Student Visa - Future New Zealand Immigration

Do you need a visa to study in New Zealand?

Most overseas students need a visa to study full-time in New Zealand.

You are considered to be a domestic student who does not need a student visa if one of the following applies to you.

You are a New Zealand citizen.
You hold a New Zealand residence class visa.
You hold a special temporary (diplomatic, consular or official) visa. However, some overseas students have domestic student status and require a student visa to study or train in New Zealand.
University students who enrolled in a PhD programme for the first time after 10 April 2005.
Some primary and secondary school students. You do not need a student visa for one or more programmes of study, up to a total of three months, that the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) has approved or exempted (see the NZQA website www.nzqa.govt.nz). In this case you may need to apply for a visitor visa. A student visa is also not required for a single period of up to three months’ study at a primary, intermediate, or secondary school. The study must be completed within that calendar year.

General Information

What is full-time study?

Full-time study for:

private training establishments (PTE) is enrolment in:
a programme of study that requires attendance for a minimum of 20 hours per week, or
at least three papers, or equivalent, per semester if the offered programme of study is at level 7 or above on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework
tertiary institutions other than a PTE is enrolment in at least three papers, or equivalent, per semester
primary, intermediate, or secondary school is attending school.

What is part-time study?

Part-time study means fewer hours or fewer papers than full-time study.

If you want to study part-time and you hold a New Zealand visitor visa or work visa, you will have to apply for a variation of conditions to allow you to study unless:

your employer has authorised your programme of study or training; or
you are undertaking one or more programmes of study of not more than three months’ duration in total. (If you hold a temporary visa that is valid for 24 months or more, you can study one or more programmes of study for up to three months in total in each 12-month period).

To apply for a variation of conditions you will need to:

complete the form Application for Variation of Conditions or a Variation of Travel Conditions
show evidence that you are enrolled in the programme of study and have paid the tuition fees for non-New Zealand students, and
pay the application fee and immigration levy. If you are studying less than 20 hours each week to finish your programme of study, you may be eligible for a student visa.

What are international and domestic students?

Domestic students

Domestic students do not pay full fees as the New Zealand Government partially or totally subsidises the education provider for the cost of the programme of study.

Primary and secondary schooling

You may be eligible for a visa as a domestic student to study at primary or secondary school level if you are in New Zealand to study under a New Zealand Government-approved exchange programme scheme or your parent or legal guardian is one of the following.

A New Zealand citizen (and the Department of Internal Affairs is considering your application for New Zealand citizenship).
A New Zealand residence class visa holder (and Immigration New Zealand is considering your application for New Zealand residence).
A student in New Zealand under an exchange programme approved by the New Zealand Government.
The holder of a valid work visa, except a visa granted under:
– Recognised Seasonal Employer instructions
– Foreign Crew of Fishing Vessels instructions
– Supplementary Seasonal Employment instructions
– Silver Fern Job Search instructions
– Skilled Migrant Category Job Search instructions
– any Working Holiday scheme
– Essential Skills instructions, where the work offered is lower-skilled.
An overseas student enrolled in a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programme in a New Zealand university.
The holder of a New Zealand Aid Programme (including Commonwealth) Scholarship.
The holder of a military visa.

Tertiary study

You are considered to be a domestic student to study at tertiary level if you are a PhD student or an exchange student studying under a New Zealand Government-approved exchange programme/scheme.

The Ministry of Education holds a list of who is considered to be a domestic student for the purpose of fee payment and enrolment. To check eligibility for domestic student status, see the Ministry of Education website www.education.govt.nz.

International students

Students who are not domestic students are international students and must pay full fees. International students may cover the full cost of the fees themselves, or they may have a scholarship from the education provider or another organisation.

What programmes can you study?

Your programme of study and education provider must be approved by the Ministry of Education to offer places to overseas students. Your education provider must also be a signatory to the Ministry of Education’s Education (Pastoral Care of International Students) Code of Practice 2016 to be able to offer you a place. You can find out from the education provider whether they and their programmes of study are approved.

