QLD – Fee waivers for dependent students of Temporary Visa holders

This column will look at the tuition fee exemptions for eligible dependent students of temporary visa holders.

Among the many reasons for coming to Australia, the biggest reason is children’s education. And If you are a temporary visa holder with children, many people are curious about the tuition exemption for their children.

This is critical information because if your child does not receive a tuition waiver or discount, the tuition for primary school students is $14,192 (Tuition Fee for 2023), which can be a big burden. While not all temporary visas get exempt, most public schools offer tuition exemptions or reduced tuition for private schools.

However, it is essential to look at each State’s education website as there are differences in tuition fees and visas.

Tuition exemption visas for under-age children of the main application are as follows:

Subclass	Visa Title
159	Provisional Resident Return
173	Contributory Parent
188	Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional)
300	Prospective Marriage
309	Partner (Provisional)
400	Temporary Work (Short Stay Activity)
403	Temporary Work (International Relation)
407	Training
408	Temporary Activity
444	Special Category Visa
445	Dependent Child
449	 Humanitarian Stay (Temporary) 
461	New Zealand Citizen Family Responsibility (Temporary)
476	Skilled – Recognised Graduate
482	Temporary Skill Shortage (previously 457)
485	Temporary Graduate
489	Skilled Regional (Provisional)
491	Skilled Regional (Provisional)
494	Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional)
500	Student (Primary visa holder = parent)
500	Student (exchange student)
785	Temporary Protection Visa
786	Temporary (Humanitarian Concern)
790	 Safe Haven Enterprise 
820	Partner
870	Sponsored Parent (Temporary)

[As of November 25, 2022]

Other visa exemptions include:

• New Zealand citizens settling in Australia

• The child of the main application who is doing the doctoral program

• Child of a Masters by Research main application at a University in Regional Queensland

More information can be found at the site below.

DE International schedule of visa subclasses and enrolment conditions (qed.qld.gov.au)