Where Ukrainian Families Are Settling on Costa Blanca in 2026
Wesna GroupComunidad Valenciana has the largest Ukrainian community in Spain (94,863 residents end-2025, +17% of the national total). Alicante province alone holds ~57,000. Working 2026 guide to which Costa Blanca towns Ukrainian families pick, schools, support networks and entry-tier property options.
Spain holds 338,576 Ukrainian residents with valid residence permits at the end of 2025, per data from the Ministerio de Inclusión, Seguridad Social y Migraciones. Comunidad Valenciana leads all Spanish autonomous communities with 94,863 Ukrainians registered (+28% of the national total). Alicante province alone holds about 17% of every Ukrainian living in Spain, which puts roughly 57,000 Ukrainian residents on Costa Blanca and the surrounding province. For a Ukrainian family planning a move or considering a property purchase on the Costa Blanca in 2026, this article maps the actual settlement patterns, the towns with active community networks, the school options and the price brackets where current stock sits.
Why Costa Blanca specifically
Ukrainian families pick the Costa Blanca over Madrid or Barcelona for four reasons we hear repeatedly from clients:
- Established community since the 1990s. The Ukrainian presence on Costa Blanca pre-dates 2022 by decades. Torrevieja, Pilar de la Horadada and the surrounding southern coastal towns built Ukrainian community infrastructure (food shops, hairdressers, dentists, accountants) over 25+ years of pre-war migration.
- Lower entry price for property and rent. A 2-bed apartment in Torrevieja runs €125k-€180k to buy or €600-€800/month to rent. A Madrid 2-bed runs €350k+ to buy and €1,400+/month to rent.
- Climate. Costa Blanca runs 310+ sun days a year. After Kyiv/Lviv/Kharkiv winters that climate gap is the biggest single emotional benefit families flag.
- Direct flights when they resume. Pre-war Wizz Air ran direct Kyiv-Alicante weekly. As flight routes restore post-war, Alicante airport is one of the more accessible Spanish airports from Ukraine.
The four settlement clusters in 2026
Based on our 2024-2026 buyer profile data plus public residency statistics:
| Cluster | Towns | Approx UA population | Why Ukrainian families pick here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Costa Blanca South coast | Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa, Pilar de la Horadada | ~25,000-30,000 | Deepest pre-war community, lowest property entry prices, Russian-Ukrainian shared services |
| Costa Blanca North coast | Denia, Calpe, Altea, Javea | ~8,000-12,000 | Cleaner air, smaller towns, better long-term schools, higher property prices |
| Alicante city + suburbs | Alicante, San Juan de Alicante, El Campello | ~8,000-10,000 | City infrastructure, hospital access, jobs, international schools |
| Valencia city + Camp de Túria | Valencia, Vilamarxant, Paterna, Picassent | ~30,000+ (Valencia province) | Largest UA community by raw numbers, full city infrastructure, growing tech/remote work scene |
The southern Costa Blanca cluster (Torrevieja and surrounds) is the highest-density Ukrainian pocket relative to the local population. Walking through Torrevieja's Habaneras and Punta Prima zones, Ukrainian-language services are visible on every commercial street.
Schools for Ukrainian-speaking children
Three school options most Ukrainian families weigh:
1. Spanish state schools (free)
CEIP (primary) and IES (secondary) state schools accept Ukrainian children with no fees. Children under 8 typically integrate Spanish within 6-9 months through the immersion process plus optional ALE (Aula Lingüística Específica) catch-up sessions. The Generalitat Valenciana funds these classes specifically for non-Hispanophone newcomers. Children 10+ tend to find integration harder and may benefit from the international-school track instead.
2. International schools (British/American curriculum, English-medium)
For families wanting their children to continue in English (or to move to UK/US universities later):
- Lady Elizabeth School (Llíber, north Costa Blanca) - British curriculum, IGCSE + A-level, ages 3-18. Approximately €5,000-€11,000/year.
- Sierra Bernia School (Alfaz del Pi) - British/Spanish bilingual, ages 2-18. Approximately €4,500-€9,000/year.
- El Limonar International School (Alicante + Cabo Roig branches) - British curriculum, IGCSE + A-level. Approximately €5,000-€10,000/year.
3. Ukrainian Saturday schools
Several Ukrainian Saturday schools operate on Costa Blanca to keep children's Ukrainian language and culture alive while they integrate into Spanish state education. The most established ones are in Torrevieja, Alicante and Valencia. Most are run by parent associations and charge €30-€60/month or are donation-based.
Property brackets where Ukrainian families typically buy in 2026
Across our 2024-2026 Ukrainian-buyer transaction data, three brackets emerge clearly:
Entry-tier (€110k-€180k) - first home or rental investor
Most common bracket for first-time Ukrainian buyers paying cash from the sale of an apartment in Kyiv or Lviv. Typical: 2-bedroom apartment in Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa or Algorfa.
- WES-18039-rev - 2 Bedroom Torrevieja Apartment, 59 m², €129,900
- WG-16 - 1 Bedroom Algorfa Penthouse, 53 m², €159,000 ★ featured
Mid-tier (€200k-€400k) - family primary residence
Two or three-bedroom apartment or small townhouse, often in Pilar de la Horadada, Orihuela Costa or Costa Blanca North. Family size 3-5 people, school-age children.
- WES-2402K - 3 Bedroom San Miguel Apartment, 88 m², €190,000
- WES-2086B - 2 Bedroom Denia Apartment, 72 m², €325,000
Premium (€400k-€800k+) - investor or established family
Mostly Costa Blanca North (Denia, Calpe, Altea Hills, Cumbre del Sol). Less common bracket for Ukrainian buyers right now.
Visa and residency situation in 2026
Ukrainian nationals continue to qualify for EU Temporary Protection through 4 March 2026 (with expected further extension). Protection holders receive an automatic residence permit and the right to work in Spain. Post-protection, Ukrainian residents who have been in Spain 5+ years continuously qualify for long-term residency under standard Spanish immigration rules.
For families wanting permanence beyond the temporary protection regime, the Digital Nomad Visa is the most relevant route for working-age adults with remote income, while older relatives can apply under the Non-Lucrative Visa.
Practical browsing options on our current catalog
For Ukrainian families starting a property search on Costa Blanca, three filter views match the typical brackets:
- 59 active Pilar de la Horadada listings - lowest entry on the southern coast
- 36 active Orihuela Costa listings - mid-tier coastal pocket with strong UA infrastructure
- 29 active San Miguel de Salinas listings - inland hilltop with quieter feel
FAQ
Can Ukrainian families buy property in Spain on temporary protection?
Yes. Property purchase by foreign nationals is unrestricted in Spain regardless of visa or protection status. You need a NIE (foreign tax ID) and a Spanish bank account, both of which are available to Ukrainian temporary-protection holders.
What documents do Ukrainian buyers typically need?
NIE, passport, Spanish bank account, proof of funds (Ukrainian bank statements or transfer record), Spanish tax representative if non-resident for tax purposes. Our partner abogados in Torrevieja and Valencia handle the full documentation package in Ukrainian-Spanish for €1,200-€1,800 flat fee.
Are there Ukrainian-speaking real estate agents on Costa Blanca?
Yes. Wesna Group works in Ukrainian, Russian, English and Spanish. We handle the full purchase process from NIE to keys with all communication in Ukrainian if preferred.
By Oleg Fesechko, founder of Wesna Group.
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