Pathway student visas

A pathway student visa will allow you to undertake up to three consecutive programmes of study on a single student visa. Selected education providers can offer a range of consecutive programmes of study either within their own institution or in conjunction with other selected education providers. A pathway student visa can be granted up to maximum of five years and removes the need to apply for new student visas as you progress on an education pathway.

Specific application requirements for a pathway student visa

Applying for a student visa

You can apply for a student visa before travelling to New Zealand. A student visa granted offshore will allow you to travel to the New Zealand border. When you arrive, an officer will check that you meet all of the conditions of your visa to be granted entry permission to study in New Zealand.

You can also apply for a student visa when you are already in New Zealand. A student visa granted onshore will usually include travel conditions allowing multiple journeys, so you can travel out of New Zealand and back in before the expiry of the visa.

Student visa conditions

A student visa (whether granted onshore or offshore) allows you to study full-time in New Zealand for a limited period of time. A student visa may have conditions you must meet – for example, it may include:

the name of the programme you are allowed to study
the name of the educational provider
the New Zealand location of the provider, and
the requirement to hold insurance.

Apply for your visa on campus with Students Online

Students Online is an arrangement between Immigration New Zealand and selected education providers that makes applying for student visas easier. If you are studying with an education provider that is part of Students Online, you can apply for your student visa at the international office on campus. For a list of education providers that are part of Students Online, see www. immigration.govt.nz/sol.

Applying for a limited visa

The Student Visa Application (INZ 1012) can also be used to apply for a limited visa or a further limited visa. You can apply for a limited visa if you wish to come to New Zealand for an express purpose: to study. If you want to apply for a limited visa and your express purpose is not to study, you should use the form Visitor Visa Application (INZ 1017).

If you are granted a limited visa you will not be able to apply for any other type of visa during your stay in New Zealand. Holding a limited visa also restricts your immigration rights when you are in New Zealand.

What evidence do you need to provide with your student visa application if you are an international student?

You may provide copies of the documents unless otherwise specified to provide original or certified copies

Offer of place/confirmation of enrolment

You must show that you have been offered a place or hold a confirmation of enrolment at a New Zealand education provider (if you are continuing to attend the same provider and studying the same programme of study as you have on a previous student visa).

The offer of a place must also include a declaration from your education provider that they have assessed and are satisfied that the programme is appropriate for your expectations, and that you have the English language proficiency and academic capability to succeed in the programme offered.

Pathway student visas

If your intended education pathway involves more than one selected education provider, you must provide:

a joint covering letter from the partner education providers setting out your education pathway, and
a separate offer of place from each.

Only the offer of place for the first programme of study has to be unconditional. The second or subsequent offers will generally be conditional on successfully completing previous programmes of study. The granting of a pathway student visa does not guarantee you entry to second or subsequent programmes of study on your intended pathway.

Tuition fees

If you are in New Zealand or already hold a student visa, you need to provide evidence that you have either paid the tuition fees or that you are exempt from tuition fees. If you are outside New Zealand applying for your first student visa, you must show you have sufficient funds to pay the tuition fees once your student visa is approved in principle.

You can also provide evidence that the tuition fees will be covered by:

a foreign government loan, or
a New Zealand Aid Programme scholarship, or
a foreign government scholarship, or
a study abroad or non-award scheme, or
other funds.

Pathway student visas

If you are applying from outside New Zealand, you must show you have:

sufficient funds to pay the tuition fees for your first programme of study or first year of study (whichever is shorter) once your visa is approved in principle, and
demonstrate that you have access to sufficient funds to pay your tuition fees for the balance of your intended study pathway.
If you are applying for a pathway student visa onshore you must show you have:
• paid the tuition fees for your first programme of study or first year of study (whichever is shorter), and
• demonstrate that you have access to sufficient funds to pay your tuition fees for the balance of your intended study pathway.

Funds for living costs

You must provide evidence that you have enough money to live on while you’re studying in New Zealand.

You must show INZ that you have one of the following:

enough money to support yourself, or
sponsorship by a New Zealand family member, friend or organisation, or
a financial undertaking by a non-New Zealand family member, friend or organisation, or
a foreign government loan, or
full financial support from a foreign government, or
a New Zealand Aid Programme scholarship

Money to support yourself

Acceptable evidence of your funds includes bank statements in your name, going back at least six months. You may be asked to provide evidence of the source of funds for large or recent deposits. You can send in photocopies of your bank statements.

