Moving to Shanghai with kids: schools, areas and costs

Quick answer: what should you know before moving to Shanghai with kids? Most expat families live in Pudong or on Puxi's west side, close to their school. At two well-known schools, 2026-27 tuition runs from RMB 246,000 at Shanghai American School to RMB 402,700 at Wellington College. The working parent needs a Z visa; a spouse and children under 18 usually come on S1 visas.

Last reviewed: November 2026 by David from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.

Key takeaways

Shanghai American School charges RMB 246,000 to RMB 311,000 a year in 2026-27, plus a RMB 32,000 enrolment fee charged every year.
Wellington College International Shanghai's 2026-27 fees run from RMB 301,200 to RMB 402,700, with a school bus at RMB 22,050 a year.
Savills put average serviced apartment rents at RMB 262.0 per square metre per month in Q2 2026, and luxury rents at RMB 398.6.
The Chinese Embassy says S1 visa holders, such as children under 18 of foreigners working in China, must apply for a residence permit within 30 days of arrival.

In Shanghai, an international school place, a flat and a residence permit all have to line up within a few months. For families moving to Shanghai with kids, the order matters: the school you pick shapes the district you live in, and the working parent's permit shapes which schools can accept your children at all.

This guide covers the areas expat families choose, the schools open to foreign passport holders with their 2026-27 fees, what a family budget looks like, the visas and the school year, using figures from the schools, Savills and the Chinese Embassy.

Is Shanghai a good place to live for families?

For families with a corporate package, usually yes: the choice of international schools is wide, and private healthcare with international medical teams is established. Shanghai United Family Hospital, for example, has operated since December 2004. The trade-offs are cost, distance and paperwork. Campuses are spread across a very large city, international schools are expensive, and the visa and permit sequence has to be done in the right order.

One rule surprises many parents: international schools for foreign children follow Shanghai Municipal Education Commission policy. Wellington College, for instance, says it can only accept families in six defined categories, the first being a foreign working parent with a Shanghai Alien Work Permit. Check eligibility before you fall in love with a campus.

Where do expat families live in Shanghai?

Pick the school first, then search for housing within a reasonable bus ride. The main family areas are:

Jinqiao and Biyun (Pudong): planned compounds east of the river, popular with families working in Pudong. Shanghai American School's Pudong campus is on Lingbai Road, and Wellington College is on Yao Long Road, both in Pudong New District.
Gubei and Hongqiao (Changning and Minhang): long-established expat neighbourhoods on the west side, close to Hongqiao airport and rail station.
Qingpu and Xujing: further west, with houses and gardens; Shanghai American School's Puxi campus is on Jinfeng Road in Minhang District.
Former French Concession (Xuhui and Huangpu): tree-lined streets and older apartments in the centre, for families who accept a longer school commute.

Which international schools accept foreign passport holders?

Most international schools in Shanghai admit children of foreign passport holders who meet the city's eligibility rules. Three well-known options show the range of curricula and fees.

Dulwich College Shanghai

An IB school that describes itself as "One College, Two Campuses", with DUCKS for ages 2 to 7, a Junior School for 7 to 11 and a Senior School for 11 to 18. Its 2026 IB results show an average of 38 points out of 45, a 100% pass rate, a top score of 44 and 39.4% of students above 40. A strong choice for families who want the IB in the final years and a British structure before it.

Shanghai American School

A non-profit school with roots going back to 1912 and two campuses, in Pudong and in Minhang. SAS offers both AP and IB in high school. Its 2026-27 tuition is RMB 246,000 for Pre-Kindergarten, RMB 285,800 from Kindergarten to Grade 4 and RMB 311,000 for Grades 9 to 12. Every student pays a RMB 32,000 enrolment fee each year, and new families also pay a RMB 2,800 application fee and an entry fee of RMB 28,000 (Pre-K and Elementary) or RMB 33,000 (Middle and High School).

Wellington College International Shanghai

A school of the Wellington College family, based in Pudong New District. Its 2026-27 fee schedule runs from RMB 301,200 for Pre-Nursery to Reception to RMB 402,700 for Years 12 and 13. Fees include textbooks and public examination fees, but not lunches, uniform or transport. On acceptance, families pay a refundable resource fee of RMB 18,000 after a RMB 3,500 application fee.

What does it cost to live in Shanghai with a family?

