New Zealand Student Visa 2027: Complete Guide

Which New Zealand Student Visa Fits Your Course?

New Zealand offers several study visas, and the right one depends on what and where you plan to study. The Fee Paying Student Visa is the most common option and allows full-time study with an approved education provider for up to 4 years. The Pathway Student Visa allows up to 3 courses taken one after another, the English Language Student Visa covers full-time English courses, and the Dependent Child Student Visa is for children aged 19 and under who attend a New Zealand primary or secondary school. If your course lasts more than 3 months, you generally need an offer of place and a student visa. Holders of a visitor visa or New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) can usually study for up to 3 months in any 12-month period without a student visa.

Offer of Place and Entry Requirements

Your application starts with an offer of place from an approved New Zealand education provider. The offer should state the course name, length and whether it is full-time or part-time, and the provider must declare that the course suits you and that you have the English ability and academic capability to pass it. Applicants from outside New Zealand may begin with a conditional offer. There is no standalone English test that is compulsory for the visa, although results such as IELTS can support your application. Each provider sets its own admission standards, so check the entry requirements of your course early.

Funds, Insurance, Health and Character Requirements

You must show that you can pay your tuition fees for one course or one year, whichever is shorter, unless a scholarship or loan covers them. For living costs in tertiary study, the official figure is NZD $20,000 per year, or NZD $1,667 per month for courses shorter than a year. For compulsory schooling, the figure is NZD $17,000 per year, or NZD $1,417 per month. A sponsor or guarantor can cover living costs instead, but you should confirm the current amounts on the official page before you apply. You also need medical and travel insurance that is acceptable to your provider for your full stay, proof that you can leave New Zealand at the end of your studies, and you must meet good health and good character requirements.

Steps to Apply and Processing Times

First, choose your provider and course and obtain your offer of place. Next, gather your passport, proof of funds, insurance details and any health or police documents that are requested. Then complete the online application and pay the visa fee, which starts from NZD $850. Immigration New Zealand states that 80% of applications are decided within 7 weeks, and it advises applying at least 3 months before you travel because processing is busiest from October to March. Children under 10 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who lives with them, unless they live in an approved school hostel.

Work Rights, Family and Plans After Study

Depending on your visa conditions, you can generally work up to 25 hours a week during your studies and full-time during scheduled holidays. Students aged 16 to 17 need written permission from a parent or guardian and the provider, and students aged 15 or younger cannot work. Partners and dependent children cannot be included in your student visa application, so they need to apply for their own visas. A student visa does not guarantee a work visa or residence afterwards. Graduates with a New Zealand bachelor's degree or higher, and some graduates in skill-shortage areas, may be eligible for post-study work visas, so check the official guidance before you choose your course.

Check if you qualify for a New Zealand student visa →