Enrolment of temporary residents
Direction and guidance on procedures and eligibility for enrolling temporary residents (except for international students, exchange students and community detention students) in NSW Government schools.
Note: This policy is for implementation from Term 1 2025
Audience
All principals, school staff and temporary resident parents wanting their child to attend a NSW Government school.
| Last updated | Description of changes | Approved by |
|---|---|---|
| 18/10/2024 | Updated under the 2023 Policy and procedure review program, including conversion into the new template and improving readability. Changed title from ‘Enrolment of non-Australian citizens’ to ‘Enrolment of temporary residents. Updated definitions, hyperlinks and application process to reflect introduction of DE International Student Management System. |
Executive Director, Student Support and Specialist Programs |
About the policy
These procedures relate to the Enrolment of students policy, section 1.7, which states:
"Public preschools, specialist settings, programs and services, distance education, temporary residents and international student enrolments are subject to specific procedures, eligibility criteria and assessments".
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
DE International |
The department’s international unit, which administers the following programs across NSW Government schools:
In the context of this document, DE International refers to the Temporary Residents Program team |
| DE International Student Management System | DE International's overseas student management system that is accessed by school staff and DE International via Inside the department > My Essentials |
| Department of Home Affairs | The Australian Government department responsible for immigration matters, including the granting of temporary and permanent resident visas and citizenship |
| Multicultural Education unit | Part of the Teaching, Learning and Student Wellbeing division, this team manages the enrolment of community detention students in the Onshore Education Program in NSW Government schools and negotiates with the Department of Home Affairs in relation to this program |
| Onshore Education Program (formerly known as Residence Determination Program) | This program covers the enrolment of community detention students in NSW Government schools and is administered by the Multicultural Education unit |
| Temporary Residents Program | This program covers the enrolment of temporary residents in NSW Government schools, except for international students, exchange students and community detention students. The program accepts applications for enrolment in Kindergarten to Year 12 |
| Temporary visas | These visas allow the visa holder to temporarily reside in Australia for purposes including business, study, family matters, holidays and medical reasons |
| Travel documentation | Documents used to verify a person’s identity and residency status. Travel identity documents may include a passport, Titre de Voyage, or ImmiCard Residency status document may include a visa issued by the Department of Home Affairs |
Secretary:
- sets the education fees to be paid by temporary resident students, in accordance with Section 31A of the Education Act 1990
- terminates the enrolment of temporary resident students if a fee payable has not been paid, in accordance with Section 31A of the Education Act 1990.
DE International:
- administers the Temporary Residents Program and maintain accurate records of all temporary resident records across all NSW Government schools
- processes temporary resident applications for enrolment, issuing Authorities to Enrol, issuing Confirmations of Placement, monitoring currency of temporary visas and maintaining records of temporary resident student enrolments
- collects the Temporary Residents Program application fee and tuition fee, maintaining records of payments received, making requisite payments to schools and providing refunds where applicable
- confirms the accuracy of visa details for students and their parent or legal guardian
- responds to individual requests for exemption from payment of the temporary resident tuition fee through the Exemption Review Panel
- advises the department’s EDConnect Accounts Receivable if action needs to be commenced for debt recovery
- responds to public inquiries and providing advice and information to individual clients, government and non-government agencies and schools.
Principals:
- enrol temporary resident students (with the exception of visitor or other short stay visas) as outlined in the K-12 enrolment procedures
- advise parents of prospective temporary resident students on visitor or other short stay visas if the school has capacity to enrol their child
- advise parents of prospective temporary resident students that can be accommodated in the school to apply for a Temporary Residents Program Authority to Enrol through the online portal
- check that an Authority to Enrol has been issued for their school before enrolling a temporary resident student
- check that they or their delegated officers have sighted original travel and identity documents, and verify the information against that provided by DE International on the Authority to Enrol
- notify DE International of any changes to a temporary resident student’s enrolment, visa status or residential and contact details.
