Online Application will be available from 23rd October

We’re making our application process easier and faster for you. From 23rd October our online application portal will be available through this website. Paper application forms will no longer be available from this date. If you have already lodged an application it will not be impacted by this change.

Scam alert

Several parents have been targeted by a tuition fees payment scam.

Features of the scam

New arrivals from Ukraine

Enrolment, visa requirements and English language support.

Fact sheet

Read our fact sheets

Our fact sheets provide useful information for a variety of situations.

See the list of fact sheets

Extended wait time

We are currently processing a large volume of applications. Please do not contact our customer service team within 21 days of lodging your application.

About the Temporary Residents Program

The Temporary Residents Program provides advice and support for the enrolment of temporary residents in NSW government schools. The program accepts enrolment in primary school and high school from Kindergarten to Year 12.

Your child will have a rich and rewarding learning experience. NSW Government Schools is the largest education network in Australia with over 2,200 primary and high schools offering secure, safe and dynamic learning environments.

Enrolment requirements

Enrolment requirements

Temporary residents must hold a valid visa and meet the General conditions of enrolment to enrol in a NSW government school.

For enrolment conditions of each visa subclass, refer to the Visa subclasses and enrolment conditions fact sheet.

The Temporary Residents Program enrols school-aged children who are:

  • temporary resident visa holders (except principal holders of the international student visa subclass 500P or 571P)
  • bridging visa holders
  • dependants of international students
  • visitor visa holders accompanied by a parent or staying with a direct relative (brother, sister, step-parent, step-brother, step-sister, grandparent, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, step-grandparent, step-aunt, step-uncle, step-niece, step-nephew). The direct relative must be over 21 years of age, of good character, and able to provide appropriate care and supervision of the child.

Children cannot enrol through the Temporary Residents Program if they are international students holding visa subclass 500P or 571P, part of a group of students who attend NSW schools on an advertised tour, or a visitor visa holder who is not accompanied by a parent, or not staying with a direct relative.

Visit the TRP Application Process for more information

Start dates

The Temporary Residents Program enrols school-aged children at any time during the school year.

Primary school

Kindergarten to Year 6

Junior school

Years 7 to 10

Senior high school

Years 11 to 12

Our school year consists of four terms

Visit our school calendar for more information

Find a school

NSW Government Schools is the largest education network in Australia with over 2,200 primary and high schools offering secure, safe and dynamic learning environments.

All primary schools and the majority of high schools have designated local enrolment areas. Your child may attend their local school based on their residential address or schools may accept enrolments from outside their area if places are available.

Temporary residents are not eligible to enrol in selective high schools including agricultural high schools, the selective component of comprehensive high schools and Opportunity Classes (OC) in primary schools. Visit this link to Find a School.

Support to improve your English skills

If your child speaks a language other than English as their first language, learning English is essential for success at school and further education, training and employment.

The New South Wales Department of Education provides English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D) support to develop English language competence so your child can fully participate in schooling and independently pursue further education and training. The department provides EAL/D support in primary schools, high schools, Intensive English Centres (IECs) and the Intensive English High School (IEHS). The availability of EAL/D support varies between schools, depending on the number of EAL/D students enrolled.

Visit our English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D) fact sheet for more information.

Accommodation

All school-aged students who are less than 18 years of age and who hold a subordinate visitor or temporary resident visa based on a parent’s principal visa, must reside with the parent during any period of enrolment.

Fees

Fees

Most temporary resident students pay the temporary resident administration fee and education fee to enrol in a NSW government school. Visit our Education Fee fact sheet for more information.

Fee exemption

If the temporary resident student has a parent or step-parent who is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you may be eligible for a fee exemption. Visit our Link to an Australian citizen or permanent resident fact sheet for more information.

The Exemption Review Panel considers individual appeals for exemption from the education fee for low-income families. Visit the Application for Fee Exemption based on low income for more information.

Fee refund

Your child may be entitled to a pro-rata refund of the education fee if:

  • their visa category changes to a fee exempt category
  • their visa is cancelled
  • their application to enrol is rejected or,
  • they leave school before the expiry of their paid period of enrolment.

Visit the Application for refund of the Temporary Residents Program education fee for more information.

Visa and immigration requirements

Temporary residents must hold a valid visa to enrol in a NSW government school.

For enrolment conditions of each visa subclass, refer to the Visa subclasses and enrolment conditions fact sheet.

How to apply

The application for your child must be submitted in writing using the Temporary Residents Program Application form for an Authority to Enrol.

If your child:

Document library

Resources for school staff

These documents will assist school staff with the enrolment process for temporary resident students.