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PARENT GUIDE
Parent guide
School choices, documents, application steps and local living: information for planning your child's study.
See preparation itemsBEFORE THE SCHOOL LIST
Start with four decisions
as a family.
When and for how long?
School dates and a realistic family timeframe
Where will your child live?
Student homestay or living with a parent
Is your child ready?
Communication, independence and unfamiliar environments
01 / PROGRAMME FIT
Compare the purpose,
then the duration.
These categories help begin a consultation. Available enrolment periods and conditions depend on school and immigration requirements.
School experience & short enrolment
- Who it suits
- Students who want to try New Zealand school life first
- Duration
- Short study from the school's permitted minimum up to three months
- Living arrangements
- Student homestay or accommodation with a parent
- Essential checks
- Each school's minimum stay, places and enrolment process
Semester & short-term study
- Who it suits
- Students wanting more time for classes, English and friendships
- Duration
- Check against school terms and preferred dates
- Living arrangements
- School-approved homestay or living with a parent
- Essential checks
- Offer of Place, visa eligibility and insurance
Long-term study & progression
- Who it suits
- Students planning New Zealand schooling and further study
- Duration
- A longer plan by term or school year
- Living arrangements
- An approved living arrangement appropriate to age and school requirements
- Essential checks
- Year placement, subjects, records, visas and finances
Study with a parent
- Who it suits
- Younger students or families preparing to live together
- Duration
- Review study and guardian stay requirements together
- Living arrangements
- Family accommodation shared with a parent
- Essential checks
- Guardian visa, family accommodation and school travel
OFFICIAL CHECK
Schools may accept international fee-paying students for days to years, at their discretion. Visitor conditions generally allow up to three months of school study; longer study usually requires a student visa.
THE REAL BUDGETUnderstand the breakdown
before the total.
before the total.
Separate what is included and excluded to see the real budget.
02 / COST MAPWhen comparing a quote,
When comparing a quote,
check nine categories.
Costs vary by school, duration and exchange rate. Check what the quote covers rather than relying on a fixed headline price.
School costs
Enrolment, international tuition and other school charges
accommodation
Homestay or family accommodation and deposits
Meals & daily life
Meals included in the agreement and personal spending
Insurance
School-approved travel and medical insurance
visa
Applicable student and guardian application fees
School essentials
Uniform, shoes, supplies, devices and optional subjects
Transport
Airport transfers, school travel and personal trips
Activities
Camps, sport, trips and optional activities
Local support
The agreed scope of programme design, placement and local care
03 / FROM IDEA TO ARRIVAL
From enquiry to the first day,
checks have an order.
Consultation does not confirm school places or visas. Allow preparation time between school checks and official approval.
01
Understand the student
Review age, year level, English, personality, interests and preferred dates.
02
Choose a programme
Match the purpose to a school experience, short stay, long-term study or a parent-accompanied plan.
03
School checks
Confirm duration, year level, places, start dates and entry requirements.
04
Compare costs & terms
Separate accommodation, insurance, transport and personal costs from tuition.
05
Apply & receive approval
Prepare the school's documents and follow enrolment or admission procedures.
06
Visas & insurance
Check official requirements for the intended duration and individual circumstances.
07
Accommodation & departure
Plan homestay or family accommodation, transport, house rules and emergency contacts.
08
Arrival & the first week
Check the first school day and settling in, and connect local communication where needed.
WHEN TO START?
Immigration New Zealand recommends a student visa application around three months before travel. Start comparing schools and preparing enrolment documents earlier.
Check official guidance ↗04 / FIRST INFORMATIONBefore a consultation,
Before a consultation,
gather these details.
You do not need every answer immediately. The more you know, the more specific school comparisons can become.
Additional documents may be needed for the school or visa type.01✓
Passport with checked expiry date
02✓
Current year level and recent school records
03✓
English transcripts or enrolment certificates if required
04✓
Preferred start date and duration
05✓
Whether a parent is coming and family composition
06✓
Allergies, medication and dietary requirements
07✓
Emergency contacts and guardian information
08✓
Subjects, sports and activities of interest
09✓
Approximate budget and accommodation preferences
10✓
Any additional documents requested by the school or visa authority
05 / DAILY LIFE & CARE
Life after school
is part of studying abroad.
