Visas
Explore the visa options that allow you to study in New Zealand, and find helpful information.
How to apply for a visa to study in New Zealand
If you’re interested in studying in New Zealand, you’ll need to apply for a student visa from Immigration New Zealand (external link that opens in a new tab)and have this approved before you’re able to start your studies.
What type of visa do you need to study in New Zealand?
If you want to study a full-time course in New Zealand that’s longer than 3 months in total duration, you’ll need a Student Visa, unless you have a working holiday visa.
• Your student visa is normally issued for the same length of time as the study you’ve paid for.
• Depending on your visa conditions, you may be able to work up to 25 hours a week during the term and full-time over the holidays.
Our borders are fully open.
Find out more about student visas(external link that opens in a new tab)
If you want to take a short course of study in New Zealand, a visitor visa may be the best choice of visa for you. A visitor visa allows you to take one or more short courses lasting up to 3 months in total, or a term at school.
If you are not from a visa-waiver country(external link that opens in a new tab), you must be granted a visa before you travel to New Zealand.
Our borders are fully open.
Find out more about visitor visas(external link that opens in a new tab)
If you're from a visa-waiver country, you do not need to apply for a visitor visa before you travel, but you will need to apply for an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority).
On arrival you will be granted a visitor visa that allows you to study one or more short courses up to 3 months, or a term at school.
Visitors from visa-waiver countries are now able to enter New Zealand.
Find a list of visa waiver countries(external link that opens in a new tab)
Find out more about the NZeTA(external link that opens in a new tab)
You can study one or more short courses lasting up to 6 months in total on a working holiday visa, but your main reason for travel must be to holiday.
Working holiday visas are available to young people, usually aged 18 to 30, but 18 to 35 in a select few countries. They let you travel and work in New Zealand for up to 12 months, or 23 months if you are from the UK or Canada.
Our borders are fully open
Learn more about working holiday visas(external link that opens in a new tab)
The pathway student visa allows you to study up to 3 consecutive study programmes or courses for up to 5 years. For example, you could take an English language course, followed by foundation studies, then a degree programme.
Your study plan (including all programmes/courses) must be pre-approved for this visa and you must be studying at an approved pathway education provider.
Our borders are fully open.
Find out more about pathway student visas(external link that opens in a new tab)
Student visa requirements
You’ll usually need to provide the following with your student visa application (documents should be translated into English):
An offer of place from an approved education provider.
Evidence that you have paid your tuition fees.
A copy of the identity pages in your passport.
Proof of funds to cover your living expenses (NZ$20,000 per year, or NZ$17,000 for school years 1-13) and proof of where this money has come from.
A copy of your air ticket home, or proof that you have enough money to buy one.
Your visa application fee.
You may need to provide a medical certificate or chest x-ray, or a police certificate.
Head over to Immigration New Zealand's website and find helpful information, including a checklist to ensure your first-time student visa application has everything it needs.
Visas to bring your family to New Zealand with you
There are a range of visa options that could allow your family to join you while you study in New Zealand. These include:
• Partner of a student work visa
• Partner of a NZ scholarship student work visa
• Partner of a student visitor visa
• Child of a student visitor visa
• Dependent child student visa
• Guardian of a student visitor visa
Post-study work visas
If you want to stay in New Zealand to get some practical work experience after you’ve completed your qualification, you may be able to apply for a post-study work visa.
A post-study work visa could allow you to work for up to 3 years in New Zealand after you graduate, depending on the level of your study qualification and what you study.
New Zealand Traveller Declaration
Everyone flying into New Zealand needs to complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD).
For more information, including translated resources(external link that opens in a new tab) to help you complete a declaration, go to travellerdeclaration.govt.nz(external link that opens in a new tab).
How soon are you planning to begin your studies?
Great! Get started by using our course search tool to find a programme that suits you. Then follow our 5-step guide to plan your study experience.
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