491 Visa School Fees: What Families Pay for Children's Education by State

Families planning to migrate on a 491 visa often discover — sometimes after they have already committed to a state — that school fees vary dramatically depending on where they settle. In some states, dependent children attend public school for free. In others, families pay thousands of dollars per child per year. This is not a minor variable in a family's budget planning.

The reason for the variation is simple: the 491 is a provisional visa. Permanent residents are entitled to free public education in every state. Temporary residents, which 491 holders are, fall into a different category — and each state sets its own policy on whether to extend the fee exemption to provisional visa holders.

The State-by-State Breakdown

The current position across Australian states and territories for Subclass 491 dependent children attending public schools:

Northern Territory — No fees The NT grants a full fee exemption. Dependent children of 491 visa holders pay no public school tuition.

Queensland — No fees Queensland waives tuition for 491 dependants. This includes all public primary and secondary schools within Queensland regional postcodes, which includes the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, and regional Queensland broadly.

South Australia — No fees SA grants a full exemption. No tuition fees apply to 491 dependant children in public schools.

Victoria — No fees Victoria waives tuition for 491 dependants. This covers regional Victorian public schools including Geelong and surrounding areas.

Western Australia — No fees WA grants a full fee exemption for 491 dependants in public schools. Given that Western Australia has the largest 491 allocation (2,200 of 7,500 national places for 2025–26), this is a significant benefit for families choosing Perth or regional WA.

New South Wales — Application fee, tuition generally waived NSW operates a Temporary Residents Program. Dependants are subject to a one-time application fee to enrol, but standard ongoing tuition fees are generally waived. Families should confirm current fee arrangements with the specific school and the NSW Department of Education's International Education unit, as administrative fees and activity levies still apply.

Tasmania — 50% discount on standard fee Tasmania is the notable exception. Standard public school fees for international and temporary resident students in Tasmania are approximately AUD $7,600 per year per child. 491 visa dependants receive a 50% discount, bringing the out-of-pocket cost to approximately AUD $3,800 per child per year. For a family with two school-age children, this represents approximately AUD $7,600 in annual education costs — a material budget consideration when choosing between Tasmania and fee-free states.

Australian Capital Territory — Fees apply, but waiver possible Tuition fees technically apply for temporary resident children in the ACT. However, 491 holders who have been nominated specifically by the ACT government (via the Canberra Matrix nomination program) can request a formal fee waiver from the ACT's International Education Unit. Families choosing Canberra under ACT nomination should apply for this waiver promptly after visa grant.

Additional Costs That Apply Everywhere

Regardless of state, some school-related costs apply to all families:

Uniform: Most Australian public schools require a school uniform. Costs vary from AUD $200–$500 for a basic set of uniforms per child, with additional costs for sports uniforms and formal wear in secondary school.

School fees and levies: "Free" public schooling does not mean zero cost. All Australian public schools charge annual families a "school contribution" or voluntary levy — typically AUD $200–$600 per year per child — covering resources, technology, and extracurricular activities. These are labelled voluntary in most states but are strongly encouraged.

School supplies and equipment: Stationery, textbooks (secondary school), and specific subject equipment add another AUD $200–$500 per year per child.

Excursions and camps: Secondary schools in particular run overnight camps and major excursions that can add AUD $200–$800 per year per child.

For budget planning purposes, a realistic estimate for a child in a fee-free state is AUD $800–$1,500 per year in non-tuition school costs. In Tasmania, add approximately AUD $3,800 in tuition to that baseline.

Private School as an Alternative

Some 491 families consider private schooling, particularly if their children have been attending private or international schools and they want to maintain curriculum continuity. Australian private schools charge full international student fees for temporary resident children unless the school specifically offers domestic pricing to certain visa holders.

International student fees at private schools range from AUD $15,000–$35,000 per year depending on the school and the year level. This is a substantially higher cost than any public school option, including Tasmania's discounted fee.

Catholic schools and independent low-fee private schools sometimes offer intermediate pricing for temporary residents — typically AUD $5,000–$12,000 per year — though policies vary by school.

Settling Your Children In

Beyond the fee question, families frequently ask about the practical experience of transitioning children into Australian public schools. Australian public schools are generally well-resourced, with high national literacy and numeracy outcomes. The school year runs from late January to mid-December, divided into four terms.

English proficiency support is available in most public schools for students who arrive with limited English — particularly in larger regional centres like Perth and Adelaide, which have well-established English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EALD) programs. This is relevant for families migrating from non-English-speaking countries.

Class sizes in regional public schools are typically smaller than in metropolitan Sydney or Melbourne, which families often find is a positive feature of regional settlement.

How This Affects State Choice for Families

For families with multiple school-age children, the education cost difference between states can amount to AUD $7,000–$15,000 per year. When weighing state nomination options, education costs should be factored alongside:

• The visa application charge (AUD $4,910 for the primary applicant plus dependent charges)
• State nomination fees (AUD $0–$396 depending on the state)
• Housing costs in the relevant regional postcode
• Employment market strength for the nominated occupation

The combination of no school fees, no state nomination fee, and the largest 491 place allocation in the country makes Western Australia a particularly compelling destination for families. The entire Perth metropolitan area qualifies as regional for 491 purposes, meaning families can access urban infrastructure and career opportunities while satisfying their visa compliance obligations.

For families specifically weighing Queensland — where the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast are fee-free and accessible — the Queensland Small Business Owner pathway provides an additional route to nomination for those with capital to invest.

The Australia Skilled Work Regional Visa (491) Guide covers full cost planning for families, state nomination strategies, and the three-year compliance requirements for transitioning to permanent residency.