Starting school in New Zealand: enrolment requirements, school age, zones, fees and early childhood
For children in New Zealand: before school, early childhood education is available, with free hours for children of the right age and help with childcare fees; children start school from the set age, and living in a school's zone guarantees a place; check whether your child is a domestic student, because domestic students study free at state schools; and for tertiary study, StudyLink offers student loans and allowances.
What is available before school, and are there free hours?
Kindergarten, daycare and 20 Hours ECE
Children of the right age get free early childhood hours each week.
FamilyBoost childcare payment
You may also get FamilyBoost help with childcare fees.
When do children start school, and how do I enrol?
Starting school in New Zealand: school age and school zones
Children start school from the set age; living in the zone guarantees a place, and out-of-zone places must be applied for.
- Starting age: Most children start school from their 5th birthday. You can enrol your child with the school before they turn 5.↗
- Compulsory school age: Children aged 6 to 16 must go to school or be home educated (home education).↗
- Living in the zone: If you live in a school's home zone, your child is automatically entitled to enrol (a place is guaranteed).↗
- Living outside the zone: You can apply, but a place is not guaranteed. The school must advertise its out-of-zone places, usually in September.↗
Do I have to pay school fees?
Is my child a domestic student (free school)?
First check whether your child is a domestic student.
- Who is a domestic student: New Zealand citizens; people who hold a residence class visa; and people the Ministry of Education lists in a notice in the Gazette, as allowed by law, to be treated as domestic students↗
- Free schooling: Domestic students aged 5 to 19 can study free at state and state-integrated schools↗
- Children of work visa holders: A child who holds a student visa, with one parent on a work visa, is treated as a domestic student until the end of the year in which that work visa expires↗
- Children of student visa holders: A child on a student visa is treated as a domestic student only if the parent is doing a PhD at a New Zealand university, is on an exchange programme approved by the New Zealand government, or holds a scholarship funded by the New Zealand Aid Programme↗
Starting school in New Zealand: school age and school zones
School donations at state schools are voluntary.
- School donations: Voluntary: you can pay all, part or none of it. Your child will not be left out of curriculum activities because you did not pay.↗
What support is there for tertiary study?
Studying at university: student loans and allowances (StudyLink)
You can apply for student loans and Student Allowance, which have residence requirements.
- Residence requirement for a student loan: You are a New Zealand citizen. Or you are ordinarily resident in New Zealand, and you have lived in New Zealand for at least 3 years and held a residence class visa for at least 3 years.↗
- Living costs loan: Up to NZ$333.48 a week for full-time students↗
- Student Allowance: basic conditions — You generally need to be aged 18 to 65 and studying full-time. The residence requirements are the same as for a student loan. You do not pay this money back.↗
Common questions
How does starting school work in New Zealand?
Before school, children can use free early childhood hours. They start school from the set age, and living in a school's zone guarantees a place. Check whether your child is a domestic student, because domestic students study free at state schools. Starting age: Most children start school from their 5th birthday. You can enrol your child with the school before they turn 5. Living in the zone: If you live in a school's home zone, your child is automatically entitled to enrol (a place is guaranteed).
What are the requirements for enrolling at a school in New Zealand?
It mainly depends on your child's age and where you live. Starting age: Most children start school from their 5th birthday. You can enrol your child with the school before they turn 5. Living in the zone: If you live in a school's home zone, your child is automatically entitled to enrol (a place is guaranteed). Living outside the zone: You can apply, but a place is not guaranteed. The school must advertise its out-of-zone places, usually in September.
I am on a work visa. Do I pay school fees for my child?
If the conditions are met, your child is treated as a domestic student and studies free at a state school. Children of work visa holders: A child who holds a student visa, with one parent on a work visa, is treated as a domestic student until the end of the year in which that work visa expires. Free schooling: Domestic students aged 5 to 19 can study free at state and state-integrated schools.
Is early childhood education free in New Zealand?
Children of the right age get some free hours each week, and you may get FamilyBoost help with fees. Who can get 20 Hours ECE: Children aged 3, 4 and 5. How much is free: Up to 20 hours a week and up to 6 hours a day. The service cannot charge fees for these hours. Maximum per quarter: NZ$1,560.
Do I have to pay the school donation?
Donations at state schools are voluntary. School donations: Voluntary: you can pay all, part or none of it. Your child will not be left out of curriculum activities because you did not pay. Tax credit for donations: If you pay a donation, you can use the receipt to claim a tax credit from Inland Revenue. There is a 4-year time limit.
Answers are based on the verified content of this page — the official source always prevails.
Which guides and official sources is this based on?
Early childhood education (ECE) in New Zealand comes in several types, including kindergartens, daycare centres, Playcentre and home-based care. Children aged 3 to 5 can get the government's 20 Hours ECE. This covers up to 20 hours a week, and up to 6 hours a day, with no fees for those hours. To help with costs beyond that, look at the Childcare Subsidy from Work and Income and FamilyBoost from Inland Revenue.
FamilyBoost is a childcare payment from Inland Revenue (IRD). It helps families pay for a child at a licensed early childhood education (ECE) service, such as daycare or kindy. If your child is 5 or under and your household income is less than NZ$57,286 a quarter, you can claim back part of your ECE fees each quarter in myIR. You can get up to NZ$1,560 a quarter.
Most children in New Zealand start primary school from their 5th birthday. Children aged 6 to 16 must go to school or be home educated. Many schools have a home zone. If you live in the zone, your child is guaranteed a place. If you live outside it, you can apply, and if there are not enough places the school holds a ballot. Domestic students do not pay fees at state schools, and school donations are voluntary.
At New Zealand primary and secondary schools, domestic students study free at state and state-integrated schools. International students pay fees. New Zealand citizens and residents are domestic students. A Ministry of Education notice also lists some children on temporary visas who are treated as domestic students. The most common case is a child on a student visa with a parent on a work visa.
If you study at university or another tertiary provider in New Zealand, you can apply through StudyLink for a Student Loan and a Student Allowance. A Student Loan covers course fees and living costs, and you must pay it back. A Student Allowance helps with living costs, and you do not pay it back. Your student loan has no interest while you live in New Zealand. If you are not a New Zealand citizen, you usually need to have lived in New Zealand for 3 years and held a residence class visa for 3 years before you can apply. Fees Free for the final year of study ends on 31 December 2026.
Spotted a mistake or something out of date? Tell us →
Still have a question? Ask
The AI answers using this guide and official New Zealand government websites.