This is a government fee concession or free program, not a scholarship: it lowers or removes what you pay to study.

Children on permanent humanitarian visas (200 to 204, 866) pay no tuition fees at ACT public schools. Children on 785, 786 or 790 visas or a Bridging visa E (050 or 051) can apply for a tuition fee exemption when they enrol. Without an exemption, the listed annual fees are $11,100 for Kindergarten to Year 6, $14,500 for Years 7 to 10 and $16,200 for Years 11 and 12 ($4,200 for preschool), plus a $265 non-refundable application fee. The page does not say whether exempt families pay the application fee.

Who can apply

• Child holds a permanent humanitarian visa (200 to 204, 866), or holds a 785, 786 or 790 visa or a Bridging visa E (050 or 051) and applies for the exemption
• Family lives in the ACT
• Permanent humanitarian visas: passport details, visa grant letter and proof of ACT address
• 785, 786 and 790: passport, visa, proof of ACT address, and an ACT Services Access Card or ImmiCard
• Bridging visa E: the same documents given for the original visa application, plus proof of ACT address

Visa eligibility: Permanent humanitarian visas 200 to 204 and 866 do not pay tuition fees. Holders of 785, 786 and 790 visas and of Bridging visa E (both 050 and 051, the onshore protection visa one) can apply for a fee exemption. Bridging visas A, B, C and D (010, 020, 030, 040, 041) cannot apply for the exemption, although any temporary visa holder who must pay can ask for a short-term hardship fee waiver. Subclass 449 is not in the table. The ACT asylum seeker services page also says children of ACT Services Access Card holders can attend an ACT public school without paying a fee.

How to apply: Check the visa table on the ACT Government enrolment page, then submit the online enrolment form for your local Priority Enrolment Area school with the documents listed for your visa. For help, email the International Education Unit at ieu@act.gov.au or phone +61 2 6205 9178. Families who must pay fees and are in hardship can email ieu@act.gov.au to ask for a temporary fee waiver; a decision usually takes about 28 days. People seeking asylum get an ACT Services Access Card from Companion House (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) with a Protection Visa Acknowledgement letter.