Is it haram to use a fake address for a school place?

Yes, using a fake address to get a school place is haram. It's lying and cheating, and it can take a place from a child who is genuinely entitled to it. Wanting the best school for your child is natural, but Islam asks you to pursue it honestly.

Why it's not allowed

School admissions in the UK, Europe and the USA often depend on where you live. Giving a relative's address, renting a flat you never live in, or claiming to have moved when you haven't are all ways of deceiving the admissions office. Islam forbids this for several reasons:

It's a lie. The Prophet ﷺ said that truthfulness leads to righteousness and lying leads to wickedness (Sahih al-Bukhari 6094).
It's cheating. He ﷺ said, "Whoever cheats is not of me" (Sahih Muslim 102).
It harms another family. School places are limited. If your child gets in on a false address, a local child who should have had that place loses it. That's a wrong against a real person.
It breaks the law. Councils and districts check addresses and can withdraw a place, and in some places it's fraud.

It's the same principle as any official form. See Is it haram to lie on government forms?

"Everyone does it"

Common doesn't mean halal. A child's education built on a lie also teaches them that cheating is fine when the stakes are high. Children learn honesty mostly by watching their parents. See Is it haram to cheat on exams?

What about a genuine move or two homes?

You genuinely moved: using your real new address is completely fine, even if you moved partly for the school.
Separated parents: use the address where the child actually lives most of the time, following the admissions rules.
Religious or faith school criteria: answer honestly about attendance and practice too.

Honest ways to get a better place

Apply for several schools and rank them carefully.
Join waiting lists; places often open up over the summer.
Use the appeals process if you have real reasons.
Look at Islamic schools, or consider other options. See Should I send my kids to an Islamic school?
Make dua. Allah provides for those who stay on the right path, often in ways you didn't expect.

If you already did it

Repent sincerely. Speak to a scholar about your situation; some may advise telling the school, others focusing on correcting things at the next opportunity, such as a later transfer. Don't repeat it for younger siblings.

Key points

A fake address is lying and cheating, and it's haram.
It can take a place from another child.
A real move, even for the school, is fine.
Use waiting lists, appeals and dua instead.

Tip: Start researching schools a year early. Knowing the catchment areas and deadlines in good time leaves you honest options instead of last-minute temptation.