Douglas Olsen
International students can enter New Zealand, but they must obtain a visa prior to studying. There are different types of visas available, depending on the duration of the course and the level of study. For example, international students can enrol for up to three months on a visitor visa, but for longer courses, they must hold a student visa. To obtain a student visa, applicants will need to provide an offer of a place from a New Zealand education provider, evidence of arranged accommodation, and meet other criteria and conditions. International students must also abide by certain conditions during their stay in New Zealand, such as not being allowed to be self-employed and not being able to provide commercial sexual services.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Student visa duration | For courses longer than 3 months |
| Student visa requirement | Yes, for courses longer than 3 months |
| Student visa application | Needs an offer of place from a New Zealand education provider and evidence of accommodation arranged through the provider |
| Visitor visa | Can be used for courses up to 3 months long |
| Work visa | Post-study work visas are available for international doctoral candidates |
| Work during studies | Allowed, but not self-employment |
| Commercial sexual services | Not allowed |
| School accreditation | Schools must be accredited by the Ministry of Education to offer education to international students |
| School priority | Accredited state and integrated schools must prioritise New Zealand domestic and MFAT-funded NZ scholarship students |
| School fees | International students pay higher fees, which are used to employ teachers and provide resources and facilities for these students |
| School responsibility | Schools are responsible for ensuring the safety and care of international students and their families |
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What You'll Learn
Student visa requirements
To study in New Zealand, international students must apply for a valid student visa unless they are a New Zealand or Australian citizen or a permanent resident. The visa requirements and application process are outlined below.
- International students must provide an offer of a place from a New Zealand education provider. This includes universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and wānanga, which must be accredited to offer courses to international students.
- Evidence of sufficient funds is required to cover living expenses and course fees. The amount varies depending on the source, with some stating NZ$15,000 per year, while others suggest providing evidence of funds for the first year, followed by a payment plan for the remaining duration.
- Proof of English proficiency is required, with many institutions accepting IELTS scores, TOEFL, or Pearson's tests.
- Students must demonstrate that they have arranged suitable accommodation.
- Submission of a completed Student Visa Application Form (INZ 1012) and a letter of acceptance from the host institution.
- Students must be enrolled full-time, which means taking at least three papers per semester.
- Additional documents may be required on a case-by-case basis, such as proof of funds for family members if they are accompanying the student.
Application Process:
Once the application is complete, it will be academically assessed, and if the entry requirements are met, the student will receive an Offer of Place and a Tax Invoice from the institution. The next step is to apply for the student visa with Immigration New Zealand. After submitting the visa application, a telephonic interview will be conducted by a designated visa officer. Once the visa is approved, the student must pay the course fees in full, and Immigration will complete the process by issuing the visa.
It is important to note that student visas are tied to the specific programme of study and the education provider. If a student changes their programme or institution, they must apply for a new student visa. Additionally, international students are allowed to work part-time while studying and full-time during university holidays, but they cannot be self-employed and must have an employment agreement.
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Employment rules
International students in New Zealand may be able to work while on a student visa. The visa sticker in your passport will show whether you can work and under what conditions. Students are not usually allowed to be self-employed; they must work for an employer under an employment agreement.
Part-time work
If you are studying full-time, you can work part-time for up to 20 hours per week during term time. This applies to students at university or another educational institution assessed by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) as a Category 1 provider. If you are studying English, you must have an acceptable English language test result that is no more than two years old, such as an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) certificate with an overall band score of 5.0.
Full-time work
Students can work full-time during scheduled holidays, such as the Christmas and New Year period. If your visa conditions state that you can 'work part-time up to 20 hours per week', you must continue working these hours if your course has finished.
Work as part of your course
If your course requires you to complete work experience, this is allowed in addition to the 20 hours of part-time work per week.
Post-study work
If you have completed a degree-level qualification, you may be eligible for a Post Study Work Visa for up to three years. This allows you to work for any employer. If you have completed a non-degree qualification, you may still be eligible, but the qualification must be on the list of Qualifications Eligible for a Post-Study Work Visa. The job you take must be related to what you studied.
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School accreditation
International students who wish to study in New Zealand for more than three months are required to apply for a student visa. To meet the criteria for a student visa, applicants must provide an offer of a place from a New Zealand education provider.
For an education provider to be eligible to offer a place to international students, they must be accredited by the Ministry of Education. Accredited state and integrated primary and secondary schools must prioritise placing New Zealand domestic students and MFAT-funded NZ scholarship students. If they still have places available, they can offer spots to full-fee-paying international students. Private primary and secondary schools can offer places equally to domestic and international students.
All schools offering courses for more than three months must have signed the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students. Universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and wānanga must also be accredited to offer courses to international students. They can only do so if it does not deprive a New Zealand or NZAP student from gaining a place.
Private Training Establishments must be registered with and accredited by the NZQA to offer courses to international students. Courses offered mainly for international students must also be approved by the NZQA.
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Course duration
International students are allowed to enter New Zealand. However, they must obtain a student visa before entering the country. The type of visa required depends on the type of study and the duration of the course.
To enter New Zealand as an international student, the course you are applying for must be longer than three months. If the course is shorter than three months, you can apply for a visitor visa instead.
The student visa application process requires you to provide an "offer of place" letter from a New Zealand education provider. This offer letter is crucial for your visa application and must be included with your other documents.
It is important to note that the visa application process can vary depending on your country of origin and the specific visa type you are applying for. The processing time for a student visa application can also differ based on the volume of applications being processed at the time.
When applying for a student visa, you will need to demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to cover your tuition fees and living expenses for the duration of your studies. The exact amount required will depend on the length of your course and your location in New Zealand.
Additionally, if you are applying for a Pathway Student Visa, you must provide a cover letter approved by the Pathway Education Provider.
For students pursuing a Master's research degree and submitting a thesis of 90 points or more, you can apply for a student visa to cover the examination period. This enrolment option does not incur tuition fees but includes an insurance charge.
If you change your programme of study, you will need to apply for a new student visa to reflect your new programme. However, this does not apply if you are only changing your major within the same degree.
International students on a student visa are permitted to work for an employer under an employment agreement but cannot engage in self-employment or provide commercial sexual services.
It is recommended to refer to the official website of Immigration New Zealand for detailed information on specific visa requirements and conditions.
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Student refunds
International students are allowed to enter New Zealand with a valid student visa. To meet the criteria for a student visa, applicants will need to provide an offer of a place from a New Zealand education provider, as well as evidence of accommodation arranged through the provider, if applicable.
Student visa refunds are only available in special circumstances. Each request is considered on a case-by-case basis. If your visa application has been completed, even if it was declined, or if your Expression of Interest (EOI) has been selected, you cannot get a refund. This is because the fee you pay covers the costs of assessing your visa application or EOI. However, you can apply for a refund if your visa application has not been completed or you withdraw your EOI before selection.
To apply for a refund, send your request to the same office that you sent your application to. If you applied online, check the Fees, decision times, and locations to apply page to find the office that handles applications for your location.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, international students can enter New Zealand on a visitor visa for up to 3 months. For longer stays, a student visa is required.
To obtain a student visa, international students must provide an offer of a place from a New Zealand education provider and evidence of arranged accommodation. The specific criteria and conditions depend on the type of visa applied for.
International students in New Zealand are allowed to work for an employer under an employment agreement but cannot be self-employed or provide commercial sexual services. After completing their studies, international students can apply for a Post-study work visa.
