional support. Your child's place in the school system does not change. Only the language and part of the content do.

What carries over

Schooling is continuous across Spain. Your child's academic record (historial académico) and grades transfer with them. Their year or course is recognised nationwide, because primaria, ESO and bachillerato follow the same national structure. The new school places your child in the matching year.

To move the records, ask the secretary of the current school for them. You then apply through the new region's admission system.

What changes

The curriculum is partly regional. The state sets a basic core and each region adds its own, so some contents differ. The co-official language subjects differ too. If your child comes from a region without that language, they will usually be placed with support.

The new region does not normally require an entry language test. Schools do assess your child's level, so they can decide what support to give.

Support and exemptions by region

Practice varies by region and can change from year to year, so ask the receiving school what applies now.

• Valencian Community: a time-limited exemption from Valencian has been available on request in the first years.
• Balearic Islands and Galicia: newcomers get adaptation and support, often for a transition of one to two years.
• Catalonia: newcomers get language support and welcome classrooms (aulas de acogida). There is no formal exemption.
• Basque Country and Navarre: newly arrived pupils can enter a Spanish-medium model and get Basque reinforcement.

Choosing the moment

The easiest time is the start of infant education or early primary. Children pick up the language quickly and the content is lighter. The hardest time is the later years of ESO and bachillerato, when subjects are demanding and the university access tests are close.

If you can choose, move in September rather than mid-year. A change of stage, such as primaria to ESO, also works as a natural break. The timeline below sets this out step by step.

Support differs between schools and children, so ask about it for the exact year your child will enter. The checklist below lists what to ask.

Timeline and deadlines

• Easiest moment: start of infant education or early primary: at age 3 or in the early primary years

• Use a change of stage, such as primaria to ESO, as a natural break: when your child changes stage

• Hardest moment: later years of ESO and bachillerato, when subjects are demanding and the university access tests are close: in the final school years

Checklist

• Ask your child's current school secretary for the academic record (historial académico) and grades.

• Apply through the new region's admission system and ask which year your child will be placed in.

• Ask the receiving school how it will assess your child's language level and what support it gives.

• Ask whether the region offers a transition period or a time-limited exemption from the co-official language.

• Compare the new region's course contents with your child's current ones, as they differ in part.

• Plan the move for September or a change of stage if you can.

Frequently asked questions

Can my child be exempt from the regional language after moving?

Sometimes, but it depends on the region you move to and how long your child has been there. The Valencian Community has allowed a time-limited exemption from Valencian on request in the first years. Catalonia gives language support and welcome classrooms (aulas de acogida) instead of a formal exemption.

Which regions offer transition support to children arriving from another region?

The Balearic Islands and Galicia offer adaptation and support to newcomers, often for a transition of one to two years. In the Basque Country and Navarre, newly arrived pupils can enter a Spanish-medium model and get Basque reinforcement. Ask the receiving school what applies for your child's year.

When is the easiest time for a child to switch to a new language regime?

The easiest time is the start of infant education (age 3) or early primary, ideally in September.