Visa

Information about Student Visa

If you’re from overseas, you can apply for a visa to study full-time in New Zealand. You’ll need to pay the full cost of your course and enrol with an approved education provider. While you’re here, you can enjoy New Zealand’s high-quality teaching standards and gain internationally recognised qualifications.

Length of stay

Up to 4 years

Your Student Visa is normally for the same length of time as the study you’ve paid for.

You can

Study full-time at the course stated on your visa – this includes at the schooling level, tertiary education (after secondary school) and English language courses.

Work part-time up to 20 hours a week while studying or full-time in the holidays, depending on your visa conditions.

Live by yourself if you’re 17 or above, otherwise you’ll need to come with your parent or legal guardian.

Things to note

You can also apply for this visa if you’re a student of distance or correspondence learning and you need to visit your New Zealand education provider for any reason related to your education, e.g. to carry out practical components or sit for exams.

If you want to bring your partner or children with you, they can apply for visas based on their relationship to you.

Information about Post-Study Work Visa

If you have acceptable qualifications(s) that you completed in New Zealand, you can apply for a visa to work here. Depending on your qualification and where you studied, you can work for any employer for between 1 and 3 years, and do almost any work.

Length of stay

1, 2 or 3 years

You can

Work for any employer.

Work in almost any job New Zealand.

Things to note

You can only apply for this visa once, unless you complete a second higher qualification at bachelor’s degree level or higher.

You cannot provide commercial sexual services or operate or invest in a business that does.

If you complete your study outside Auckland before the end of 2021, your work visa can be valid for 2 or 3 years.

Your partner can apply for a work visa and your dependent children can study for free like domestic students.