Domestic students

A domestic student must either be:

• a New Zealand citizen
• a holder of a residence class visa
• a person required to be treated as if they are not an international student.

People not treated as international students include the dependent children of:

• some students and work visa holders
• exchange students
• any other individual specified under the Education (Domestic Students) Notice 2023 to be treated as a domestic student.

Education (Domestic Students) Notice 2023 – New Zealand Legislation

See more information on the definition of a domestic student in New Zealand.

Definition of a domestic student in New Zealand

Exchange students

An exchange student is an international student who is considered a domestic student under the Education (Domestic Students) Notice 2023. They must be part of an exchange programme approved by us. If they are on an exchange programme not approved by us, they must be enrolled as international fee-paying students.

Exchange students can enrol through either:

• a school’s own approved exchange programme
• an Exchange Programme Organisation (EPO).

School-to-school exchange students

To host a school-to-school exchange, your school must be approved to operate by us. This includes being a signatory to the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021 (the Code).

School-to-school exchanges

EPO exchange students

To enrol a student through an Exchange Programme Organisation (EPO), your school does not need to be a signatory to the Code. The EPO must be approved to operate by us.

EPOs must make sure students receive pastoral care at the same level as required by the Code.

Exchange programme organisations

Exchange student fees

An exchange student does not pay tuition fees to a school. This cost is met through reciprocal domestic funding arrangements between approved exchange partners.

Students on an exchange programme not approved by us are not considered domestic students. They must be enrolled as an international fee-paying student.

International fee-paying students

An international fee-paying student pays tuition and other fees to enrol at a New Zealand school.

Your school must be a signatory to the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021 (the Code) to enrol these students.

Providing for the wellbeing of tertiary and international learners

If an international fee-paying student does not live with their parents while studying, your school is responsible for their care at all times and must meet all the requirements outlined in the Code.

International fee-paying students may apply to enrol for any length of time, from a few days to several years, at the discretion of the school. This can be arranged individually or as part of a group.

Enrolment details are written in a contract between your school and the student or their family.

What tuition fees cover

The tuition fees must cover your school board’s best estimate of:

• the cost to provide tuition to the student
• an amount that reflects the student’s use of the board’s capital facilities such as property or furniture, and
• any other fee set by the board.

Student visitors

A student visitor is:

• a person who is not a New Zealand citizen or resident, and with the permission of your principal, can attend your school for no longer than 2 weeks
• not enrolled at the school
• not an international student and does not require a contract of enrolment.

Your school, or anyone acting on your behalf, cannot ask for any payments from visiting students. If you do, the students must be enrolled as international fee-paying students. to attend your school.

Visitors can attend any school in New Zealand. Schools that accept visitors do not need to be signatories to the Code.

Your school should keep a record of visiting students, including:

• the student’s full legal name
• citizenship
• date of birth
• proof of identity
• dates of the visit
• year levels visited
• the purpose of their visit such as a family visit, sports, or cultural experience.