Can my child be exempted from the regional language?

Key rules

• Not everywhere: Only some co-official language regions allow a temporary exemption, so check your own region first.
• Temporary: An exemption is not permanent and commonly lasts one to two school years.
• Who decides: You ask the school in writing, and the regional education authority decides.
• Local rules: Conditions, forms and deadlines differ by region, so ask the school and the regional education department.

Conditions, lengths and procedures are set by each region and change, so confirm the current rules with the regional education department before applying.

Only some regions allow an exemption

Not every region with its own language offers an exemption. Regions with a second official language that have some form of temporary exemption or reduced assessment for late arrivals include Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, Valencia, Galicia and the Basque Country (for Basque). Navarre handles this through its language models rather than a simple exemption. Regions with only Spanish have nothing to exempt.

Each region sets its own conditions, length and procedure. Never assume the rules of one region apply in another.

Who usually qualifies

Conditions differ, but the pattern is similar. Your child usually has to have arrived recently from outside the region's school system. This is often in the later years of primary school or in secondary school. Your child also has to have no knowledge of the regional language.

Valencia ties its exemption to when the child joined the Valencian school system and to age. Ask the regional education department for the exact conditions where you live.

How long it lasts

An exemption is temporary. It commonly lasts one to two school years, depending on the region. Renewal rules differ. In some regions it ends once your child reaches a certain level or when the set period runs out. Plan for your child to join the language classes afterwards.

How to ask for it

The usual route is simple:

1. Write a request to the school.
2. The school director adds a report.
3. The school sends both to the regional education inspectorate or delegation, which decides.

Forms, deadlines and offices differ by region. Ask the school for the form and any deadline as soon as you enrol your child, so you do not miss it. The checklist below walks through these steps, and the questions below it cover the common doubts.

Checklist

• Find out whether your region allows an exemption from its language, as only some co-official regions do.

• Ask the regional education department for the conditions in your region, such as when your child arrived and whether they know the regional language.

• Ask how long the exemption lasts and whether it can be renewed, as the length is commonly one to two school years.

• Ask the school for the form and any deadline, since they differ by region.

• Send the school a written request for the exemption.

• Ask the school director for their report, which goes with your request to the regional education inspectorate or delegation.

Frequently asked questions

Does every region with its own language allow an exemption?

No, only some co-official regions allow a temporary exemption or reduced assessment of the regional language for late arrivals. These include Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, Valencia, Galicia and the Basque Country (for Basque), while Navarre works through its linguistic models.

Who decides whether my child gets the exemption?

The regional education inspectorate or delegation decides, not the school. Your family asks the school in writing, and the school sends the request on with the director's report.

Is the exemption for the whole of my child's schooling?

No, the exemption is temporary and usually lasts one to two school years, depending on the region. In some regions it ends earlier, once your child reaches a set level, and renewal rules differ.

Which children usually qualify for an exemption?

Children who arrived recently from outside the region's education system, often in later primary or secondary school, and who have no knowledge of the regional language usually qualify. Valencia ties it to arriving in its system after a certain stage and to age.