Sponsorship

Sponsorship may be provided by a family member or friend who is a New Zealand citizen or resident, or by a New Zealand organisation.

A sponsor is responsible for making sure your accommodation and living needs are met while you are in New Zealand, and for making sure you can leave New Zealand at the end of your stay. The sponsor must genuinely intend to meet their financial obligations and hold sufficient funds for each student they are supporting.

If you have a sponsor, they must complete the Sponsorship for Temporary Entry (INZ 1025) form and you must send it with your own Student Visa Application (INZ 1012) form, or upload a scanned copy if you apply for your visa online.

If you are applying in New Zealand for a further student visa and will be studying in the tertiary sector as an international student, you must be sponsored by the same person or organisation that sponsored your initial student visa. If you hold a student visa as an international tertiary student and weren’t sponsored for your initial student visa, you can’t become sponsored once you arrive in New Zealand.

Primary and secondary students, and people applying in New Zealand for their first student visa (such as people who enter as visitors), can be sponsored by an acceptable sponsor, even if they were not previously sponsored by that person or organisation.

Financial undertaking

A financial undertaking can be provided by a family member or friend who is not a New Zealand citizen or resident, or by a non-New Zealand organisation.

The person or organisation providing the financial undertaking is responsible for providing you with funds for living costs while you are in New Zealand and must genuinely intend to meet their financial obligations and hold sufficient funds for each student they are supporting.

The person making the financial undertaking must complete the form Financial Undertaking for a Student (INZ 1014) and provide six months’ worth of bank statements. You must send in the completed Financial Undertaking form, and bank statements with your own Student Visa Application (INZ 1012) form or upload scanned copies if you apply for your visa online.

If you are applying in New Zealand for a further student visa, a financial undertaking can only be provided by the same person or organisation that provided a financial undertaking for your initial student visa. If a financial undertaking wasn’t provided for your initial student visa, a financial undertaking can’t be started once you arrive in New Zealand.

Government loans or scholarships

If you will be financially supported by your own Government or are a New Zealand Aid Scholarship recipient, you must provide copies of the documents explaining your entitlements and payment arrangements with your application. You must upload scanned copies of these documents if you apply online.

How much money will I need?

The amount of money you need depends on how long you will be studying in New Zealand.

If you will be studying for less than 36 weeks, you need to provide evidence of funds of at least NZ$1,250 for each month of study.

If you will be studying for 36 weeks or more, you need to provide evidence of at least NZ$15,000 for each year of study.

If you are applying for a pathway student visa and your intended study pathway is more than one year, you only have to demonstrate evidence of at least NZ $15,000 for the first year of study and the ability to access funds to support yourself for the remaining intended period of study.

Outward travel

You need to provide evidence that you have the financial means to leave New Zealand before your student visa expires. You can do this by providing evidence that:

• you have a fully paid travel ticket out of New Zealand, or
• you have sufficient funds to purchase one, or
• someone else (for example a guarantor or sponsor) has agreed to buy you an outward travel ticket.

Attendance and performance

If you already hold a student visa and you are applying for a further student visa, you must also send evidence of:

your previous student performance
satisfactory attendance (you must attend at all times as required), and 6 – Student Visa Guide – August 2017
your progress, which will be primarily determined by your education provider against its own academic policies.

Only photocopied evidence of student performance, attendance, and progress. Do not send original documents.

Insurance requirements for foreign fee-paying students

Foreign fee-paying students (excluding New Zealand Aid Programme-supported students) are required to hold insurance as a condition of their visa. You should have an insurance policy which complies with the insurance requirements of the Education (Pastoral Care of International Students) Code of Practice 2016 and is acceptable to your education provider. You do not need to provide evidence of your insurance policy with your student visa application, however, you are required to declare in your application that you will make the necessary arrangements to meet this condition.

