Enrolling your child in school in Australia

Before you pay: safety checks

• On a 482 visa with a family income over $78,000, the Department for Education says you pay a student fee at government schools in greater Adelaide. For 2027 it lists up to $7,000 per primary student and $8,200 per high school student, with discounts for several children or lower income
• The page says the fee does not apply at non-government schools, which charge their own fees
• Other temporary visa types: check the Department's visa lookup
• You must register each year while on a 482 visa

Before you pay: safety checks

• Most temporary resident students must pay an application fee and a tuition fee at NSW government schools. The amount depends on the visa subclass
• Some visa subclasses are exempt. For example, the fee was waived from 2025 for families on a 482 visa in regional areas
• Parents on most visa subclasses can ask for an exemption on low family income

Before you pay: safety checks

• Whether you pay tuition fees at a Victorian government school depends on your visa subclass and category. The Department's International Student Visa Fee Table lists which visas are exempt
• Fee-paying students must not start school until the Department confirms the enrolment and fees are paid
• Children of international students at a university or TAFE are treated as dependants. The 2026 fee page lists $16,000 a year for primary school

Before you pay: safety checks

• Most students on temporary visas must pay fees to attend a Queensland state school. Tuition is paid in advance
• Children of temporary visa holders first apply to the Department's international branch for an Authority to Enrol, then take it to the school. It does not guarantee a place
• Some dependants are exempt, and families in significant financial hardship can ask for a fee waiver

Before you pay: safety checks

• Families on a 457 or 482 visa can enrol at their local public school and pay a family tuition fee of $4,000 a year, however many children are enrolled, per TAFE International WA
• The fee was waived for 2024 and 2025. Whether a waiver applies now is not confirmed, so check before you pay
• You can pay up front or in instalments, and ask for a waiver in financial hardship
• Other visa types: check with TAFE International WA

Before you pay: safety checks

• Every temporary resident needs an Authority to Enrol letter before attending a Tasmanian government school. You apply online, send documents and pay any fees first
• Whether you pay depends on your visa subclass. Published rates are about $7,600 a year for Prep to Year 12, plus a $150 application fee per student
• Fee relief may be available for low-income households

Before you pay: safety checks

• Most temporary visa holders' children must pay tuition fees at ACT public schools, paid in advance for the year. Some visa subclasses are exempt, and the list is set each year
• Rates published for a recent year were $11,100 for primary school and $14,500 for high school. These may not be the current rates
• Temporary residents apply through the International Education Unit, with a $265 administration fee. Processing usually takes 10 to 14 business days
• A waiver is possible for financial hardship. You can get a pro-rata refund if you become a permanent resident during the year

Before you pay: safety checks

• Whether a temporary visa holder pays international student fees depends on the visa type. The NT fee page lists most skilled and temporary work visas, including the 482 and 485, as not paying fees
• Where fees apply, 2026 rates for a child on certain temporary visas are $7,196 a year for transition to year 6 and $8,208 for years 7 to 9, and must be paid before the child enrols
• International Services places children of temporary visa holders: +61 8 8999 5895