Best Countries for Education Relocation [2026]: Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and More Compared by Parent Visas and School Fees

October 19, 2026

Taiga Sato

When choosing a country for moving abroad for your children's education (education relocation), you need to consider the fees of the school your child will attend together with the visa that lets a parent live there with them. As a guide, annual fees at English-medium international schools are about MYR 54,000–122,000 in Kuala Lumpur, about SGD 39,000–50,000 in Singapore and about THB 520,000–1,010,000 in Bangkok. In Australia, Canada and New Zealand, children can also attend public schools as international students, with fees of roughly 14,000–20,500 per year (in each country's currency). On the other hand, in many countries the visas for parents accompanying a child come with the condition that the parent cannot work locally. The rules change every year: in Australia, from October 2, 2026, family members can in principle no longer be included in a student's own visa, and guardian visas have become harder to apply for from within the country. This article compares schools and parent visa conditions in six countries and sets out the points to watch so that your education relocation does not fail.

*Amounts and rules are as of October 9, 2026. This article is an English version of our Japanese guide, adapted for foreign residents of Japan and international investors. School fees vary by school, grade and academic year, so check each school's latest information.

Contents

Conclusion: comparison of six candidate countries for education relocation
Education relocation basics: the child's school and the parent's visa go together
Malaysia: relatively low fees; parents use a guardian pass or MM2H
Singapore: high educational standards, but high fees and living costs
Thailand: many school options in Bangkok and a large Japanese community
Australia: study at public schools; parents use a guardian visa (changes in October 2026)
Canada and New Zealand: if a parent can work, children may attend public school free of charge
Points to watch so that your education relocation does not fail
FAQ
Summary

Conclusion: comparison of six candidate countries for education relocation

Country	Main schools and fee guide (per year)	Visa for the accompanying parent	Parent's work	Japanese school
Malaysia	International school: about MYR 54,000–122,000 (Alice Smith School, 2026–27)	Guardian pass (conditions differ by state and school), or MM2H	Not allowed on a guardian pass	Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Penang, Kota Kinabalu
Singapore	International school: about SGD 39,000–50,000 (UWCSEA). International students at public schools from SGD 1,035 per month (primary)	Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP, one parent or grandparent)	Not allowed in the first year	Yes
Thailand	International school: about THB 515,000–1,014,000 (Bangkok Patana)	Non-Immigrant O (guardian)	Not allowed	Bangkok, Sriracha
Australia	International students at public schools: AUD 17,000–20,500 (New South Wales)	Student Guardian visa (590)	Not allowed	Sydney, Melbourne, Perth
Canada	International students at public schools: CAD 17,000 (Vancouver School Board, secondary)	No dedicated visa; parents stay as visitors etc.	Not allowed as a visitor	None (supplementary schools available)
New Zealand	International students at public schools: NZD 14,000–18,200	Guardian Visitor visa (one parent)	Not allowed locally (remote work for an overseas employer may be possible)	None (supplementary schools available)

The broad trend is: Malaysia if you want to keep fees down; Singapore for educational standards and safety; Australia, Canada or New Zealand if the parents will also work locally and stay long term. However, which country suits you changes depending on how the parents will work (continuing a job in Japan remotely, or working locally) and how many years you will stay (at what age your child will return home).

Education relocation basics: the child's school and the parent's visa go together

In education relocation, you need to decide the following three things at the same time.

The child's school: an international school, a local public school or a Japanese school
The child's visa: in many countries, a student visa (student pass) is obtained on the basis of the school's offer of admission
The parent's visa: a "guardian visa" that accompanies the child's student visa, or a visa the parent obtains in their own right (work, long stay, permanent residence, etc.)

Guardian visas are easy to obtain, but many have strict conditions: the parent cannot work locally, only one parent may accompany the child, and in some places only the mother is accepted. This is why families often end up with the father working in the home country while only the mother and children move. If a parent wants to work locally or the whole family wants to live together, you will need to consider routes where the parent obtains a work visa, long-stay visa or permanent residence in their own right.

For Japanese families: according to Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), as of April 1, 2026 there were 90 Japanese schools and 246 supplementary schools (schools teaching Japanese curriculum subjects at weekends etc.) overseas. Even in countries without a Japanese school, children may be able to continue studying Japanese and Japanese curriculum subjects at a supplementary school.

Malaysia: relatively low fees; parents use a guardian pass or MM2H

Malaysia is known as a destination for education relocation among Japanese families because it has many English-medium international schools and lower fees than Singapore. According to Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs statistics, 9,269 Japanese nationals live in Kuala Lumpur, up 5.1% from the previous year (as of October 1, 2025).

