The structural relocation playbook for families with school age kids. School lead time 9 to 14 months, dependent visas, the medical records workflow.
The single structural deadline for a family relocation is the international school application window, which opens 11 months before the September start in most cities. For a September 2027 start, that means applying between November 2026 and February 2027. Miss the window and the family is on a waitlist that may run 18 months.
Dependent visas run on the principal applicant's residence card. UAE Golden Visa dependents at 850 AED per dependent, 14 day process. Portugal D7 dependents attach to the same residence permit at no additional cost. The slowest dependent process we track is Switzerland family reunification at 6 to 14 months.
Pediatric records do not travel automatically. Request a full immunization record from the home country pediatrician 9 months before the move, get it stamped and translated. Vaccine schedules differ by country. Set a dentist appointment 30 days before the move.