The Education (Pastoral Care of International Students) Code of Practice 2016 states that an international student’s insurance must cover all of the following:

student’s travel (this includes travel to and from New Zealand, within New Zealand, and outside New Zealand—if travelling as part of the course)
medical care in New Zealand, including diagnosis, prescription, surgery, and hospitalisation
repatriation or expatriation of the student as a result of serious illness or injury, including cover of travel costs incurred by family members assisting repatriation or expatriation
death of the student (including cover of the travel costs of family members to and from New Zealand, costs of repatriation or expatriation of the body, and funeral expenses)

Many students arrange their insurance policy through their education provider. In some cases, the insurance policy is not obtained until the student has arrived in New Zealand and the enrolment process has been completed.

Therefore, you are required to hold insurance from the date you finalise the enrolment process with your education provider until the expiry of your visa, unless you depart New Zealand earlier.

Where your provider has arranged your insurance policy, it may only cover the length of your programme of study rather than the length of your student visa. If this is the case, and you will be remaining in New Zealand to holiday or to work (if you are eligible to undertake holiday work), you will need to arrange an extension of your insurance policy to cover the remainder of the time you will spend in New Zealand.

If you do not comply with the requirement to hold insurance while in New Zealand, you may become liable for deportation. You may also be required to provide evidence of the insurance policy you held with any subsequent visa application you make.

Insurance requirements for domestic students (includes PhD students)

Domestic students are not covered by the Education (Pastoral Care of International Students) Code of Practice 2016 and are therefore not required to hold acceptable insurance.

What evidence do you need to provide with your student visa application if you are a domestic student?

Evidence of domestic status

You need to show that you are domestic student by providing evidence of the relationship between you and your parent or legal guardian. This evidence could be:

your birth certificate or adoption papers (if they are your parent)
court documents (if they are a court-appointed guardian)
relevant legal documents if they are a testamentary guardian (that is, they were named as guardian in your parent’s will, and your parent is deceased).

Dependent children of Essential Skills work visa holders

If one of your parents holds an Essential Skills work visa you will need to provide evidence that they are eligible to support your visa. Find out more at www.immigration.govt.nz/ work-support-child.

Dependent children of Religious Worker work visa holders

If one of your parents holds a work visa granted under Religious Worker instructions:

your visa may be sponsored by the organisation sponsoring your parent’s visa, or
you will need to provide evidence that your parents’ combined income from salary or wages meets the minimum income threshold.

The minimum income threshold is NZ$37,090.68 per annum gross. Acceptable evidence includes copies of an employment agreement and/or a description of the work with salary or wages equal to or higher than the minimum income threshold. Note: If you are not sponsored and the minimum income threshold is not met, your student visa application may be declined.

Can you work while holding a student visa?

You may be allowed to work for up to 20 hours each week and full-time all scheduled vacations and/or during Christmas and New Year holiday period (summer vacation).

You should read the following information to see if you meet the requirements to be allowed to work, and the restrictions on the type of work you will be allowed to do.

You can also apply for a variation of conditions at a later date, as long as your student visa is current.

Tertiary students work rights

You do not need to have a job offer to work part-time (20 hours per week), but you must be enrolled in a full-time programme of study that meets one of the following criteria:

The programme of study is at least two years’ duration
The programme of study leads to a New Zealand qualification that qualifies for points under the Skilled Migrant Category of Immigration New Zealand’s Residence Instructions.
The programme of study is at least one academic year long and you are taking part in an approved tertiary exchange scheme.
The programme of study is at a private training establishment or tertiary institution, and the main purpose is to develop English language skills. You must also have English language test results, as set out in the table below.
You are undertaking full-time English language study of at least 14 consecutive weeks’ duration at a university or an education provider that holds Category One status under the New Zealand Qualifications Authority’s External Evaluation Review quality assurance system.
You are a New Zealand Aid Programme scholarship student studying under one of the following schemes:
– New Zealand Development Scholarship
– Commonwealth Scholarship
– New Zealand Pacific Scholarship
– New Zealand Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Scholars Award.

Full-time work rights

You may work full-time during all vacations scheduled by your education provider if you are undertaking a full-time programme of study of at least one academic year’s duration. An academic year means a programme of study of a minimum of 120 credits during a period of at least eight months (minimum of two semesters)

If your full-time programme of study has a duration of at least eight months (minimum of two semesters), but is less than 120 credits, you can work full-time over the Christmas and New Year holiday period (summer vacation). You do not have to have a job offer.