Fees: at the British-curriculum Alice Smith School in Kuala Lumpur, tuition for 2026–27 ranges from MYR 53,730 for the early years to MYR 122,370 for Years 10–13 (6% sales and service tax not included). There is also an admission fee of MYR 20,000 and a deposit. Fees vary widely between schools, so your choice of school greatly affects the total cost.

Parent's visa: - Guardian pass: a social visit pass issued to a parent (or grandparent) accompanying a child on a student pass. The Immigration Department of Malaysia issues it on the basis of a letter from the school, among other documents, and states that guardians may neither work nor run a business. Alice Smith School in Kuala Lumpur advises that the guardian pass is limited to one mother, that she must show income from abroad of about MYR 25,000 per month, and that once the application is made the father can no longer hold a long-term pass such as an employment pass. Schools give different guidance on the conditions, so check with the school your child will attend - MM2H: a long-stay visa conditional on a fixed deposit and property purchase. Holders can bring children under 21 (and unmarried, non-working children up to age 34), and the children can study at government-recognized schools. The conditions are explained in Malaysia MM2H: conditions and costs

Details on choosing a school, where to live and living costs are in Malaysia relocation: conditions and costs.

Singapore: high educational standards, but high fees and living costs

Fees: as an example of an international school, UWCSEA's tuition for 2026–27 is SGD 39,069–49,926. There is also a development levy (SGD 9,537 in the first year and SGD 5,166 per year thereafter) and an admission fee of SGD 4,992.

Public schools: foreign children can attend government schools if they pass the entrance test for international students (AEIS / S-AEIS, for Primary 2–5 and Secondary 1–3) and places are available. In 2026, fees for international students of non-ASEAN nationality are SGD 1,035 per month for primary school and SGD 2,190 per month for secondary school.

Parent's visa: one parent or grandparent accompanying a child studying on a Student's Pass can obtain a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP). It used to be limited to mothers and grandmothers, but since 2024 fathers and grandfathers can also apply. A sponsor who is a Singapore citizen or permanent resident is required, and the holder cannot work in the first year (from the second year, an employer can apply for a work pass).

Housing is also expensive in Singapore, so the total cost of education relocation tends to be high. For the overall conditions for moving there, see Singapore relocation and permanent residence conditions.

Thailand: many school options in Bangkok and a large Japanese community

Fees: at the British-curriculum Bangkok Patana School, tuition for 2026–27 is THB 515,000–1,014,000. An admission fee of THB 250,000 and other charges are extra.

Parent's visa: guardians of children under 20 studying at an international school or similar can apply for a Non-Immigrant O visa (guardian). You cannot work on this visa (working in Thailand requires a separate work permit). The required funds differ by embassy and consulate, and some ask for a balance of THB 500,000 per parent, so check with the mission where you will apply.

51,297 Japanese nationals live in Bangkok (as of October 1, 2025), and there are Japanese schools in Bangkok and Sriracha. While Japanese-speaking hospitals and Japanese food are easy to find, there are also points specific to Thailand to watch, such as air pollution and the weak yen. See Thailand relocation: conditions and costs and Why people regret moving to Thailand for details.

Australia: study at public schools; parents use a guardian visa (changes in October 2026)

Fees: in Australia, children can attend public schools as international students. In 2026, international student fees at New South Wales public schools are AUD 17,000 for Kindergarten to Year 6, AUD 18,000 for Years 7–10 and AUD 20,500 for Years 11–12.

Parent's visa: a parent accompanying an international student under 18 can apply for a Student Guardian visa (subclass 590). Guardians cannot work.

Changes from October 2, 2026: Australia's Department of Home Affairs announced that from October 2, 2026, many temporary visa holders in Australia can no longer apply onshore for a Student visa (500) or a Student Guardian visa (590) (exceptions include renewals by current 590 holders and onshore renewals of student visas for school students). In principle, family members can also no longer be included in new student visa applications. Plan education relocation to Australia on the assumption that you will apply from outside Australia (for example, from Japan).

If a parent obtains permanent residence through skilled migration or another route, the children can attend public schools on the same basis as citizens. The permanent residence routes are explained in Australia relocation and permanent residence conditions, and points to watch about daily life in Drawbacks of moving to Australia and reasons for regret.

Canada and New Zealand: if a parent can work, children may attend public school free of charge

Canada: there is no dedicated visa for parents accompanying a child. If the child obtains a study permit and attends a public school as an international student, international student fees apply; tuition at Vancouver School Board secondary schools for 2026–27 is CAD 17,000 (CAD 18,900 including the application fee and medical insurance). On the other hand, under the guidelines of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, minor children in Canada can attend school without a study permit if one parent is authorized to work or study in Canada. In British Columbia, children can attend public school free of charge if, for example, a parent holds a permit to work in Canada for one year or more and works at least 20 hours per week (conditions differ by province).

