When you need an NZ student visa
You need a student visa if you want to study full time in New Zealand for more than 3 months.
You must be accepted into a course with an approved educational provider, such as a school, university or polytechnic, before you can apply for a student visa.
The only exceptions to this are the dependent children of people who are applying for, or already hold a work visa or a student visa.
What you can study
You can only study programmes that the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) has approved for international students.
Types of student visas
There are 3 main visas that let you study full time in New Zealand. There are also student visas for people from specific countries or people coming here to study for a specific reason.
1. If you are taking a single course
A Fee Paying Student Visa lets you study for up to 4 years on an approved course.
2. If you are taking several courses
A Pathway Student Visa lets you study as many as 3 courses one after another for up to 5 years with an approved provider — for example, secondary school studies followed by study towards a bachelor’s degree.
3. If you’re in NZ and you want your children to study here too
A Dependent Child Student Visa is for the children (19 or younger) of people who are in New Zealand on some student or work visas.
When you have a work visa, you may be able to support your partner and dependent children to get a visa too, but there are some restrictions.
Bringing family if you have a work visa
Studying on other visas
Studying on a visitor visa
You may be able to study on a visitor visa if:
- your course is 3 months or less, or
- you plan to study part time for up to 9 months, as long as you apply to vary the conditions of your visa first.
Studying on a work visa
You may be able to study on a work visa if:
- your course is 3 months or less, or
- your employer needs you to do some study as part of your job.
Students who do not need a visa
You do not need a student visa to study if:
- you’re an NZ citizen or resident
- you’re an Australian citizen
- you have a permanent resident visa for Australia — without conditions.
What full-time study means
You’re studying full time if you:
- attend primary or secondary school
- enroll for at least 3 papers (or equivalent) each semester at a tertiary institution such as a university or polytechnic, or you
- study on a course at a private training establishment (PTE):
- for at least 20 hours a week, or
- if the course is Level 7 or above on the New Zealand Qualification Framework, you take at least 3 papers (or equivalent) each semester.
Understanding New Zealand qualifications
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