International schools in Portugal: a directory with 2026 fees
After the visa, "where will the kids go to school?" is the question that decides a move more than any other. Here is the honest version: your three options, what each really costs, and a filterable directory of the main international schools with 2025/26 fees — filter by region and curriculum, or search by name.
State schools — free and open to residence-permit holders, taught in Portuguese, with PLNM (Portuguese as a non-native language) support. The north has especially good public schools.
Private Portuguese schools (colégios) — paid, mostly in Portuguese, roughly €3,000–8,000/year.
International schools — English/other-language curricula (British, American, IB, French, German), typically €7,000–23,000/year, clustered around Lisbon/Cascais, Porto and the Algarve.
State education is genuinely good value and the route most families eventually take — but the language jump is real for older children. Enrolment runs through the Portal das Matrículas in fixed windows (spring for younger years, mid-summer for older), listing up to five schools by preference.
Find a school
| School | Area | Curriculum | Fees / year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlucci American Intl (CAISL) | Linhó, Sintra | American + IB | €11,700–22,700 |
| St. Julian's School | Carcavelos | British + IB | from €12,700 |
| King's College Cascais | Cascais | British | €11,750–15,600 |
| TASIS Portugal | Sintra | American + IB | €12,400–23,200 |
| The British School of Lisbon | Lisbon | British | €13,100–21,400 |
| CLIP — Oporto Intl School | Porto | English NC + Cambridge | €9,100–15,200 |
| Oporto British School | Porto | British + IB | €9,700–17,300 |
| Lycée Français Intl de Porto | Porto | French | varies |
| Deutsche Schule zu Porto (DSP) | Porto | German + Abitur | varies |
| Colégio Júlio Dinis (CJD) | Porto | Cambridge | varies |
| Nobel Algarve British Intl | Lagoa + Almancil | British + IB / BTEC | ~€6,000–20,000 |
| Vilamoura Intl School (CIV) | Vilamoura | British / PT / IB | €7,100–14,100 |
| Vale Verde Intl School | Luz, Lagos | British | €7,000–12,300 |
How to choose — beyond the rankings
- Match the curriculum to your exit plan: IB travels anywhere; A-Levels suit UK universities; American suits the US. Switching systems mid-school is painful.
- Visit, don't just read: parents consistently say the "feel" — are children known and supported — matters more than the ranking.
- Check the waitlist and year-group size for your child's exact year before you commit to a town — popular years fill up.
- Budget the extras: registration, deposit, meals, bus, uniform and trips can add 15–25% on top of the headline tuition.
- Consider state + tutoring: many families put younger children in a good state school (free, faster language integration) and add private tutoring, saving five figures a year.
Work the cost into the bigger picture with the cost-of-living calculator, and if a city is on your shortlist, the region matcher weighs schools alongside climate, budget and pace.
Sources
International Schools Database Portal das Matrículas (state enrolment)Frequently asked questions
How much do international schools cost?
Where are the international schools?
Public or international school for my child?
Keep reading
How do I enrol my child in a Portuguese school — and when are the deadlines? D8 with kids: income, schools and the family-reunification catch Moving to Portugal with a dog or cat: rules, costs and steps≈ Figures with ~ are rounded or indicative — market prices vary by provider, and official thresholds are shown rounded. Check the exact amount for your case.
Guidance, not legal or tax advice — verify your case with official sources.