Online application is now available

Applications for enrolment through the Temporary Residents Program must be submitted through the Online Application Portal. Email and paper application forms are no longer accepted for processing.

Please see the Online Application Portal User Guide for step-by-step instructions. The user guide is available in Simplified Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Spanish, Arabic and Mongolian.

For Online Application Portal IT support, contact the DE International IT Support team during business hours on 1300 615 199.

Scam alert

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

Features of the scam

New arrivals from Gaza, Lebanon and Ukraine

See our dedicated fact sheets for information on enrolment, visa requirements and English language support.

Fact sheets

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 14 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 accompanied by their parent (except principal holders of the international student visa subclass 500P)
  • bridging visa holders accompanied by their parent
  • dependants of international students accompanied by their parent
  • 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, 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 apply to their local school based on their residential address or schools may accept enrolments from outside their area if places are available.

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.

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 NSW 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 application fee and tuition fee to enrol in a NSW government school. Visit our Tuition fee fact sheet for more information.

Fee refund

Your child may be entitled to a pro-rata refund of the tuition 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 via the Online Application Portal.

Please refer to the Online Application Portal User Guide for step-by-step instructions on the application process.

If your child:

Document library

Forms

Translated Documents

Application for refund of the Temporary Residents Program education fee

Application for fee exemption based on low income

Online Application Portal User Guides

Online Application Portal User Guide: temporary residents

Creating and linking a parent account: currently enrolled students

Fact Sheets

Application process for temporary residents

Application process for visitor visas

Application process for dependants of international students

General conditions of enrolment for temporary residents

List of visa subclasses and their enrolment conditions

What is the tuition fee

Find a school

Academic year placement

School term dates

English as an Additional Language/Dialect (EAL/D) support

Tuition fee exemption if parent or step-parent is an Australian citizen or permanent resident

Children born in Australia and their residency status

Children with a disability

New arrivals from Ukraine

New arrivals from Gaza

New arrivals from Lebanon

Application for fee exemption based on low income

Application for fee exemption based on low income – عربی (Arabic)

Application for fee exemption based on low income – 中文简体(simplified Chinese)

Application for fee exemption based on low income – 中文繁体 (traditional Chinese)

Application for fee exemption based on low income – 한국어 (Korean)

Application for fee exemption based on low income – Español (Spanish)

Application for fee exemption based on low income – Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)

Online Application Portal User Guide: temporary residents

Online Application Portal User Guide: temporary residents - 中文简体 (simplified Chinese)

Online Application Portal User Guide: temporary residents - 한국어 (Korean)

Online Application Portal User Guide: temporary residents - Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)

Online Application Portal User Guide: temporary residents - Монгол (Mongolian)

Online Application Portal User Guide: temporary residents - عربی(Arabic)

Online Application Portal User Guide: temporary residents - Español (Spanish)

Resources for school staff

Resources for school staff are available on the Staff Portal: Resources: Temporary Residents Program. Please note that you will need to be logged in to view these resources.