Study in Newzeland

                                                          STUDY IN NEWZELAND

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. In this section you can find out whether you need a visa, whether you'll qualify, and what a student visa will allow you to do.

People who do not need a student visa

You don’t need a visa if you are a citizen of New Zealand or Australia, you hold a New Zealand residence class visa, 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 Australian permanent residence visa or resident return visa, then you will need to apply for a student visa.

People undertaking short courses

If you want to undertake one or more short courses which are approved or exempted byNew Zealand Qualifications Authority, for no more than three calendar months duration in total, you do not need a student visa or a variation of conditions.

If you hold a temporary visa that is valid for 24 months or more, you can study one or more courses for up to three months in total in each 12-month period.

School-age children

School-age visitor visa holders can attend a primary, intermediate, or secondary school for a single period of study of up to three months per calendar year provided the study finishes within the calendar year. School-age visitor visa holders are not permitted to study in term one of a school year if they undertook a single period of study in term four of the previous year while on a visitor visa.

Requirements

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

If you are enrolling in a course for the first time, you need to have an offer of place from a New Zealand education provider.

Offer of a place

An 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 the study is 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).

Confirmation of enrolment

If you are returning to the same New Zealand education provider to continue a course of study (eg the second year of a three year Bachelor degree) you may provide a confirmation of enrolment from the education provider instead of an offer of a place, which includes:

• the name of the course, and
• the annual fee for the course, and
• whether you are studying full-time or part-time.

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.

Courses less than nine months

If the course you intend to study lasts less than nine months, you will need to show us you have access to:

• NZ$1,250 for each month of your stay less any prepaid living expenses (you will need to show us that you’ve paid).

Courses more than nine months

If the course you intend to study lasts more than nine months you’ll need to show us you have access to:

• NZ$15,000 per year to cover your costs during your stay in New Zealand less any prepaid living expenses (you will need to show us that you’ve paid), or
• if you are a citizen of Samoa or Tonga, a written guarantee from a relative who is a New Zealand citizen or resident that they will cover your living costs.

Evidence of funds may be in the form of cash, travellers' cheques, bank drafts, or a recognised credit card with enough credit.