Parents or legal guardians:
- check their child holds a current temporary visa to reside in Australia, and is not the primary holder of a student visa. Refer to the Temporary Residents Program website for enrolment conditions, which vary by visa subclass. The Department of Home Affairs sets the specific travel, entry and residency conditions attached to visas and reviews and amends these on a regular basis
- provide to the school at enrolment an immunisation certificate from a medical practitioner or an Immunisation History Statement issued by the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register, if available
- ensure their child maintains appropriate welfare arrangements during their enrolment, that is, they must reside with the parent or legal guardian on whom their visa is dependant or, in the case of visitor visa holders, reside with a parent or legal guardian or direct relative
- ensure their child meets the general conditions for enrolment
- notify DE International and their child’s school of any change to their living arrangements, contact details or visa
- where the Temporary Residents Program tuition fee applies to their child’s enrolment, ensure they have sufficient funds to pay the tuition fee for the duration of their child’s enrolment and make payment of tuition fee to DE International, as requested.
What needs to be done
This policy outlines the eligibility and procedures for enrolling temporary residents in NSW Government schools.
Temporary resident students must hold a current Australian temporary visa and not be the primary holder of a student visa. Enrolment conditions and entitlements vary by visa subclass. The Department of Home Affairs sets the specific travel, entry and residency conditions attached to visas and reviews and amends these on a regular basis.
Enrolment procedures cover the application processes for:
- temporary residents (temporary visa holders)
- dependent international students (dependent student visa holders)
- children in community detention (through the Onshore Education Program)
- temporary residents with disability.
Most temporary residents are not eligible to enrol in NSW government selective high schools, including agricultural high schools, selective classes in comprehensive high schools, or opportunity classes in primary schools. For eligibility, refer to the visa subclasses and enrolment conditions fact sheet.
For eligibility and procedures on the enrolment of international students (primary holders of visa subclass 500) in NSW government schools, refer to the International students handbook for schools.
For eligibility and procedures on the enrolment of exchange students in NSW government schools, refer to the Secondary Student Exchange website.
Permanent residents of Australia, New Zealand citizens holding a New Zealand passport and Norfolk Islanders, subject to providing proof of their identity and residency status as outlined in the How to identify temporary residents, permanent residents and Australian citizens factsheet, can enrol in NSW government schools under the same conditions as Australian citizens.
1. Enrolment
1.1 Temporary Residents Program application process
This process is applicable for all temporary residents, except for dependant international students (refer to 1.2 below) and community detention students enrolling through the Onshore Education Program (refer to 1.3 below).
a. The parent finds a place of residence in NSW and must submit an online application for a Temporary Residents Program Authority to Enrol, provide travel documentation to verify identity and residency status, and ensure their child meets the general conditions of enrolment. Parents who approach schools directly should be directed to submit an online application.
b. DE International must assess the application, verify the student’s residency status and accompanying entitlements and, if appropriate, request payment of the Temporary Residents Program tuition fee.
c. DE International provides the parent with school placement options through the online application portal. Final school placement is subject to the principal’s approval through the DE International Student Management System.
d. DE International must issue the school an Authority to Enrol through the DE International Student Management System, for the student to enrol at the school.
e. The school must ask the parent to complete an Application to Enrol in a NSW Government school form.
f. The school must enrol the student from the start date on the Authority to Enrol.
1.2 Dependant international student application process
a. The international student parent must submit an online application for a Temporary Residents Program Authority to Enrol, providing travel documentation, all Confirmation of Enrolment documents used for the parent’s student visa, and payment of the relevant Temporary Residents Program tuition fee, if required.
b. DE International must assess the application, verify the documents and process the payment before issuing a Confirmation of Placement document for the parent to submit to the Department of Home Affairs as part of the application for their child’s dependant student visa. Schools must not issue letters confirming enrolment.
c. The parent and their child arrive in NSW, find a place of residence and notify DE International of their residential address through the online application portal.
d. DE International must provide the parent with school placement options through the online application portal. Final school placement is subject to the principal’s approval through the DE International Student Management System.
e. DE International must issue the school an Authority to Enrol through the DE International Student Management System, for the student to enrol at the school.
f. The school must ask the parent to complete an Application to Enrol in a NSW Government school form.
g. The school must enrol the student from the start date on the Authority to Enrol.