Unlimited work rights for PhD and Masters by research students

If you are enrolled in Masters by research or doctoral degree programmes awarded by a New Zealand tertiary institution, you will be eligible for unlimited work rights.

Secondary school students work rights

If you are studying in years 12 or 13 (the last two years of secondary school), you can work up to 20 hours per week during the school year and full-time in the summer vacation period between school years if you have written permission from your school (if you are under 18 years of age) and your parents.

If you are an exchange student with an Exchange Provider Organisation (EPO), you must also provide written permission from the EPO.

Restrictions on type of employment

People who hold student visas may not be self-employed, provide commercial sexual services, or operate or invest in a business of prostitution.

Pathway student visa holders

If your first programme of study on your pathway student visa qualifies for work rights as specified above, you will be granted work rights for the entire duration of your visa. If not, and your second or subsequent programme of study qualifies, you can apply for a variation of conditions to obtain work rights.

Tax obligations while working in New Zealand

If you are planning to work in New Zealand, you will need an IRD number. All your tax, entitlement and personal details are linked to this number, which is unique to you. This is administered by Inland Revenue, New Zealand’s tax service.

Go to www.ird.govt.nz/irdnum-individuals to find out what supporting information you will need to include in your IRD number application and how to apply for an IRD number online.

Applying for a variation of conditions after you have your visa

If you already have a student visa you can apply for a variation of conditions to allow you to:

work during your programme of study or full-time between scheduled vacations, or
change your programme of study, your education provider and/or your location of study (see below).

You will need to complete the form Application for Variation of Conditions or a Variation of Travel Conditions (INZ 1020). You will have to pay a fee if you are applying for a variation of conditions when you already have a visa to study.

Pathway student visas

If you have been granted a pathway student visa and wish to change your education provider or move to a lower level programme of study, you must apply for a new student visa.

If you wish to change to a programme of study at the same or higher level than the one you are currently studying, you may apply for a variation of conditions. If granted, you will remain on your pathway student visa.

Changing programme of study and/or education provider

If you wish to change your programme of study, your education provider and/or the location of your study, you must first obtain a variation of conditions (or a further student visa). You must approach Immigration New Zealand immediately to make an application to discuss your situation. You may be required to provide evidence to demonstrate that you continue to meet student instructions.

If you withdraw from your programme of study and/ or education provider before obtaining authority to do so, you will be in breach of your visa conditions. Applicants who breach their visa conditions may not ordinarily be granted further visas (or a variation of conditions) and may be liable for deportation and required to leave New Zealand.

Exchange students

Students who are in New Zealand to study under an exchange programme approved by the New Zealand Government require a student visa, but do not have to pay tuition fees. For more information, contact an exchange scheme provider. List of providers www.education.govt.nz.

Who can you include in your application?

You cannot include anyone else on your application form. If your partner, your children, your parent/legal guardian, or anyone else will accompany you to New Zealand, they must apply separately for the type of visa they require.

Do you have to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian?

If you are less than 10 years old, your legal guardian must accompany you to New Zealand unless any of the following apply.

You are a domestic student (see ‘What are international and domestic students’).
You are enrolled in a school hostel approved by the Ministry of Education.

If you are aged between 10 and 17 years old, you may not need to be accompanied by a legal guardian if you are in the care of a residential caregiver. Your education provider must confirm that your residential caregiver meets the definition set out in the Education (Pastoral Care of International Students) Code of Practice 2016.

Your parent or legal guardian cannot apply with you on your application form. They must apply separately for the type of visa they need. They may apply for a visitor visa, to allow them to live with you and care for you in New Zealand.

Your parent or legal guardian must live with you while you are studying, and cannot leave New Zealand without you. If you and your legal guardian do not meet these conditions, we may make you and your guardian liable for deportation.

Your parent or legal guardian can be granted a visitor visa valid for the same period as your student visa. Note: if you are not enrolled in school years 1-13 and you turn 18 during the validity of your student visa, your legal guardian can only be granted a visitor visa valid until the day before you turn 18.

