Relocating to Valencia means more than a change of scenery, it’s about creating a secure, healthy and inspiring environment for you and your family. Below is an overview of the city’s healthcare and education landscape, along with the tailored support our team provides to ensure every detail is handled with discretion and expertise.
Private Clinics & Hospitals
Valencia is home to internationally accredited private hospitals and specialist clinics offering English-speaking staff, short waiting times and state-of-the-art facilities. Renowned providers such as Hospital Quirónsalud and IMED Valencia deliver everything from routine check-ups to advanced surgical procedures.
Public Healthcare Excellence
Spain’s national health system (SNS) is consistently ranked among the best in Europe. Once you are a legal resident and registered for social security, you can access high-quality public care with little or no cost. After 1 year of residency, and you are neither working nor self-employed, you may apply to join the Convenio Especial, a voluntary public-health scheme with a fixed monthly fee (about €60–€160 depending on age) for access to state healthcare. This affords full access to the Spanish public healthcare system but does not cover prescriptions, dental care or specialised medical devices/services and prosthetics. You can obtain private insurance to cover this exclusions. U.S. citizens may be able to claim healthcare and insurance costs as part of your foreign earned income exclusion or medical expense deductions on your U.S. tax return, provided they meet IRS criteria.
Please note that payments made through the Convenio Especial do not count toward your social security contributions in Spain. This means they do not entitle you to pension or unemployment benefits. In addition, each family member must apply and pay the monthly fee separately, as the program does not cover dependents.
UK pensioners relocating to Spain are entitled to free healthcare via the NHS. You must request an S1 form from the UK's NHS Overseas Healthcare Services before you leave the UK and once in Spain, register the S1 form with the Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad Social (INSS) to receive your Spanish health card.
Health Insurance Guidance
Most non-EU citizens, including Americans applying for Non-Lucrative, must show proof of private health insurance. You must ensure your health insurance policy for a Spanish visa application is fully comprehensive, with no co-payments or exclusions for pre-existing conditions, and issued by an authorised insurance company allowed to operate in Spain.
Wellness & Preventive Care
From private dental practices to luxury spas and holistic wellness centres, Valencia offers a full spectrum of services to keep you at your best. We can recommend English-speaking GPs, specialists, and even personal trainers or nutritionists.
International & Bilingual Schools
Valencia offers an impressive range of private schools following British, American and International Baccalaureate (IB) curricula. Well-regarded names include Cambridge House, Caxton College and the American School of Valencia. These institutions combine academic excellence with small class sizes, extensive extracurricular programmes and modern facilities, ideal for families seeking an international environment. Private schools manage their own admissions policy and operate on independent timelines. Most start accepting applications early in the year but flexibility is possible, especially for expat families moving mid-year.
Public Schools (Escuelas Públicas)
Spain’s public schools are free of charge and deliver the national curriculum in Spanish and, in many cases, Valencian. They are well regulated and can be an excellent choice for families who want their children to integrate fully into local culture and language. Admission is typically based on catchment area and subject to annual application deadlines.
Concertado Schools
Concertados are semi-private schools that receive government funding but are privately managed. They often blend the rigour and smaller class sizes of private institutions with the cost advantages of the public system. While tuition is lower than in fully private schools, parents may contribute modest monthly fees and pay for extras such as uniforms or meals. Teaching is usually in Spanish (and sometimes Valencian) with some English language instruction.
In the Valencia region, admissions for both public and concertado schools follow the same regional timetable and the process is managed via adminova.gva.es. The ordinary application window usually opens in early to mid-May, with provisional placement lists released in early June and final confirmations and enrolment completed by mid- to late June. Families who miss this period can often apply during an extraordinary phase in July or early September, subject to available places.
Higher Education
For older students, Valencia hosts respected universities such as the University of Valencia and the Polytechnic University of Valencia, both with expanding English-language programmes and strong research reputations.
Specialist Support
Whether you require early years childcare, gifted-student programmes or learning-support services, we identify institutions that match your child’s needs and offer personalised introductions.