Moving to the Costa del Sol with children: the order to do things

Moving to the Costa del Sol with children works best in this order: choose the school, rent near it, then register on the padrón. The padrón address unlocks public school places, the health card and most other paperwork. Non-EU families, including UK nationals arriving now, normally need a residence visa before any of this. This guide sets out each step for families renting long term between Estepona and Marbella. Every figure has a source, checked on 9 October 2026.

The order at a glance

Good to know: EU, EEA and Swiss families can do most steps after arrival. Non-EU families, including UK nationals who arrive now, normally need the visa first. Plan that step months ahead.

1. Choose the area by the school run

Why start with the school?

Because a school is harder to change than a flat. Pick the school first, or at least the type of school, then rent within a short drive of it. In Andalucía, public school places also depend on where you live, so the address matters twice.

Which areas suit which schools?

• Selwo, east Estepona. Atlas American School is about 4 minutes away, and Aloha College about 20.
• El Paraíso and Atalaya. The International School Estepona and Mayfair School are inside this strip.
• Estepona hills and old town. Colegio San José is about 5 minutes from Mirador de Estepona Hills, and the town's public schools are close.
• San Pedro and Marbella. Calpe, Laude and Aloha College are here.

Drive the route at 8:30 in the morning before you sign. The A-7 slip roads and some roundabouts queue at peak times. Our Estepona vs Marbella comparison sets the two towns side by side, from rents to hospital drive times.

2. Sign a home lease (vivienda habitual)

What kind of lease do you need?

You need a home lease for your habitual residence, not a seasonal or holiday let. Spanish law defines a home lease as one whose main purpose is to meet the tenant's housing need (LAU art. 2). Only this kind of lease gives you a stable address for the padrón, schools and doctors.

On a home lease, you and the landlord agree the term. If it is shorter than five years, it renews each year until it reaches five, or seven if the landlord is a company. You can leave with 30 days' notice before each renewal (LAU art. 9.1).

What do you pay at signing?

So the most you should pay up front is four months. The landlord also cannot make you take out rent default insurance (LAU art. 36.5). That rule comes from a decree of October 2026 that parliament still has to confirm. The Honest Let explains what you can be asked to pay and which rules depend on that decree.

Good to know: Landlords ask for proof that you can pay. Prepare payslips, an employment contract or proof of savings before you view. Our renter profile page lists what helps.

3. Register on the padrón

What is the padrón?

The padrón is the town's register of residents. Everyone who lives in Spain must register in the town where they usually live (Ley 7/1985 art. 15). The register is proof of your residence and address for all administrative purposes (art. 16).

Why does it come so early?

The school admission system checks your address against the padrón data. If the data does not match, the school can ask for a padrón certificate from the town hall (Junta de Andalucía). The health card also needs a padrón certificate (Servicio Andaluz de Salud).

How do you register in Estepona?

Book at the town hall's appointment site. The Ayuntamiento is at Avenida Juan Carlos I 40, phone 952 80 90 00 (Ayuntamiento de Estepona). Bring passports and your signed lease, and register every child too. Our padrón and NIE guide covers the documents step by step.

4. NIE, EU registration or TIE

EU, EEA and Swiss families

If you will live in Spain for more than three months, apply in person within three months of arrival. You use form EX-18 and pay fee 790 code 012 (Policía Nacional). You must meet the requirements in article 7 of Royal Decree 240/2007. The certificate you receive shows your foreigner identity number (NIE).

Non-EU families, including UK nationals arriving now

You normally need a residence visa from a Spanish consulate before you move. UK nationals should check which visa or permit fits them (GOV.UK). After you enter Spain, you apply for the TIE card with form EX-17, in person, at an immigration office or police station (Policía Nacional). Children need their own residence documents (GOV.UK).

Good to know: UK nationals who lived in Spain before 1 January 2021 have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement. The TIE is the only residence document listed in that agreement (GOV.UK). New arrivals from the UK follow non-EU rules.

5. Get a school place in Andalucía

Public schools (escolarización in Andalucía)

Public schools are free and teach in Spanish. School is compulsory from 6 to 16 (GOV.UK), and infant school starts at 3. Most new places each year are for 3-year-olds, and Andalucía is cutting those classes to 22 pupils (Andalucía Informa).

