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 5 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 25 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
Each applicant can only be granted a Post-Study Work Visa once.
You must have completed at least 30 weeks of full-time study in New Zealand to be eligible for this visa.
You must not provide commercial services or operate or invest in a business that provides such services.
Your partner may be eligible to apply for a work visa, and your dependent children may be eligible to study in New Zealand as domestic students without paying international tuition fees.
