Moving to Portugal with kids: your essential guide to childcare and education

Moving abroad with children is exciting, but reality hits fast: you're juggling appointments, house viewings, and school tours while your children navigate culture shock without their usual support network. Success isn't about doing everything yourself—it's about knowing which experts to partner with from day one.

In this guide, Baby Sisters and Global School Guidance share how expatriate families can make a smooth transition from their first day in Portugal.

The First Week Reality

In the early days, parents face what we call the “availability squeeze.” Everything important, such as tax ID numbers (NIF), bank accounts, or house visits, happens during working hours. And unlike in their home country, there is no family network here to help out for a few hours.

Professional babysitting and childcare services make the process much easier. In addition to providing a safe environment, they include caregivers who speak English, understand culture shock, and help children feel confident in their new routine.

Baby Sisters provides English-speaking full-vetted caregivers who specialize in supporting international families during relocation. Whether you need coverage for a few hours during appointments or full-day care while you establish your routine, flexible arrangements help parents focus on critical decisions while children maintain stability.

Understanding the School Landscape in Portugal

Portugal offers two main types of schools: Portuguese schools following the national curriculum and international schools offering British, American, IB, or bilingual programmes.

Understanding which schools genuinely match your child's profile—beyond marketing materials—requires insider knowledge of how admissions actually work, what schools prioritize in selection, and how to position your application competitively.

This is exactly the sort of assistance you will receive from Global School Guidance.

The Bridge Period: Your First Two or Three Months

This is the most demanding phase, but also the one where flexible childcare makes the biggest difference.

Key benefits include:

1. Coverage during school visits

2. Backup for unexpected delays or meetings

3. After-school support if the placement starts mid-year

4. Gentle exposure to Portuguese through play Social integration in local playgrounds and activities

This period is about creating emotional stability for your child while your routine is still taking shape.

Planning Your School Selection 

Choosing the right school requires looking beyond the polished tour experience. Schools invest heavily in first impressions—gleaming facilities, enthusiastic guides, impressive statistics. But the factors that determine whether your child thrives there often remain invisible during a standard visit.

During tours, families often focus on facilities and curriculum, but insider factors like teacher retention rates, true academic rigor, hidden costs, and how schools actually support diverse learners matter more for long-term satisfaction.

Long Term: Building Your Family’s Support System

Life in Portugal becomes much easier when there is a trusted support network. Even after school placement, many families rely on childcare during holidays, mild sick days, after-school routines, and enrichment activities.

Consistent caregivers become part of the child’s emotional world, which is especially important for expat families adapting to a new culture.

Conclusion

A successful relocation is more than logistics. It is about building a support system that understands the needs of your family. With reliable childcare from the beginning and expert school guidance, your transition to Portugal can be smooth and genuinely enjoyable.

Ready to plan your move?

Contact Baby Sisters to arrange childcare support tailored to your family's transition timeline, and reach out to Global School Guidance for a personalized school placement consultation.