How do I know if my child is a domestic student or an international student?
Your child is a domestic student if they are a New Zealand citizen, hold a residence class visa (including Australian citizens), or are listed in the Education (Domestic Student: Primary and Secondary Education) Notice 2026. Other children are usually international students and must pay fees. If you are not sure, contact the Ministry of Education on +64 4 463 8000.
Official figures
- 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 students1
- Free schooling
- Domestic students aged 5 to 19 can study free at state and state-integrated schools3
- Australian citizens
- Australian citizens count as New Zealand residents and are domestic students3
- 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 expires2
- 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 Programme2
Official sources
- Definition of a domestic student in New ZealandMinistry of Education · education.govt.nz
- Education (Domestic Student: Primary and Secondary Education) Notice 2026New Zealand Legislation · legislation.govt.nz
- Eligibility to enrol in New Zealand schoolsMinistry of Education · education.govt.nz
- Dependent Child Student VisaImmigration New Zealand · immigration.govt.nz
Read the full guide: Is my child a domestic student (free school)? →
People also ask
- I am on a work visa. Do I have to pay school fees for my child in New Zealand?
- I am doing a PhD in New Zealand. Can my child go to school for free?
- I am on a student visa for a master's degree. Is school free for my child?
- Can my child go to school on a visitor visa? Do we have to pay?
- What is a Dependent Child Student Visa and how much does it cost?
- My work visa is expiring soon. Until when can my child study as a domestic student?
Answers are based on official New Zealand government pages. Check the official source before you act. This is not immigration, legal or tax advice.
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