House of Migration › Student Visa & Permit

Student Visa & Permit

Objectives

A thick mass of bush, mossy trees and clay-coloured earth The purpose of New Zealand’s student policy is to facilitate the entry of foreign students in order to foster the development of international linkage and mutual goodwill and understanding through reciprocal exchange schemes, promote increased foreign exchange earnings from educational services and enhance the quality of New Zealand’s educational services.

What is a Student Visa?

A Student Visa is an endorsement in your passport to facilitate your travel to New Zealand for the purpose of study and if you wish to travel overseas and return to New Zealand for the purpose of study. It shows you have permission to travel to New Zealand and may be granted a Student Permit when you arrive in New Zealand. It can be a single or multiple entry.

What is a Student Permit?

A Student Permit is an endorsement in your passport which allows you to study in New Zealand. It will state the expiry date and give the condition of your permit. The conditions of your student permit will include details about your course of study, the educational institution, the location of the institution in New Zealand and any other restrictions such as not being allowed to work.

Who needs a Student Visa?

You will need to apply for a Student Visa if you are outside of New Zealand and are coming to New Zealand to study fulltime for longer than 3 months.

Who needs a Student Permit?

You may apply for a Student Permit if you are a visitor or a worker in New Zealand and wish to study fulltime or you need to extend your Student Permit for further study or training. If you are a child and wish to study while your family is in New Zealand.

Who does not need a Student Visa/Permit to study in New Zealand?

You do not need a visa or permit to study in New Zealand if you are a New Zealand citizen or a New Zealand permanent resident.
An Australian citizen or an Australian resident who holds a current Australian Resident Visa.
Group of people who are exempted from the requirement to hold a permit to be in New Zealand.
Studying a course of no more than 3 months but you should have a valid Visitor’s Permit.
A holder of Limited Purpose Permit granted for the express purpose of attending a course of study or training.
A holder of another type of temporary permit of which you have a varied condition of your permit to allow you to undertake your course of study.

Student Undertaking Employment

Greenery, a peninsula, and bay with a few islands nearby You may apply for a Work Permit under the following circumstances to fulfil course requirements, up to 20 hours per week for tertiary student undertaking a long term course of study, during the Christmas and New Year holiday period or on completing your course of study or as a post graduate student.

Expanded Work Opportunities for Students (and Some Partners)

Term-time work rights of 20 hours per week will be available to the following students:

all students enrolled in a full-time course of at least two years
all students enrolled in a course that would result in points under the Skilled Migrant Category (regardless of length of course or type of institution)
secondary students engaged in full-time, full-year course of study in Year 12 or Year 13 with written permission from their school and parental consent
English language students with an IELTS overall band score of 5.0 or above at the time of application for a visa or permit to study a full time course of at least six months duration.

Christmas holiday work rights

The right to work full-time in the Christmas holiday period will be available to any student enrolled in a course of 12 months or more duration.

Partner’s work rights

Open work permits will be available to the partners of the following students:

students enrolled in courses of study towards qualifications in areas of absolute skill shortage as specified in the Long Term Skill Shortage List
students enrolled in postgraduate qualifications i.e. levels 8, 9, or 10 on the qualifications table.

New work permit for some graduates

Any student regardless of institution type who successfully completes a course in New Zealand resulting in a qualification that would gain points under the Skilled Migrant Category will be eligible to apply for a six -month open work permit.

Once they have secured relevant employment they can then apply for either a post-study two-year work permit or proceed directly to the Skilled Migrant Category.