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Education

School pre-enrolment, ages 3–16 (Catalonia)

Preinscripción escolar de 3 a 16 años (Cataluña)

Barcelona versionOnly applies in Catalonia

In other cities: Madrid · Valencia

Where to ask

In Barcelona, the Barcelona Education Consortium service office (entrance at c. Roger de Llúria, 1-3), by appointment on 012 or 93 5511000. They help if you have difficulty applying online.

Official wording
Para poder ser atendido/a en la Oficina de Atención del Consorcio de Educación de Barcelona debes pedir cita previamente llamando al 012 o al 93 5511000

Official sources

What it is

In Catalonia, pre-enrolment for pre-primary (ages 3–6), primary and ESO is compulsory to get a place at a public or state-funded school: the Department of Education allocates places according to each application's score. Up to 10 schools can be listed in order of preference. For 2026-2027, the pre-primary period ran from 4 to 18 March 2026 (documents until 19 March); from 23 March to 20 April late applications were accepted, with lower priority. Priority criteria: siblings at the school (50 points); home in the educational zone of the first-choice school (30 points) or a parent's or guardian's workplace in that zone (20 points); in Barcelona, home in the same district but outside the zone (15 points); in the same municipality (10 points), with these proximity points not added together; and guaranteed citizen income or minimum living income (15 points). Tie-breakers include large or single-parent family (10 points). If the child has never been schooled in Catalonia, attach the birth certificate or family book and, depending on the case, the parent's or guardian's identity document.

Official wording
La preinscripció a educació infantil, primària i secundària obligatòria és un tràmit obligatori que serveix perquè el Departament d'Educació i Formació Professional assigni les places escolars dels centres públics i concertats.

Official sources

Where it applies
Catalonia

Official information

Official sources

Go to the official website: Pre-enrolment ages 3–16 (Generalitat)

When

Within each school year's pre-enrolment period. For 2026-2027, in pre-primary (ages 3 to 6), 4 to 18 March 2026 (documents until 19 March). From 23 March to 20 April 2026 late applications could be filed, with lower priority.

Official wording
Cal tenir en compte que les sol·licituds que es presenten dins de termini tenen prioritat en l'assignació de places respecte de les sol·licituds que es presenten fora de termini.

Official sources

Steps

  1. Step 1: Submit the pre-enrolment online

    It can only be submitted online. One application per child, but you can request several schools in order of preference. With a digital certificate, you are the one who checks the result; without, the person you name on the form. Keep the application code.

    Official wording
    Només pots presentar una sol·licitud per infant, però pots demanar plaça en diversos centres, ordenant-los per ordre de preferència.

    Official sources

  2. Step 2: Attach the documents

    If the child has never attended school in Catalonia, attach the birth certificate or family book and, without a digital certificate, the ID of the father, mother or guardian. For priority criteria, you can let the Department check the data or object and attach everything.

    Official wording
    Si fas la sol·licitud sense certificat digital, hauràs d'adjuntar: Certificat electrònic de la inscripció de naixement de l'infant o bé llibre de família.

    Official sources

  3. Step 3: Check the allocated place

    Check the result on the Preinscripció website with the DNI, NIE or passport of the applicant and the application code, or on each school's lists. If you disagree, you can complain within the calendar period.

    Official wording
    Si no estàs d'acord amb la plaça assignada, pots presentar una reclamació durant el període que s'estableix en el calendari.

    Official sources

Documents

Your ticks are saved on this device only.

🖨 Printable bilingual document card (you can show it at the counter)

Fees

The procedure is free.

Official wording
Aquest tràmit és gratuït.

Official sources

FAQ

We arrived in Barcelona after the school year started. What do we do?

In Barcelona, newly arrived pupils (ages 3 to 16) can request a place at any time during the year, outside pre-enrolment, online: with a digital certificate, Cl@ve or idCAT Mòbil, or with the form without digital identification, attaching your ID. One application per child; if never schooled in Catalonia, attach the family book or birth certificate and, if you are not Spanish, your passport. Applications are allocated in order of arrival and generally resolved within two weeks at most; you then get an email with the place and enrol at the school. It is free.

Official wording
De forma general, las solicitudes se resolverán en un plazo máximo de dos semanas.

Official sources

What if I get no place at any of the schools I asked for?

In I3, year 1 of ESO or if you asked for it expressly, you are asked by email to add up to 5 more schools with vacancies. If there is still no place, the admissions guarantee committee offers you a place at a school with vacancies in your municipality.

Official wording
La comissió de garanties d'admissió corresponent oferirà en darrera instància una plaça en un centre on hagin quedat vacants dins el municipi de residència de l'alumne o alumna.

Official sources

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