NZ Visas

Can I study in New Zealand?

Everyone who comes to study in New Zealand from overseas must meet certain rules and requirements. If you are coming to New Zealand to study for more than three months, you will need a student visa or permit. In this section you can find out whether you need a visa or permit, whether you'll qualify, and what a student visa or permit will allow you to do.

People who do not need a student visa or permit.

You don’t need a visa or permit if you are a citizen of New Zealand or Australia, you hold a New Zealand residence permit, or you are the holder of a current Australian permanent residence visa including a current Australian resident return visa. (If there are conditions on your residence visa/resident return visa, then you will need to apply for a student visa.)

People on short courses

If the course you want to study is a single short course of less than three calendar months duration, and is approved or exempted by NZQA , you do not need a student visa, and can apply for a visitor visa.

If you want to study two or more short courses of study or training (whether at the same time, or one after the other), you need a student visa or permit, unless you are on a working holiday visa or permit.

Participants of the Canada, Germany, Japan, Taiwan and the United Kingdom Working Holiday Schemes may undertake one or more courses of study as long as the total duration of all of the courses undertaken does not exceed six months.

If you hold a working holiday visa or permit from any other scheme you are entitled to undertake one or more short courses as long as the total duration of all the courses undertaken does not exceed three months.

Note: We do not consider a term spent studying at a primary, intermediate or secondary school to be a short course, and a student visa/permit must be applied for.

Exchange students

If you have been offered a place in an approved exchange scheme you may apply for a student visa for the duration of your exchange, provided you meet our health and character requirements and are a bona fide exchange participant.

You must also provide evidence that you:

* have been accepted into an approved student exchange scheme (from the scheme organiser), and
* have onward travel arrangements for when your exchange scheme has finished.

You must apply for a student exchange visa before you travel to New Zealand. Only in very special circumstances (as determined by Immigration New Zealand) will a student exchange visa/permit be issued if you are already in New Zealand.

The requirements for a student visa or permit

Before you apply, ensure that you understand the requirements that you need to meet, and the requirements that your course must meet.

Also see our examples to make sure you will be eligible for a visa or permit to study in New Zealand.

What a student visa or permit allows

Find out how long you can stay, whether you can work while studying, who we will refuse entry to, and answers to other questions about student visas and permits.

Partners and children of New Zealand residents and visa holders

If your partner or parent is in New Zealand and you want to join them here and study, your permit conditions may depend on factors such as your partner or parent's immigration status.

Apply

If you're sure you need a student visa and/or permit, and you meet the requirements, find out how to apply by contacting NZOZ Education.





Future Goals
NZOZ International Education is a fast growing division. We know the students right and we know the markets right.

NZOZ Education's head office is located at Level 3, 65 Rangitikei Street, Palmerston North, New Zealand.

Tel: +64 6 3544710 - +64 4 889 0312