New Zealand

When you need an NZ student visa

You need a student visa if you want to study full time in New Zealand for more than 3 months.

What you can study?

You can only study on programmes that the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) has approved for international students.
Find a course

Types of student visa

If you’re taking several courses

A Pathway Student Visa lets you study as many as 3 courses one after another for up to 5 years with an approved provider — for example, secondary school studies followed by study towards a bachelor’s degree.

Visa factsheet: Pathway Student Visa

if you’re taking a single course

A Fee Paying Student Visa lets you study for up to 4 years on an approved course.

Visa factsheet: Fee Paying Student Visa

Before you apply for a student visa

Before you start your application, you need to plan your study, work out how you’ll support yourself in NZ and check which documents you need to provide with your application.

Making study and travel plans before you apply

To qualify for a student visa, you’ll need:

to be accepted for a course at an education institute approved by the Ministry of Education or the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA)
money for your tuition fees or proof that you have a scholarship that pays your fees
proof you have enough money to live on while you’re in NZ, and
a ticket out of NZ or evidence that you enough money to buy one.

Fee Paying Student Visa — criteria

Study in NewZealand