School Application Process — Entry Test, Interview, Children's Visa

In K1 to Grade 3 yes — young children acquire the language quickly and most schools provide EAL support. From Grade 4 upward an English entry assessment around CEFR B1 is standard, and schools may require a term of intensive EAL before full mainstream placement.

If a parent holds a Non-B, Retirement or LTR visa, the child normally takes a dependent visa tied to that parent, which is simpler to renew. If no parent has that status, the child needs an ED visa issued on the school's letter and renewed annually with attendance evidence.

Yes. Schools report attendance to the Ministry of Education, and falling below roughly 80% puts the visa letter at risk. Immigration has enforced this more strictly since 2023, and a renewal can be refused outright where the record shows the student is not genuinely studying.

The new school issues an acceptance and visa support letter, you cancel the existing ED status at Immigration, and you apply again within days so there is no gap. Never let the old visa lapse first — a status gap means leaving the country and re-entering on a new entry.

No. Application and assessment fees are non-refundable everywhere, and capital fees are refunded only in the narrow cases each school publishes. Tuition already paid is normally pro-rated to the term, so read the fee policy and withdrawal notice period before you transfer any money.