What type of evidence does INZ need about your legal guardian?

You must provide evidence that your legal guardian cares for you in your home country, such as:

documents that show they have paid for your education
educational records or documents that show they are responsible for your education
your legal guardian’s passport or residency document to show that you have been living with them in your home country.

You should also provide evidence of your guardian’s legal right to provide care for you, such as:

your birth certificate or adoption papers (if they are your parent)
court documents (if they are a court-appointed guardian)
relevant legal documents if they are a testamentary guardian (that is, they were named as guardian in your parent’s will, and your parent is deceased).

Will you be eligible for publicly funded health care in New Zealand?

Student visa holders are not generally eligible for publicly funded health and disability services.

People covered by New Zealand’s reciprocal health agreements with Australia and the United Kingdom are entitled to publicly funded health care for immediately necessary medical treatment only.

If you seek health care when you are in New Zealand you should carry your passport so that health providers can check whether you are eligible for publicly funded health care. We strongly recommend that you arrange comprehensive health insurance for your stay in New Zealand. (See ‘Insurance requirements for foreign fee-paying students’).
For more information about health services, see the Ministry of Health website www.health.govt.nz.

Interim visas

f you are currently in New Zealand, hold a valid temporary visa and have an application for a student visa being considered by INZ, you may be eligible for an interim visa. We will make a decision on whether to grant you an interim visa close to the day your current visa expires and will inform you by email or letter. You cannot apply for an interim visa, and there are no fees or forms for interim visas.

There is no guarantee that you will be granted an interim visa and if you are the conditions (including whether or not you can study) will depend on the type of visa you hold and the type of application you have made. Interim visas do not have travel conditions and are valid for a maximum of six months or until a decision is made on your application – whichever is earlier.

Can you work in New Zealand after completing your studies?

You may be eligible to work in New Zealand once you have completed your studies. You will need to apply for a work visa.

Applying for a Post-study work visa (open)

If you do not yet have a job offer, you may apply for a Post-study work visa (open). Visas granted are valid for up to 12 months and allow you to work in a temporary job while you look for a job in your field.

To be eligible for a Post-study work visa (open) you must:

have successfully completed a New Zealand qualification that qualifies for points under the Skilled Migrant Category of Immigration New Zealand’s Residence Instructions
have recently finished your qualification, and apply no later than three months after the end date of your student visa for that qualification
show that you have at least NZ$4,200 to support yourself financially.

Applying for a Post-study work visa (employer assisted) when you have a job offer

If you have an offer of employment relevant to your qualification, you may apply for a Post-study work visa (employer assisted) under the Study to Work Instructions. This work visa may be valid for a maximum period of:

two years, to obtain practical experience suitable to your qualification; or
three years, if you are working towards obtaining a membership or registration from a New Zealand professional association which requires more than two years of relevant practical work experience.

To be eligible for a Post-study work visa (employer assisted) you must:

have successfully completed a qualification in New Zealand that would qualify for points under the Skilled Migrant Category
have evidence of an offer of employment relevant to the course or qualification you have completed
have (a) recently finished your qualification, and apply no later than three months after the end date of your student visa for that qualification, or (b) hold a Post-study work visa (open).

If you are working towards obtaining a membership or registration from a New Zealand professional association (such as the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants or the New Zealand Registered Architects Board), and are therefore applying for a three-year work visa, you must also:

have evidence that such membership or registration is a requirement for you to fully perform your professional duties
have evidence that the employment is considered relevant practical experience by the professional association including, but not limited to, documentation from the professional association, or from the employer, stating how the employment meets the requirements set by the professional association
have a New Zealand qualification that meets the requirements for registration or membership of the professional association.

VisaView

It is an offence for an employer to employ a person who is not entitled to work for them in New Zealand. It is also an offence for an education provider to allow a person to undertake a course of study if that person is not entitled to do so.

VisaView is an online enquiry system that allows registered employers and education providers to check whether a person who is not a New Zealand citizen can work or study in New Zealand for them.

If you believe that an employer or education provider has been given the wrong information via VisaView you may contact the Immigration Contact Centre (0508 558 855) to request correction of that information.