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Spanish law requires children aged 6 to 16 to be schooled at officially recognised centres, and the Constitutional Court ruled in 2010 that parents don't have a right to homeschool instead. Homeschooling isn't regulated anywhere in Spain.
This guide covers what the law and the courts say, what it means for expat families and online schooling, residence permit renewals, exams in Spain, costs, and university entry through UNEDasiss.
Spain doesn't regulate homeschooling. The law requires schooling from 6 to 16, and the Constitutional Court has confirmed that duty.
| Law or ruling | What it says |
|---|---|
| Spanish Constitution, article 27 | Everyone has the right to education, and basic education is compulsory and free |
| Organic Law of Education 2006 (LOE), article 4 | Basic education covers ten years of schooling, normally between the ages of 6 and 16 |
| Organic Law 4/2000 on foreigners, article 9 | Foreign children of compulsory school age have both the right and the duty to education, including compulsory basic education |
| Constitutional Court ruling STC 133/2010 | The Court upheld court orders requiring families in Málaga province to school their children. It found that the legal duty of schooling in official centres is constitutional, doesn't disproportionately restrict parents' rights, and isn't overridden by parents' educational freedom |
Criminal prosecutions of homeschooling parents have mostly ended in acquittal, because the offence requires real harm to the child, but family courts can still order a child's enrolment, as in the case the Constitutional Court reviewed. Regions apply their own absenteeism procedures, and we know of no region that has set up a homeschooling registration route.
Enrolling with a foreign online school doesn't count as schooling in Spain, so for a child who lives in Spain, CambriLearn on its own doesn't meet the legal duty.
Read the 2010 ruling, in SpanishThe law expects enrolment at an officially recognised school. A foreign online school, CambriLearn included, isn't a recognised centre in Spain, whatever its accreditation abroad.
The duty applies to children living in Spain whatever their nationality, and the immigration rules add a schooling check when most residence permits are renewed.
Families who want a British or American curriculum in Spain usually choose one of the foreign-curriculum schools authorised to operate in the country, which do count as schooling.
If your child's education needs to move with you between countries, speak to a consultant about where you'll be living, because the rules depend on the country you live in.
When non-EU families renew most residence permits, they have to show that children aged 6 to 16 are in school, with a report from the regional authorities.
| Permit being renewed | Rule in Royal Decree 1155/2024 |
|---|---|
| Non-lucrative residence | Article 64.6 |
| Residence through family reunification | Article 71.4(d) |
| Residence and employed work | Article 80.6 |
| Residence and self-employed work | Article 86.6 |
The schooling report comes from the authorities of the region where you live and confirms that your children are in school, so an enrolment letter from an online school can't replace it. The rule sits in the immigration regulation in force since May 2025.
EU citizens and their families register under a separate system, and some other permits follow their own rules, so check the requirements for your permit type with an immigration lawyer.