New Zealand: for international students aged 17 or under (or in Years 1–13), one parent or legal guardian can accompany them on a Guardian Visitor visa. Funds of NZD 1,000 per month are required for living costs; the guardian cannot work locally but may be able to continue working remotely for an overseas employer. Examples of international student fees at public schools are NZD 14,000 per year for primary school and NZD 18,200 per year for secondary school (equivalent to the second year of junior high school through the third year of high school in Japan). If a parent holds a work visa, in many cases the child is treated as a domestic student and no public school fees are charged.

Neither country has a Japanese school, but there are supplementary schools for Japanese children (in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary and elsewhere, and in Auckland, Wellington and elsewhere). For permanent residence conditions see Canada permanent residence: conditions and costs and New Zealand permanent residence: conditions and costs.

Points to watch so that your education relocation does not fail

Education relocation greatly changes your child's future and your family's way of life. Before you start, check the following as a family.

How many years you will stay and when you will return home: the type of school to choose (British, American, International Baccalaureate, etc.) depends on whether your child will return for junior high, high school or university entrance exams at home (for example in Japan) or go on to a university abroad. Admission arrangements and entrance exam conditions for returnee students must be checked with each school or university
How the parents will work: guardian visas often do not allow local work, so you will live on income and assets from home. Calculate whether you can keep paying fees and living costs even if exchange rates move against you (for example, a weak yen)
Time the family spends apart: if the father stays at home, you also need to consider family time and the cost of running two households
Costs other than tuition: admission fees, deposits, facility fees, uniforms, school buses and extracurricular activities are charged separately from tuition
Rule changes: as with Australia's October 2026 changes, the conditions for guardian and student visas change frequently. Check the latest guidance from the embassy or immigration authority before applying
Japanese documents: applications for the child's student visa or the parent's visa may require English translations and apostilles of documents such as family register (koseki) certificates (for Japanese nationals), birth certificates and certificates of enrollment

FAQ

Which country is best for education relocation?

It depends on your family's circumstances. If you want English-medium schooling while keeping fees down, Malaysia; if you prioritize educational standards and safety, Singapore; if the parents will also work locally and stay long term, Australia, Canada or New Zealand are candidates. Thailand (Bangkok) is also an option, with a large Japanese community and Japanese schools.

How much does education relocation cost?

Tuition alone is roughly MYR 54,000–122,000 per year at an international school in Malaysia (Alice Smith School in Kuala Lumpur, as an example), SGD 39,069–49,926 per year in Singapore (UWCSEA), and AUD 17,000–20,500 per year as an international student at an Australian public school (New South Wales). On top of this come admission fees, housing, living costs, the cost of the parent's visa and trips home.

Can the father live there too?

It differs by country. In Singapore, fathers have been able to apply for an LTVP since 2024. In some places, such as Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, the guardian pass is in practice limited to mothers. If the father will work locally, it is common for him to obtain his own visa, such as a work visa.

Can I work on a guardian visa?

In many countries you cannot. With Singapore's LTVP, an employer can apply for a work pass from the second year, and with New Zealand's Guardian Visitor visa you may be able to continue working remotely for an overseas employer. Check the conditions for each country.

Which is better, a Japanese school or an international school?

If your child will return to Japan and continue in the Japanese school system, continuing Japanese curriculum subjects at a Japanese school or supplementary school makes the return easier. If you are aiming for a university abroad or prioritize education in English, an international school is more suitable. Choose based on how many years you will stay and your plans for returning.

Summary

In education relocation, consider the child's school fees and the visa for the accompanying parent together
Guide to international school fees: about MYR 54,000–122,000 per year in Kuala Lumpur, about SGD 39,000–50,000 in Singapore and about THB 515,000–1,014,000 in Bangkok
In Australia, Canada and New Zealand, children can study at public schools, and in Canada and New Zealand fees may be waived if a parent holds a work permit
Guardian visas often do not allow parents to work locally. Australia tightened the conditions for applying for student and guardian visas from October 2026
Decide first how many years you will stay and when you will return home, then check the type of school and the total cost as a family

Our office offers consultations comparing long-stay visas and permanent residence in various countries, and handles translations and apostilles of the Japanese documents needed for children's student visas and parents' visas (family register certificates, birth certificates, certificates of enrollment, etc.). If you would like to narrow down candidate countries for education relocation based on your child's age, how the parents will work and your family situation, please use our free consultation. We never use pushy sales tactics. As Certified Administrative Scriveners, we are bound by a legal duty of confidentiality. We can assist in English and Japanese.