Choosing a school as an expat in Portugal

A practical guide for international families choosing a school in Portugal — curricula, fees, registration timelines and tips from relocators.

Moving to Portugal and choosing the right school for your child is one of the most important decisions you'll make as an expat family. This guide walks you through the key factors to consider.

Curricula available in Portugal

Portugal has a wide range of international programmes:

IB (International Baccalaureate) — PYP, MYP and Diploma programmes available at several schools in Lisbon, Cascais and Porto.

British curriculum — IGCSE and A-Levels, popular in the Cascais/Estoril corridor.

American curriculum — Offered by a handful of schools, mainly in Greater Lisbon.

Cambridge — Some schools follow the Cambridge International curriculum.

Portuguese national curriculum — State and many private schools follow the Ministry of Education programme, taught in Portuguese.

French, German, Swedish — Bilateral schools serving those communities.

Registration timelines

Most international schools open applications in January–March for the following September intake. Waiting lists for popular schools (especially IB or British-curriculum) can be 1–2 years long. Apply as early as possible once you know your move date.

State schools accept registrations in April–June via the Ministry of Education portal.

Key questions to ask

1. What is the language of instruction?

2. Is there an English as an Additional Language (EAL) support programme?

3. What are the annual fees — and what is included?

4. What is the school bus coverage area?

5. How long is the waiting list?

6. What are the term dates? (Portuguese terms differ from UK and US)

Use Skolvi to compare

Skolvi lets you filter schools by curriculum, language, fees and location — then compare up to 3 schools side by side with real fee data.