1.3 Onshore Education Program (community detention)
Parents and their children in community detention may approach a NSW Government school to enrol. Children in community detention may not have travel or visa documentation but may instead have identifying documentation issued by the Department of Home Affairs.
Schools must direct these children to the Multicultural Education unit in the Teaching, Learning and Student Wellbeing division so they can be enrolled through the Onshore Education Program. These children must have an Authority to Enrol issued by the Director, Multicultural Education to enrol in a NSW Government school.
1.4 Temporary residents with disability
Enrolment for temporary resident children with disability depends on their visa type, as outlined in these procedures (refer to 1.1 above).
Support for schools enrolling children with disability is available on Inclusive education for students with disability.
Information for parents concerning disability and inclusive education is available on Inclusive learning support.
2. Temporary Residents Program fees
Most temporary resident students must pay the temporary resident application fee and tuition fee to enrol in a NSW Government school. The applicable tuition fee is dependent on the visa subclass and any category of the visa subclass held by the student.
The tuition fee is charged at the rate applicable to the academic year indicated by the school, Intensive English Language Centre or Intensive English Language High School, and changes as a student moves to the next academic year fee band and with any annual fee increase as published by DE International.
The NSW Department of Education reserves the right to vary its Temporary Resident Program fees. Parents must pay the adjusted fee from the date of variation.
Some visa subclasses and temporary residents under specific circumstances are exempt from the Temporary Residents Program tuition fee.
A provision exists for students on most visa subclasses to submit an appeal to the department for an exemption from payment of the Temporary Residents Program tuition fee due to low family income. Certain visa subclasses are ineligible, including visitor visas, other short stay visas of 13 weeks or less and dependant student visa holders).
2.1 Failure to pay fees
DE International must advise the department’s Accounts Receivable team if debt recovery action is needed due to unpaid tuition fees.
The Secretary of Education may terminate the enrolment of students if a fee payable has not been paid in accordance with section 31A (5) of the Education Act 1990.
The department may take legal action in accordance with Section 31 A (6) of the Education Act 1990 to recover any outstanding tuition fees.
2.2 Fee refunds
A student may be entitled to a pro-rata refund of the tuition fee if:
- their visa category changes to a fee exempt category (refund is calculated from date of visa grant)
- their visa is cancelled
- their application to enrol is unsuccessful
- the student leaves the NSW Government school system before the expiry of their paid period of enrolment.
2.3 Payments to schools
For temporary resident students other than visitor visa holders, the school to which the initial Authority to Enrol is issued will receive one payment of $100 for each temporary resident student at initial enrolment.
For visitor visa holders, the school will receive a payment of 25% of the tuition fees paid.
2.4 Additional voluntary school contributions
Schools may request voluntary contributions or elective subject contributions in accordance with voluntary school contributions and elective subject contributions.
3. Once enrolled
Parents or legal guardians of students who hold temporary visas must notify DE International and the principal or delegate of any change to the student’s Australian residency status, including visa conditions, residential address or contact details.
The principal must advise DE International of any:
- student withdrawal from the school
- change to the student’s Australian residency status, including visa conditions
- change to the student’s residential address or contact details.
4. Changing schools
Any temporary resident parent wishing their child to move to a new NSW Government school must email DE International, providing their change of address.
If the new school accepts the placement, the Temporary Residents Program will issue an Authority to Enrol to the new school. Pre-paid tuition fees will cover the enrolment at the new school.
Supporting tools, resources and related information
- DE International Student Management System training resources – Resources: Temporary Residents Program (staff only)
- General enrolment information – Enrolment
- Pre-school enrolment – Temporary residents
- Primary school enrolment – Temporary residents
- High school enrolment – Temporary residents
- Temporary Residents Program website
- Schedule of Visa Subclasses and Enrolment Conditions (PDF 200 KB)
- Application to enrol in a NSW Government school (PDF 768 KB)
- Immunisation information website
- Department of Home Affairs
- Disability, learning and support – Students with disability
- Inclusive education for students with disability
- Secondary Student Exchange Website – Information for Principls and School Staff
- International students handbook for schools (staff only)
Policy contact
The Temporary Residents Program Manager monitors the implementation of this procedure, regularly reviews its contents to ensure relevance and accuracy, and updates it as needed.