Eligibility for Enrolment in New Zealand Schools

All children aged between five and nineteen have a right to enrol in a state school if they are a domestic student or an approved exchange student. Parents of domestic students have a duty to make sure that they are enrolled in a school between the ages of six and sixteen.

Domestic Students are students entitled to free education in NZ state schools.

Categories of Domestic Students

1. New Zealand citizen (includes Cook Island, Niue and Tokelau)
Documentation required:

• NZ Birth certificate (incl. Cook Island, Niuean or Tokelauan); or
• NZ Citizenship Certificate; or
• NZ Passport (incl. Cook Island, Niuean or Tokelauan); or
• Cook Island, Niuean or Tokelauan Letter of Confirmation; or
• Cook Island, Niuean or Tokelauan Certificate of Naturalisation; or
• Cook Island, Niuean or Tokelauan Certificate of Registration.

2. Australian citizen
Documentation required:

• Australian Passport.

3. New Zealand resident.
Documentation required:

• Passport with residence permit stamp/label

4. A student who has made, or the dependent child of a person who has made, a claim to be recognised as a refugee in accord with Part IVA of the Immigration Act.
Documentation required:

• New Zealand issued Certificate of Identity; or
• Passport
• and valid Student Permit label.

5. A student who has entered NZ for the purposes of adoption, where the Final Order will entitle the child to education as a domestic student, and whose adoption is supported by CYF, and adoption application is before the NZ family Court; or has an Interim Order of Adoption.
Documentation required:

• Valid Student Visa/Permit; and/or
• CYF letter of support for adoption application or
• Interim Order of Adoption

6. An international student who has come into the care of Child, Youth and Family (CYF) through an order under the CYFS Act.
Documentation required: 

• Valid Student Visa/Permit; and
• A letter from CYF confirming the arrangement.

7. A student who is the dependent of any person who has an unexpired work permit (except if issued under "Crew of Foreign Chartered Fishing Vessels" or "Recognised Seasonal Employer" Immigration NZ work policies).
Documentation required: 

• Valid Student Visa/Permit; and
• Parent's passport with a valid work permit and
• Evidence of the family relationship, such as a Birth Certificate.

8. A student who is the dependent of a NZ citizen and whose application for citizenship is under consideration by the Department of Internal Affairs.
Documentation required: 

• Valid Student Visa/Permit; and
• Evidence that the parent is a NZ citizen (see 1 above); and
• Letter from Department of Internal Affairs confirming student's current application for citizenship is under consideration; and
• Evidence of the family relationship such as a Birth Certificate.

9. A student who is the dependent of a NZ resident and whose application for NZ residence is under consideration by Immigration NZ.
Documentation required: 

• Valid Student Visa/Permit; and
• Evidence that the parent is a NZ resident (see 3 above); and
• Letter from Immigration NZ confirming child's current application for residence is under consideration; and
• Evidence of the family relationship such as a Birth Certificate.

10. A student who is a dependent of someone entitled to diplomatic or consular immunity; or who ceased entitlement during the calendar year.
Documentation required: 

• Valid Student Visa/Permit; and
• Parent/guardian's diplomatic passport; and
• Evidence of the family relationship such as a Birth Certificate

11. A student who is a dependent of a member of a visiting force, or its civilian component.
Documentation required: 

• Valid Student Visa/Permit; and
• Parent/guardian's passport; and
• Evidence that the parent/guardian is a member of a visiting force or its civilian component and
• Evidence of the family relationship such as a Birth Certificate.

12. A student who is the dependent of a person associated with a scientific programme or expedition under the Antarctic Act 1960.
Documentation required: 

• Valid Student Visa/Permit; and
• Parent/guardian's passport; and
• Evidence that the parent/guardian is a members of, or associated with, a scientific programme or expedition under the Antarctic Act 1960; and
• Evidence of the family relationship such as a Birth Certificate.

13. A student who is the dependent of any person who is in NZ to study under an exchange scheme approved by the NZ government.
Documentation required: 

• Student Visa/Permit; and
• A letter from the approved exchange scheme confirming that the student has been accepted into an approved student exchange scheme by the scheme organiser; and
• Evidence of the family relationship such as a Birth Certificate.

14. A student who is the dependent of an international student who has enrolled in any PhD programme in a NZ university.
Documentation required: 

• Student Visa/Permit; and
• Parent/guardian's passport; and
• Evidence of parent's programme of study; and
• Evidence of the family relationship such as a Birth Certificate.

15. A student who is the dependent of a person who is the holder of a Commonwealth Scholarship.
Documentation required: 

• Student Visa/Permit; and
• Parent/guardian's passport with a valid Student Visa/Permit; and
• Letter from NZAID stating that the parent is the holder of a Commonwealth Scholarship and
• Evidence of the family relationship such as a Birth Certificate.

16. A student who holds a Limited Purpose Permit granted by Immigration NZ for the express purpose of determining his or her immigration status.
Documentation required: 

• Limited Purpose Permit that states it is valid for primary or secondary study; or
• Limited Purpose Permit accompanied by a letter from Immigration NZ stating that it is for the purpose of primary or secondary study.