Education in Santiago, Chile
Bilingual and international schools in Santiago, 2026 fee ranges, validation of foreign school records, and how the enrolment calendar actually works.
The question every international family asks before finalizing a move to Chile isn’t “is there a good school in Santiago?” — there are, and several. It’s “will my child be able to start in the right grade, with their school records recognized, without losing an entire year in the process?” That second question has an objective answer, set out in a decree from Chile’s Ministry of Education, and that’s what this article covers, along with a map of the capital’s main bilingual and international schools.
This content complements our guide to quality of life in Santiago and our comparison of Providencia, Las Condes, and Ñuñoa, since a school’s location often plays directly into choosing a neighborhood.
How the Chilean school system works, in brief
Chile has three broad categories of school:
- Municipal/public schools: free, run by municipalities or Local Education Services.
- Subsidized private schools: charge partial tuition and receive a per-student state subsidy.
- Fully private schools: full tuition, no state subsidy — this is the category where practically all the bilingual and international schools sought by international families are found.
For a family arriving with a residency visa, the choice among these categories mostly comes down to budget and educational goals — a binational curriculum, continuity with English already started in the family’s country of origin, or full immersion in the Chilean system.
Main bilingual and international schools in Santiago
| School | Commune | Curriculum | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| The International School Nido de Aguilas | Lo Barnechea | American, with an International Baccalaureate (IB) option in upper secondary | Founded in 1934; around 1,800 students from more than 50 countries; follows the Northern Hemisphere calendar (July to June) |
| Craighouse School | Lo Barnechea | Full IB program, from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 | English-Spanish bilingual; 24-hectare campus |
| Dunalastair | Las Condes, Chicureo, and Peñalolén | English-Spanish bilingual | Three campuses across the Metropolitan Region |
| Santiago College | Providencia | Bilingual, with more than a century of tradition in Chile | One of the country’s most traditional bilingual schools |
| Colegio Suizo de Santiago | Ñuñoa | Swiss/German curriculum with a bilingual track | German instruction from Pre-Kindergarten |
Note that a good number of these schools are concentrated in Lo Barnechea and Las Condes — which reinforces, for families with school-age children, the case for prioritizing those communes (or Providencia and Ñuñoa, in the case of Santiago College and Colegio Suizo) already discussed in our neighborhood comparison.
Disclaimer: tuition amounts, the admissions process, and spot availability vary by school and by school year. One reference survey cites annual tuition in the range of USD 5,150 to USD 6,250 at one of the city’s traditional bilingual schools, plus separate admission and enrollment fees — but these figures should be confirmed directly with each institution before any financial decision.
Validating a foreign school record: what Chilean regulations say
This is the most important point in the article, because it’s what prevents losing an entire school year.
Chile maintains bilateral agreements for the recognition and validation of primary and secondary studies with several countries, including Germany, Argentina, Brazil, Spain, France, Israel, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
This means the school record of a child or teenager coming from one of those countries — including Brazil — can be recognized by the Ministry of Education (Mineduc) without needing to retake full placement exams, as long as the documentation is properly apostilled (Hague Convention) or legalized, and officially translated when necessary.
Documents are not accepted as simple photocopies, notarized copies, or scans of the original — the process requires the original document, duly apostilled.
While final recognition is being processed, there’s Provisional Enrollment (Matrícula Provisoria): the school itself enrolls the student in the General Student Information System (SIGE) and requests provisional enrollment authorization from Mineduc, within up to 15 business days — which lets the child start classes without waiting for the recognition process to be completed.
As of 2026, foreign adults without a Chilean RUN must first complete an “enrollment” procedure with the Civil Registry before requesting recognition of studies — a step that doesn’t apply the same way to minors enrolled through provisional enrollment, but that may be necessary for the legal guardians themselves in higher-level validation processes.
Disclaimer: the exact validation procedure, deadlines, and apostille requirements can change under Mineduc regulations; always confirm on the official Ayuda Mineduc website or through ChileAtiende before gathering documentation, and start the process as far in advance of the move as possible.
Practical step-by-step for enrolling an international child in Santiago
- Gather the original school records from the country of origin, covering the years already completed and, if applicable, a certificate of level completion.
- Apostille the documents in your country of origin (Hague Convention) before traveling — redoing this process once in Chile is slower and more expensive.
- Arrange an official translation of the documents into Spanish, if the school or Mineduc requires it.
- Choose the school and apply for enrollment. Fully private schools usually have their own admissions process (Spanish, math, and English assessments, adapted to the child’s level); municipal and subsidized schools follow the admissions process through the School Admission System.
- Ask the school to request Provisional Enrollment from the Provincial Education Department as soon as enrollment is confirmed, so the child can start classes without waiting for final recognition.
- Follow up on the final recognition process for the school record with Mineduc, which will replace the provisional enrollment once complete.
Most common mistakes when enrolling children of international families
- Leaving the school record apostille process for after arriving in Chile. It’s simpler and cheaper when done in the country of origin before the trip.
- Choosing a school without considering the academic calendar. Some international schools follow the Northern Hemisphere calendar (starting in July/August), unlike most Chilean schools, which start in March — this directly affects move planning.
- Ignoring the school’s location when choosing a neighborhood. Families who pick the apartment first and only then look for a school often find the daily commute unworkable; doing it the other way around tends to work better.
- Assuming every bilingual school accepts students at any point in the year. International students generally have more flexibility on start dates than Chilean students, but this varies by school and should be confirmed directly with the school office.
Frequently asked questions
Will my child lose the school year while their records are being validated?
Not necessarily. Provisional Enrollment lets the child start classes as soon as the school requests authorization from the Ministry of Education, within up to 15 business days — without waiting for the final school-record recognition process to finish.
Do I need to translate and apostille the entire school record from the country of origin?
Generally, yes. The academic transcript must be apostilled (Hague Convention) or legalized, and officially translated when the school or Mineduc requires it. Simple photocopies or notarized copies aren’t accepted — the original apostilled document is required.
Is there an agreement between Brazil and Chile for recognizing school records?
Yes. Chile has a bilateral agreement with Brazil for the recognition and validation of primary and secondary studies, which simplifies the process compared to countries without such an agreement. Chile has similar agreements with Germany, Argentina, Spain, France, Israel, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
Which communes have the main international schools in Santiago?
Lo Barnechea is home to two of the city’s most traditional international schools (Nido de Aguilas and Craighouse); Las Condes, Providencia, and Ñuñoa also have notable bilingual options, including campuses of schools with multiple locations across the Metropolitan Region.
Is a fully private school the only option for an international family?
No. Families who prioritize lower cost and full immersion in Spanish can choose municipal or subsidized private schools, subject to the School Admission System process. Fully private international and bilingual schools are the most sought-after option for those prioritizing continuity in English and an international curriculum, but they carry significantly higher tuition.
Conclusion
The decision about your children’s school should be made before — not after — choosing a neighborhood in Santiago, which is exactly the opposite of what usually happens. Mapping out in advance which schools fit your family’s profile, gathering apostilled documentation while still in your country of origin, and using Provisional Enrollment to avoid losing school time are the three factors that most separate a smooth move from one full of surprises.
Global & Co. supports international families through the entire structuring of a move to Chile, including aligning the choice of neighborhood, school, and the residency process.
This content is for informational purposes only and was prepared based on official regulations from Chile’s Ministry of Education and reference sources available as of its publication date. It does not constitute legal or educational advice. Deadlines, documentation requirements, and tuition figures may be updated by public regulation or by each educational institution after publication; always confirm information directly with Mineduc, ChileAtiende, and the chosen school before making any decision.