When to apply. The main window for infant, primary and secondary places is in March. The Junta's FAQ gives 1 to 31 March (Junta de Andalucía). The key 2026/27 dates were (Junta de Andalucía calendar):

Nursery places for ages 0 to 3 run on a separate calendar. For 2026/27 the window was 1 to 30 April 2026 (Junta de Andalucía).

How to apply. Send one application per child. You name one first-choice school and up to four others (Junta de Andalucía). You can apply online or at the school, and the iEscolariza app shows schools and catchment areas (Andalucía Informa).

How points work. Points only matter when a school has more applicants than places. The main points come from your address (Junta de Andalucía autobaremo):

Siblings already at the school and household income also count. Ties go to a public draw.

Arriving after March. A late application loses its priority. Once places are allocated, the provincial admission commissions can assign a place to late applicants (Junta de Andalucía). In practice, ask the nearest schools and the education office in Málaga which places are free.

International schools

International schools set their own dates and fees. Ask each school about mid-year entry. Published fees near Estepona include:

Lunch, uniform and transport are often extra. Fees for every school in the area, with drive times, are in our guide to schools in Estepona.

Good to know: International schools fill popular year groups first. Visit and pay the registration fee before you sign a lease far from the school.

6. Healthcare: SAS, private cover and a paediatrician

Registering with the public system (SAS)

Apply for the Andalusian health card at your local health centre. For a first card you need (Servicio Andaluz de Salud):

• the application form and the holder's ID;
• the family book or birth certificates for children under 14;
• a Social Security (INSS) document showing you are covered;
• a padrón certificate as proof that you live in Andalucía.

Foreign residents apply once they are registered with Spanish Social Security. Usually an employer registers you, or you register as self-employed.

Choosing a paediatrician

Parents choose the doctor for children under 16. Children aged 7 to 14 can have a paediatrician or a family doctor. You can choose at the health centre, or online with a digital certificate or Cl@ve. For children without Cl@ve, you choose at the health centre. The answer should come within 45 days, and you can change again after three months (Junta de Andalucía).

Private health insurance

If you are not yet covered by Spanish Social Security, you will not get a public health card this way. You then need another route, such as private health insurance, until you are covered. Ask the INSS which route fits your family. If you need a visa, check its health cover rules with the consulate. In an emergency, call 112.

7. Driving licence and car

Licences from outside the EU

A non-EU licence is valid in Spain for at most six months from when you become a resident. After that, you must exchange it if your country has an agreement with Spain. Without an agreement, you need a Spanish licence with tests (DGT). The list of countries with an agreement is on the DGT exchange page.

UK licences

Spain and the UK agreed in 2023 that residents can exchange licences without extra tests (DGT). You can drive on a UK licence for up to six months as a resident. Apply before the six months end, as processing takes time (GOV.UK). Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man licences cannot be exchanged.

Bringing your own car

A vehicle you bring must be registered in Spain before you drive it here as a resident (DGT). Outside the town centres, most families on this coast need at least one car.

8. Money and the bank

A Spanish account makes rent, school fees, utilities and direct debits simpler. If you do not yet hold an account in Spain, a basic payment account (cuenta de pago básica) is an option. Its fees are capped at €3 a month, and some groups pay nothing (Banco de España). The cap covers up to 120 payments a year in euros within the EU (Banco de España).

Take your passport, NIE document, padrón certificate and lease to the first meeting. Ask the bank which documents it needs, and update the account once you have your residence document.

Good to know: Tax residence is a separate question from your padrón and your bank. Ask a tax adviser before your first full year in Spain.

Your first month with children: a checklist

1. Lease signed for your home (a home lease, vivienda habitual), so you can register on the padrón at that address.
2. Padrón certificate for every family member.
3. NIE, EU registration or TIE appointment booked for parents and children.
4. School place confirmed, or a written request with the nearest schools and the education office.
5. Social Security registration, health cards and a paediatrician chosen.
6. Bank account open and school fees set up.
7. Licence exchange date in the diary, if you have a non-EU licence.
8. 112, your health centre and the nearest children's emergency department saved in every phone.

See the homes available now on our long-term rentals page.

This guide is general information about Spanish and Andalusian rules, checked on 9 October 2026. It is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules and dates change, so check the official pages linked above and ask a lawyer or gestor about your own case.