New Delhi is a spacious, historic and green capital region that spreads across the city proper and the fast growing satellite of Gurugram, with a strong field of international and Indian curriculum schools. For a relocating family the main decisions are which curriculum to follow and whether to base yourself in central Delhi or the newer suburbs, since the two involve very different commutes and lifestyles.
The school landscape in New Delhi
Schooling across the Delhi capital region spans international schools and a strong set of Indian curriculum schools, so families should be clear about which they are weighing. The British School New Delhi follows a British pathway with the International Baccalaureate in the diplomatic enclave of Chanakyapuri. Pathways World School offers the International Baccalaureate continuum on a campus in the Aravalli hills. Heritage Xperiential Learning School delivers an experiential Indian and international programme in the Gurugram area. Alongside these are well regarded schools following the Indian national curricula, which teach in English and welcome international families. Because the leading schools draw applications from across the region, shortlisting early and understanding each admissions process is time well spent.
How to move to New Delhi with children, step by step
Relocating with school aged children rewards early planning. These five steps mirror how the GlobalSchoolGuide relocation desk sequences a family move, so nothing critical slips through the gaps between the offer, the housing search and the first day of term.
- Set your relocation timeline. Fix your move date against the start of the school year in New Delhi and work backwards, allowing several months for shortlisting and applications.
- Shortlist and apply to schools. Match two or three schools in New Delhi to your child's age, curriculum and budget, then apply early because the leading schools have limited capacity.
- Confirm fees and admissions. Request the current fee schedule and admissions requirements directly from each school, since published figures are reset every academic year.
- Choose a neighbourhood near school. Pick housing within a reasonable commute of your shortlisted school, since New Delhi is large and school location shapes daily life.
- Settle the practical set up. Arrange visas, banking, health cover and the physical move, and time everything to the school calendar so your child starts with the year group.
Fees and budgeting
Fee paying international schooling across the Delhi region spans a wide range, from moderately priced Indian curriculum schools to premium international campuses. Fees vary by school, curriculum and year group, and many schools add admission, deposit or development charges on top of tuition, so a single figure rarely reflects the true cost. Because schedules are reset each academic year, request the current fee list and the full breakdown of one off charges directly from each school before committing.
Free New Delhi family relocation checklist
Download our step by step checklist covering the admissions timeline, documents, housing and the first month settling in. Browse the full library on our guides hub, or start with the New Delhi city guide for school listings.
Neighbourhoods and housing
Many international families base themselves in central Delhi around Chanakyapuri, the diplomatic enclave, and the leafy South Delhi districts of Vasant Vihar and Shanti Niketan, which sit near several schools and embassies. Others choose Gurugram, the modern satellite city to the southwest, which offers newer housing, corporate campuses and its own cluster of schools. Because the capital region is large and traffic between the city and the suburbs can be heavy, choosing a home within a realistic commute of your school is one of the most valuable early decisions.
Language and settling in
English is very widely used across the Delhi region, particularly in international and private schooling and in professional life, which makes the capital straightforward for many relocating families. Hindi is the main local language, and children often absorb it naturally alongside their schooling. International schools teach in English throughout, and Indian curriculum schools also use English as the medium of instruction, so language rarely stands in the way of schooling, though a little Hindi is warmly received in everyday life.
Curriculum continuity
Curriculum continuity is usually the decision that matters most across the Delhi region, given the mix of international and Indian pathways. A child midway through a British, American or IB pathway will find the transition smoothest by staying in the same system at an international school. Families planning a longer stay sometimes choose an Indian curriculum school, which can offer excellent value and strong outcomes. The closer a child is to a leaving examination, the more important continuity becomes. Our IB curriculum hub is a helpful reference for the International Baccalaureate route.
Fees by stage
To ground your budgeting, compare typical fee bands by school stage rather than relying on a single headline number. Our stage guides set out what families pay at each level and how charges build up across the years. See the New Delhi primary school fees guide and the New Delhi secondary school fees guide, and always confirm the current figures with each school directly.
Visas, healthcare and admin
Practically, confirm your visa and residency status early, since your category shapes your access to services and your children's school registration. Arrange health cover for the settling in period before your status and registration are complete, and set up local banking soon after arrival, since school fees, deposits and daily life all run more smoothly once a domestic account is open. Sequencing status, housing and the school offer carefully makes the first month in New Delhi far less stressful than handling everything at once.
The admissions timeline
The leading schools in New Delhi accept applications ahead of the school year, and because capacity is limited, individual year groups can fill well before any published deadline. Applying early is the single most effective way to protect your first choice. Where a year group is already full, ask to join the waiting list and keep a realistic second option open in parallel. Keeping copies of school reports, immunisation records and identity documents ready will speed up every application.
Is New Delhi a good place to raise children?
New Delhi rewards families who plan the school place and housing before they arrive. Like any major relocation, it brings an adjustment period, but families who sequence the essentials early tend to settle quickly and find plenty for children to enjoy. The most useful habit is to treat the school decision as the anchor for everything else, from where you live to how you budget, and to build the rest of the move around it.
Your first weeks: what to prioritise
In your first weeks, confirm the school place and start date in writing, then settle the essentials that everything else depends on: residency status, a local bank account, health cover and a domestic mobile and internet plan. With those handled, the wider routines of family life fall into place quickly. Many families also register early for after school activities and any language support on offer, both of which help children build friendships and settle into the rhythm of the school year. Keeping a simple shared checklist of registrations, deadlines and documents is the most useful habit in a first term.
Frequently asked questions
Does New Delhi have English speaking schools?
Yes. The Delhi region has international schools such as The British School New Delhi, Pathways World School and Heritage Xperiential Learning School, and Indian curriculum schools also teach in English. Confirm current places and requirements with each school.
Are international schools in New Delhi expensive?
Fees span a wide range, from moderate Indian curriculum schools to premium international campuses. Fees vary by school and year group and often carry extra charges, so request the current schedule directly from each school.
Where do international families tend to live?
Central districts such as Chanakyapuri, Vasant Vihar and Shanti Niketan in South Delhi are popular for their proximity to schools and embassies, while many families choose the modern satellite city of Gurugram for newer housing and its own schools.
Can expat children attend Indian curriculum schools?
Yes. Many Indian curriculum schools teach in English and admit international families, offering strong value. Families on shorter postings often keep an international curriculum for continuity.
When should we apply?
Apply well ahead of the school year and earlier for competitive year groups, because the leading schools draw wide interest and popular years fill first.
Plan your move
Use these free tools and guides to turn this overview into a shortlist and a working plan for your family's move to New Delhi.