How does the international student P1 indication of interest work? Can we choose a school?
International students (neither citizens nor PR) follow a two-step route: first submitting an "indication of interest" within an official window, then entering Phase 3, where remaining vacancies are allocated after citizens and PR applicants have all been placed. A family cannot choose a specific MOE primary school through this route. Public school-level facts only help you understand the background — they do not reflect this family's application stage or chances.
Context
This route applies to children who hold neither citizenship nor PR status, and it works differently from the phase-based system that citizens and PR families use.
What this means for your family
What this means for your family: even if you have researched a school's public information (curriculum, location, reputation), that does not mean your child will be placed there — places are limited, and the actual allocation follows MOE's arrangement for that year.
Steps you can take now
- Check MOE's international student P1 page for that year's indication-of-interest window (it changes yearly — do not reuse last year's dates).
- Complete the online indication of interest within the window, with your child's identity documents and proof of current schooling ready.
- Wait for MOE's allocation notice, which states whether your child has been offered a place at a specific school.
- In parallel, look at AEIS/S-AEIS as a backup or supplementary route, so you are not relying on a single application window.
How to know you’re done
You have confirmed that year's exact indication-of-interest dates, completed registration, and you understand that choosing a school and being allocated one are two different things.
Sources and check dates
- SRC-MOE-P1-INTERNATIONAL-2026 · checked 2026-07-24