School, doctor, car, energy contracts, empadronamiento: the administrative mosaic nobody explains to you. We orchestrate your bilingual French-Spanish settling-in process, stress-free.
Once the property is bought and the NIE in hand, real life begins: enrolling the children in school, finding a doctor for everyday matters, registering the car, opening electricity-water-internet contracts, completing the empadronamiento, opening a social security file.
Each of these procedures has its own logic, its own office, its own paperwork, its own language (Spanish only). A family on its own easily takes 3 to 6 months to finalise everything, with stress, administrative back-and-forth and costly mistakes.
With support, everything is sorted in 30 days on average. Upstream preparation from France, then a sprint on the ground during the month of arrival: everything is framed, validated and operational by the time you unpack your bags for good.
Comprehensive mapping of the procedures required for a complete and serene settling-in on the Costa del Sol. You activate what you need, à la carte.
Enrolment at the Lycée Français de Málaga, the Lycée Français International de Marbella or an English-speaking international school.
Network of French-speaking or bilingual practitioners in Málaga, Marbella, Estepona, Fuengirola and Mijas.
Purchase of a new or used vehicle in Spain, or import + registration of your French vehicle.
Setting up all contracts in the newcomer's name: electricity, water, fibre internet, mobile, gas.
Registration on the padrón municipal, essential for schooling, social security and voting in municipal elections.
Enrolling children in extracurricular activities, adult sports clubs, local French-speaking associations.
School pre-enrolment + identifying the family doctor. Critical steps because they must be done before the school year starts or before the family arrives. Preparing the files from France.
Town hall empadronamiento + opening energy/water contracts in the new resident's name. Fibre internet activation (technician appointment). First household shop.
Car procedure (import or Spanish used purchase). Opening a local bank account if not already done. Registration with Spanish social security (S1 retiree or autónomo/employee).
Enrolling in leisure / sport for children and adults. Integrating into local French-speaking associations. Connecting with other expat families. Settling-in completed, day-to-day life launched.
For families who want to maintain a French or bilingual curriculum during expatriation. The choice depends on the municipality of residence and the long-term plan.
AEFE network, full curriculum from primary up to the French baccalaureate. Boarding available. Competitive admission, to be anticipated several months ahead of the September intake.
AEFE network, primary and secondary. More geographically accessible from central Málaga, Torremolinos, Benalmádena. AEFE scholarships possible subject to income conditions.
Aloha College Marbella, Sotogrande International School, Swans International School Marbella, EIC Estepona — for families seeking an IB / GCSE curriculum with international outlook.
We are used to French families arriving on the Costa del Sol. Precise checklist, selected partners, coordination entirely in French.
We translate, book the appointments, follow up the contracts. You stay in French at every step.
Selected partners for every procedure (school, doctor, car, energy, etc.) — quality tested.
Familiar with the arrival of French families: a precise checklist so nothing is forgotten in 30 days.
No margin on providers, transparent quotes, everything is announced upfront.
Included service with any purchase or long-term rental through us. At no extra cost.
Concrete answers to the 7 most frequent questions from French families settling in Andalusia.
Three major French-speaking options: (1) Lycée Français International de Marbella — AEFE network, full programme from primary up to the French baccalaureate, boarding available; (2) Lycée Français de Málaga (Lycée Français Sainte-Cécile) — AEFE network, primary and secondary; (3) Collège Lycée Français André Malraux in Rabat is not on the coast but remains a regional reference. In addition, English-speaking international schools (Aloha College, Sotogrande International School, Swans International School Marbella) welcome French-speaking families.
Empadronamiento (registration on the padrón municipal) is the mandatory registration of your address with the town hall of your municipality of residence. It is ESSENTIAL for: enrolling children in public school, obtaining a Spanish healthcare card, voting in municipal elections, proving your residence to the administration. Free procedure, by appointment at the town hall, document issued the same day: the certificado de empadronamiento. Generally renewed every 5 years.
Procedure in 4 steps: (1) European certificate of conformity (COC) for the vehicle (request from the manufacturer if not provided at purchase); (2) Spanish technical inspection (ITV) with headlight adaptation if required; (3) payment of the registration tax (IEDMT, variable based on CO2 and value) + administrative fees; (4) registration with the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) with a new Spanish plate. Total timeline 4 to 8 weeks. You have 30 days after settling in to start the process (1 month maximum with French plates before fines apply).
Several routes depending on your status: (1) Spanish employee → automatic via your employer, healthcare card within 1 to 4 weeks; (2) autónomo → registration with the RETA (Special Self-Employed Workers Scheme), card within 2 to 6 weeks; (3) French retiree in Spain → request the S1 form from the French CPAM, present it to the Spanish INSS, access to Spanish public healthcare without contributing; (4) non-active < retirement age → convenio especial (~€60-150/month) or bilingual private insurance (recommended for active expats with international income).
Variable depending on the municipality (Marbella more expensive than Vélez-Málaga) and lifestyle, but as a guide for a family of 4 on the coast: 3-4 bedroom rental ~€1,500-2,500/month depending on location; electricity+water+internet+mobile ~€250-350/month; groceries ~€600-900/month; petrol ~€1.55/L. Affordable restaurants (menú del día at €12-18). Overall cost 20-30% lower than Paris or a major French city at equivalent standing. Marbella seafront = exception, prices close to the French Riviera.
Yes, without difficulty between France and Spain (European Union). Conditions: (1) European pet passport issued by your French vet; (2) valid rabies vaccination (at least 21 days old, < 3 years); (3) mandatory ISO 11784/11785 electronic microchip; (4) health certificate < 10 days for air travel. No quarantine. For more than 5 animals or from outside the EU, different rules apply.
YES as long as it is in order. The French licence is recognised in Spain WITHOUT exchange since 2022 (transitional agreement pending a final agreement). You can drive in Spain with your French licence as long as it is valid. If you are a Spanish tax resident > 6 months, you MUST declare your Spanish address to the DGT (simple online procedure). No test, no exam to retake. To convert to a Spanish licence eventually: optional procedure unless the French licence is lost or expired.
★ Service INCLUDED with any purchase or long-term rental through us
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