The cost of education for kids in 2026 is a big reason why international students are moving with their families. Many countries allow children to accompany you, but only a few provide free public schooling (Kindergarten to Grade 12) for the children of international students.
This is the complete list of countries where your kids can go to school for free while you study for the 2026/2027 school year.
1. Canada: The Most Reliable System
Canada is still the best choice for families with students because its public schools are usually free for the children of anyone with a valid study permit.
- The rule is that if you have a valid study permit and are enrolled full-time at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI), your kids (ages 5–18) can usually go to public primary and secondary school for free.
- The Benefit: Your kids are considered “domestic students” in most provinces, which means you save $12,000 to $15,000 a year in international tuition fees for each child.
- 2026 Strategy: Make sure you apply for your child’s “Minor Study Permit” at the same time as your own. They still need legal status to live in Canada, even though school is free.
2. New Zealand: The “Domestic Student” Benefit
New Zealand has one of the best financial benefits for high-level researchers and certain “shortage” students.
- The Rule: Children of international students are eligible for free public schooling (domestic student status) if the parent is:
- The parent must be enrolled in a PhD (Level 10) programme.
- I signed up for a Level 9 Master’s in Research program.
- The Green List Loophole: Some bachelor’s students in “Green List” fields (like engineering or medicine) may also be able to get dependent schooling benefits in 2026, depending on the type of scholarship or sponsorship they have.
- The good thing is that you only have to pay for “voluntary donations” and school uniforms. The government pays for the rest of the tuition.
3. France: Education as a Fundamental Right
France believes that every child living in France has the right to an education, no matter what their parents’ visa status is.
- The law says that all kids in France between the ages of 3 and 16 must go to school for free.
- The good thing is that if you are an international student with a Titre de Séjour (Residence Permit), you can just register your child at the local Mairie (Town Hall). Your child will go to a school close to where you live for free.
- Note: The school is free, but you may have to pay small fees for the canteen (school lunch) and after-school care, depending on how much money you make.
4. Germany: The “Family Reunion” Benefit
Germany offers free education to all children, but the parent must first meet strict housing requirements to bring them there.
- The Rule: If you register your child at a German address (Anmeldung), they have the right and the duty to go to a public school for free.
- To get your child’s visa, you need to show that you have “Adequate Living Space” (about 12–16 square metres per person). For students in crowded cities like Munich or Berlin, this is often the hardest part.
- 2026 Plan: First, get your studies going; then find a flat; and finally apply for the “Family Reunion Visa” for your kids to make sure you meet the housing requirements.
5. Australia: Subsidies for each state
The price of school in Australia is completely dependent on which state you choose to go to school in. Some states pay for school for the children of students who are getting higher degrees.
- Western Australia and South Australia: Usually let PhD and Master’s by Research students’ kids go to public school for free.
- New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria usually charge a “temporary resident” fee of about AUD 5,000 to 8,000 per year, but some scholarship holders (like Australia Awards) are exempt.
- ACT (Canberra): The kids of almost all international graduate students can often go to public school for free.
6. The “Research-Only” Access in the UK
The UK has the strictest rules as of 2026. You need to have the right visa to bring your kids, let alone get free school.
- The rule is that kids can go to state schools for free only if their parent is in a postgraduate research programme (PhD or MRes) or is a government-sponsored student on a course that lasts more than six months.
- The good thing is that if you meet the requirements, your kids (ages 5 to 16) can go to local state-funded schools for free.
Summary for hibestcontent
Canada and France are the best places for free schooling for your kids that is also the easiest to get. New Zealand and Australia (WA/ACT) offer the most money-saving options for PhD students. They could pay for more than $15,000 a year in tuition for each child.
