In this guide
The two entry windows
Two arrival points stand out. The August start of the academic year is the best, because new children join their whole cohort at the start of a fresh year, friendship groups form together, and the curriculum begins rather than resumes. The January second-semester intake is the next best, and it suits families whose posting confirms late in the year; the social landing is slightly harder because groups are already formed, but schools run transition support for mid-year arrivals. The table below summarises how the two compare for a family choosing between them.
| Entry point | Best for |
|---|---|
| August (start of academic year) | The cleanest landing; children join a new cohort together and the year begins fresh. Apply the previous autumn. |
| January (second semester) | Families whose move confirms late; a workable alternative with school transition support, though groups are already settled. |
For the rhythm of terms and breaks that frames both windows, our Beijing school holidays and term dates 2026 guide sets out the full year.
Why you decide before you move
The decisive point is that the school decision runs ahead of the physical move. Beijing schools open their priority window around September of the year before an August start, and the popular year groups, Reception, the early primary grades and Year 7, fill from January. Layer on the document chain, notarisation, apostille and translation, which takes four to eight weeks, and a sensible plan starts nine to twelve months out. So a family aiming for an August 2026 arrival is realistically applying in autumn 2025. The move date and the application date are different decisions, and the application is the one that constrains your choice of school. Our Beijing admissions deadlines 2026 page maps the windows, and the how to apply to international schools in Beijing walkthrough sets out the steps.
Plan the move around the right schools
The school finder filters Beijing schools by curriculum, district and entry year, so you can time a move to a school that genuinely fits.
Use the school finderWorking around the holiday calendar
China's statutory holidays shape the practical arrival. The Spring Festival in February and the National Day Golden Week in early October are the two busiest travel periods in the country, both close every school, and both make a move harder and more expensive to execute. The long northern-hemisphere summer before the August start is the easiest arrival window: schools are closed, housing turns over, and a family has weeks to settle before term. Avoid landing a household move on a Golden Week. If a January start is your route, aim to arrive after the New Year holiday and before term resumes, giving a short settling buffer. The full statutory calendar sits in our Beijing school holidays 2026 guide.
When you cannot pick the date
Often the move date is fixed by a job, not a calendar, and the school decision has to flex around it. If the posting lands you mid-year, target the January intake where you can and ask shortlisted schools directly about rolling availability in your child's year; schools such as the International School of Beijing and the Western Academy of Beijing add places where available rather than only at fixed points. Widen the shortlist, because a late arrival narrows choice, and prioritise continuity of curriculum so the transfer itself is as small as possible. Our moving to Beijing with children school guide covers how families have handled an off-cycle move.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to move to Beijing for international schools?
The best time is to arrive for the August start of the academic year, when new children join their peers at the start of a fresh year. The next best window is the January second-semester intake. Aim to apply the previous autumn, because popular year groups close from January and the document chain takes four to eight weeks.
Can my child join a Beijing school mid-year?
Often yes, especially at the January second-semester intake, and some schools accept later transfers where a place is open. A mid-term arrival is harder socially because friendship groups are settled, so where you can, time the move to a natural entry point.
How far ahead should I plan a school-driven move to Beijing?
Plan nine to twelve months ahead. That covers researching and visiting schools, the autumn priority window, and the four to eight weeks needed to notarise, apostille and translate the child's documents before an offer can be confirmed.
Does the Chinese holiday calendar affect the best time to move?
Yes. The Spring Festival in February and the National Day Golden Week in early October are the busiest travel periods in China and close every school, so avoid landing a move on them. The long northern-hemisphere summer before the August start is the easiest arrival window.