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Home education is legal in New Zealand with a Certificate of Exemption from the Ministry of Education, and families receive a supervisory allowance for each homeschooled child. As at 1 July 2025, 11,010 students were homeschooled.
This guide covers how exemptions work, how to apply, the allowance, what it means for families using an online school, exams in New Zealand, and University Entrance.
Yes. Children aged 6 to 16 must be enrolled at a registered school unless the Ministry of Education exempts them for home education.
| Rule | What it says |
|---|---|
| Education and Training Act 2020, section 38 | The Ministry can exempt a child from enrolment if it's satisfied the child will be taught at least as regularly and well as in a registered school |
| Who needs an exemption | Children aged 6 to 16. A child can be exempted from their sixth birthday, and older children stay enrolled at school while the application is considered |
| How long it lasts | Until the child turns 16 or enrols at a registered school. Home education can continue after 16 without an exemption |
| Curriculum | Parents set their own curriculum. The Ministry recommends teaching the skills children would normally learn at school, which makes a later move into school easier |
| Reviews | If the Ministry has concerns, it may ask the Education Review Office to review a home education programme |
As at 1 July 2025, 11,010 students from 6,518 families were homeschooled, 1.3% of school enrolments, according to Education Counts. The most common age to start was 6.
Apply to your Ministry of Education regional office on the home education application form. Applying is free and normally takes four to six weeks.
The Ministry's home education pageA parent or legal guardian, with every legal guardian in agreement. Each child needs their own application.
The form asks how your child will be taught. You'll also need your child's birth certificate and, if your child was born outside New Zealand, a copy of their passport and visa.
The regional office considers the application and contacts your child's school if they've been at one. Once it's approved, you can start from the date on the certificate, or from your child's sixth birthday if that's later.
The Ministry explains its reasons in writing. You can appeal in writing to the regional office, and apply again if the appeal isn't successful.
The Ministry pays an annual allowance for each homeschooled child, in two instalments, usually around June and November.
| Child | Allowance per year |
|---|---|
| First child | $796 |
| Second child | $677 |
| Third child | $557 |
| Each further child | $398 |
You declare that you're still home educating each time the allowance is paid, and it isn't paid without the declaration. It continues until the end of the year your child turns 19. Time overseas changes it: under 28 days makes no difference, 28 days to six months means you're paid only for the time in New Zealand, and after six months it stops until you reapply on your return.
CambriLearn sets its International GCSE and A Level fees per subject in US dollars, and books and exam entries are extra.
| Level and package | Per subject, per year | Per subject, per month (10 instalments) | Typical year |
|---|---|---|---|
| International GCSE, Standard | $565 | $66.67 | $2,825 for 5 subjects |
| International GCSE, Premium | $1,115 | $131.57 | $5,575 for 5 subjects |
| AS or A Level, Standard | $605 | $71.39 | $1,815 for 3 subjects |
| AS or A Level, Premium | $1,300 | $153.40 | $3,900 for 3 subjects |
Allowance amounts are in New Zealand dollars and CambriLearn fees in US dollars. Paying CambriLearn for the year upfront costs 15.25% less than ten instalments, and a once-off registration fee applies to new enrolments. CambriCommunity clubs, events and meetups come with every enrolment.
CambriLearn per year figures are the 2026 fees paid upfront, and monthly figures are the same fees paid in ten instalments. Primary, Lower Secondary, US K-12, CAPS and KABV fees, and the few subjects priced separately, are on the pricing page.