School fees and rent are the two big lines, and for many families they are covered, at least partly, by the employer. The table compares published 2026-27 school costs with Savills rent data.

Cost item	Amount (RMB)	Period	Source
SAS tuition, Kindergarten to Grade 4	285,800	Year, 2026-27	SAS
Wellington tuition, Years 1 to 5	334,300	Year, 2026-27	Wellington
Wellington school bus	22,050	Year, 2026-27	Wellington
Wellington uniform, full set	about 3,700	One-off	Wellington
Serviced apartment rent	262.0 per sq m	Month, Q2 2026	Savills
Luxury apartment rent	398.6 per sq m	Month, Q2 2026	Savills

Sources: SAS and Wellington College 2026-27 fee schedules; Savills Shanghai Residential Leasing Q2/2026.

Worked example. Two children in Years 1 to 5 at Wellington cost RMB 668,600 in tuition, plus RMB 44,100 for two bus places. A 150 square metre serviced apartment at the Savills average of RMB 262.0 per square metre works out at about RMB 39,300 a month, or RMB 471,600 a year. That gives roughly RMB 1,184,300 a year before lunches, uniforms, health insurance and daily living costs.

Which visas does the family need?

The working parent needs a Z visa and the rest of the family usually travels on S1 visas. According to the Chinese Embassy's visa guidance, the Z visa is issued to those who intend to work in China, and applicants staying over 90 days submit a Notification Letter of Foreigner's Work Permit, which the employer obtains. The S1 visa covers spouses, parents, children under 18 and parents-in-law of foreigners working or studying in China for stays over 180 days. It requires an invitation letter from the working parent, a copy of their passport and residence permit, and original marriage or birth certificates.

Within 30 days of entry, Z and S1 holders must apply to the local public security bureau for a residence permit. Schools usually ask for these documents during enrolment, so keep certified copies to hand.

When does the school year start?

International schools follow a Northern Hemisphere calendar with Chinese holidays built in. At Shanghai American School, the 2026-27 year started on 10 August 2026 for Kindergarten to Grade 12 and ends on 11 June 2027. Breaks include Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day (25 September to 3 October), winter break from 17 December, Lunar New Year (4 to 12 February 2027) and Labour Day (1 to 4 May). Calendars differ by school, so check before booking flights.

Practical steps for the move

Ask the employer which school fees, housing and flights the package covers.
Check each school's eligibility rules against the working parent's permit.
Apply to two or three schools and pay the application fees; seats are tight in some year groups.
Start the work permit and Z visa, then the S1 visas for the family.
Rent near the confirmed school and apply for residence permits within 30 days of arrival.

For a deeper look at budgets, read our guide to international school fees in Shanghai for 2026, and for timelines, the guide to private school admissions in Shanghai.

Compare schools in Shanghai

To narrow the list by curriculum, district and fees, see our ranking of the best international schools in Shanghai before you book school visits.

Sources: Shanghai American School 2026-27 tuition and fees and calendar; Wellington College International Shanghai 2026-27 fee schedule and eligibility requirements; Dulwich College Shanghai website; Savills Shanghai Residential Leasing Q2/2026; Chinese Embassy in the UK visa guidance; Shanghai United Family Hospital.

More guides to schools in Shanghai

Frequently asked questions

Which visa do children need to live in Shanghai?

Children under 18 of a foreigner working in China usually enter on an S1 visa, according to the Chinese Embassy. The application needs an invitation letter from the working parent, a copy of their passport and residence permit, and the original birth certificate. Within 30 days of arrival, S1 holders must apply for a residence permit at the local public security bureau.

How much are international schools in Shanghai per year?

Published 2026-27 tuition at two well-known schools runs from RMB 246,000 for Pre-Kindergarten at Shanghai American School to RMB 402,700 for Years 12 and 13 at Wellington College. Add other charges: SAS asks new families for a RMB 2,800 application fee and an entry fee of RMB 28,000 or RMB 33,000, plus a RMB 32,000 enrolment fee that every student pays each year.

Can foreign children attend local schools in Shanghai?

Most expat families choose international schools, which teach in English and follow foreign curricula, but these follow Shanghai Municipal Education Commission eligibility rules. Wellington College, for example, accepts only six categories of family, the first being a foreign working parent with a Shanghai Alien Work Permit. Ask each school, and your employer, which category applies before applying.