Student Visa Requirements

Student Visa Requirements

To get a visa to study in New Zealand you and the course you intend to study must meet our requirements.

Offer of a place

To get a student visa, you need to have an offer of a place from a New Zealand education provider. The offer must include:

• the education provider's name and contact details
• the name of the course and the minimum time required for completing it, and 
• proof that the course and course provider meet New Zealand’s requirements for international students, and 
• the amount of the fee for the complete course, or if the course is longer than one year, the annual fee, and
• whether you have to pay course fees
• whether the fees are domestic or foreign fees, and
• whether you are studying full-time or part-time, and
• confirmation all requirements under the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students are met (including accommodation for under 18 year olds and course prerequisites).

Primary and secondary schools

Two main kinds of primary and secondary schools in New Zealand can offer places to international students. The main difference between the two is the way they are funded, which affects their ability to offer courses to international students.

• State or integrated primary and secondary schools are funded by the New Zealand government. Schools accredited by New Zealand’s Ministry of Education can offer places to full fee-paying international students after all New Zealand domestic and NZAP scholarship students are placed.
• Private primary and secondary schools are schools funded mainly through student fees. Provided they are accredited by the Ministry of Education, these schools can offer places equally to international students and New Zealand students.

Tertiary education providers

Tertiary education providers can offer courses to international students if they meet certain conditions.

• Private training establishments (PTEs) can only offer international students approved courses that are longer than three months and registered with the NZQA. The PTE must be accredited by the NZQA to offer the course.
• Institutions including universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and wananga can only offer approved courses that are longer than three months and registered with the NZQA. The institution must be accredited to offer the course. The enrolment of an international student must not prevent a New Zealand student or an NZAP student from gaining a place at the same institution.

Guardians

You may have to be accompanied by a guardian (your parent or legal guardian), who will come to New Zealand with you. You need a guardian if you are enrolled in years 1 to 8 of a school, or a student aged 13 or under and enrolled in a private training establishment.

Health and character

You have to meet our health and character requirements and prove to us that your intent is genuine.

Evidence of funds to support yourself

To gain a student visa we want to see that you are able to meet your living costs during your stay.  Evidence may include:

• enough money held in New Zealand by you, or on your behalf,
• a financial undertaking to cover your accommodation and living costs,
• sponsorship by an acceptable sponsor to cover your accommodation and living costs, or
• financial assistance available to you under aid programmes operated in New Zealand by a government agency.

Proof that you plan to leave

So that we are sure that you will leave New Zealand when you have finished your course of study, we will need evidence of how you will leave New Zealand. For example, we may want to see travel tickets out of New Zealand to a country you are allowed to enter, or evidence of enough money held in New Zealand, additional to the funds you’ll need for your living expenses.

Passport

You must have a passport that is valid for at least three months past the end of your intended stay.

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