Hostel licensing function changes#

From 1 September 2026, the Education Review Office (ERO) will take responsibility for school hostel licensing, including inspection powers and statutory powers relating to offences. The Ministry will retain its role in delivering policy, standard setting and sector stewardship.

For hostel owners, this means bringing review and regulatory functions together, which will make it easier to access information, guidance and regulatory services through a single organisation.

For more information, visit the ERO's website:

Setting up a hostel – Education Review Office

Set up a new hostel#

Your hostel building needs to be ready to accommodate students to get a licence. Hostels cannot accommodate students without a licence. If you plan to set up a new hostel, review the Hostel Licensing Authorities application form to make sure you have all the information you need.

Fill out our application for a hostel licence form (subject to change from 1 September 2026).

Setting up a hostel – Education Review Office

An advisor from ERO will visit your hostel to do an inspection.

Hostels can be run by schools or by private providers. Private providers need a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the school they are attached to. The memorandum must show that students boarding at the hostel will be attending the school.

The document below provides some guidance on what an MOU should include (subject to change from 1 September 2026).