Classes and accommodation alone are not enough. Consider travel, meals, rest, communication and how to get help.
We consider the place students return to each day to rest, eat and talk as part of the programme.
Wake up & breakfast
Breakfast and preparation for school
Travel to school
Bus, walking or agreed transport
Classes
Regular lessons and school activities
After school
Sports, clubs or returning home
Evening
Dinner and conversation with the host family
Getting ready
Homework, shower and preparation for tomorrow
WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENSIf a problem arises,
If a problem arises,
know whom to contact.
Student
Tell someone about discomfort, illness or difficulty settling into school.
Host & school
Check the situation in daily life or at school first.
Shalom local coordinator
Help the people involved communicate and arrange follow-up checks.
parent
Receive important updates and matters requiring a decision.
Safeguarding international students under 18
Enrolling schools must be Code signatories and have responsibilities for wellbeing, safety, insurance, orientation and checking accommodation for under-18s. Check actual contacts and procedures with the school and programme agreement.
Ministry of Education Code guidance ↗PARENT & VISA / IMPORTANTComing with a parent
Coming with a parent
involves more than accommodation.
Students under 10 may need to live with a parent or legal guardian to obtain a student visa unless staying in an approved school boarding hostel. An accompanying guardian must check their own visa and stay conditions.
Visa conditions, costs and processing times can change. Check Immigration New Zealand's rules at the time of application rather than relying only on a consultation.
Official Guardian Visitor Visa guidance ↗06 / PARENT QUESTIONS
Know what is confirmed
and what still needs checking.
Start with the factors that affect your decision.
01What is the shortest school experience?+
Schools may enrol international fee-paying students for days through to years, but minimum duration and places are at each school's discretion. Code signatory requirements apply to relevant paid or longer-than-two-week study, so confirm arrangements for your dates with the school.
02Is a student visa unnecessary for three months or less?+
Visitors or holders of an appropriate visa can generally study for up to three months in a 12-month period. Conditions vary by nationality, current visa and enrolment type. Check Immigration New Zealand's current rules for your circumstances.
03What if study lasts more than three months?+
Study longer than three months usually requires an Offer of Place from an approved provider and a student visa. Allow time for enrolment and visa preparation.
04Can a young child live in homestay without a parent?+
It depends on age and school policy. Immigration New Zealand requires students under 10 to live with a parent or legal guardian unless they live in an approved school boarding hostel.
05Who is responsible for homestay support?+
Schools have Code responsibilities when international students do not live with parents. Check who arranges, monitors and manages contact under the school and programme agreement. Shalom supports local communication within the agreed scope.
06Is insurance compulsory?+
International students need school-approved insurance covering travel and necessary healthcare during their stay. The school checks the cover and dates and may arrange the policy.
07Can I budget using tuition alone?+
No. Include accommodation, meals, insurance, visas, uniform, supplies, travel, optional activities and personal spending to understand the full budget.
08Should I choose by school ranking?+
Size, academic pathways, subjects, support, travel, personality and English level can be more relevant measures of fit. A recommendation is also different from an available place.
09Can homestay be changed immediately if there is a problem?+
Safety concerns require prompt appropriate action, but not every difficulty means an immediate move. Check the circumstances, communication, school and placement procedures, and alternative availability.
10When should we start preparing?+
School places and visas are not confirmed immediately. Immigration New Zealand recommends applying for a student visa around three months before travel, so begin school selection and document preparation earlier.
We identify our sources
and when they were checked.
This page draws on Ministry of Education, Immigration New Zealand and international student Code guidance. School places, costs, dates and visa conditions can change and must be reconfirmed when applying.
START WITH YOUR CHILDYou do not need to choose a school
You do not need to choose a school
to start a conversation.
Tell us age, year level, preferred dates and duration, and whether a parent will accompany the student. We will organise the next checks.
Open the enquiry form ↗
- consult@shalomedu.co.nz
- KAKAO TALK
- nzjamesda
- PHONE
- +64 21 765 917