Visas and immigration
What are your international student visa conditions? Your student visa comes with conditions that tell you what you can and can’t do while you’re studying in New Zealand. It's important you understand what these are.
Types of student visas
Everyone from another country (except Australia) who wants to study in New Zealand for longer than 3 months needs a student visa. New Zealand or Australian citizens and permanent residents do not need a student visa in order to study in New Zealand. New Zealand has a range of student visas. The most common are:
Fee paying student visa(external link that opens in a new tab) (this is the most common visa for international students and includes study abroad students)
You may study for up to 3 months in any 12-month period. Please note that the ability to study as a visitor is for short courses only. It does not allow you to start studying for something longer, for example, a Diploma, while you are waiting for a student visa.
School-aged children can study for up to 3 months in any calendar year. If they intend on studying for more than a term at school, they need to have a student visa. Children studying for more than 2 weeks or who are paying international fees must attend a school that has signed up to the ‘Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021(external link that opens in a new tab)'
Find more here(external link that opens in a new tab).
If you're from a visa-waiver country(external link that opens in a new tab) and staying for 3 months or less, you may not need a visa at all. In this case, you will need to apply for an NZeTA(external link that opens in a new tab) before you travel.
If your visa isn’t listed here, check out Immigration New Zealand's full list of student visas and their conditions(external link that opens in a new tab).
About visa conditions
You must hold a valid visa at all times while you're in New Zealand and be aware of, and follow the visa conditions.
The conditions of your student visa explain:
- how long you're allowed to stay in New Zealand.
- if you're allowed to work while you study.
- if you must live with a parent or guardian.
- what and where you can study (your approved course, where you're studying and the location).
- if you can travel in and out of New Zealand on that visa.
If your visa says you can work in New Zealand, you can only work under the conditions specified. For example, most students who are allowed to work can only work part-time on a student visa(external link that opens in a new tab). It's important to remember that you're coming to New Zealand to study and experience life here.
You should only think about working as a way to add to your experience in New Zealand – to meet new people, learn about the New Zealand culture and gain skills and experience, particularly in your field of study.
The easiest way to check what the conditions of your visa are is to look at your eVisa.(external link that opens in a new tab) An eVisa is not placed in your passport. It is an online visa with all the records held in Immigration New Zealand's electronic system.
Tip: You will have been sent an eVisa letter from Immigration New Zealand. Bring this with you when you travel to New Zealand. Take a photo and save it online (for example in your email account or in a Dropbox(external link that opens in a new tab) or iCloud (external link that opens in a new tab)account) just in case you lose it.
Understanding the words in your visa
If you're not sure what some of the words on your Visa mean, here's a quick guide:
- Visa Expiry means the last day you can stay in New Zealand.
- Expiry Date Travel means the last day you can enter New Zealand on this visa.
- Number of Entries If your visa says you have Multiple Entries, you can re-enter New Zealand as many times as you want before your Expiry Date Travel.
You must follow the conditions
It's extremely important to follow the conditions in your visa. If you break the conditions of your visa or your visa expires before you leave New Zealand, you might be sent back to your home country! No one wants that. It's not worth the risk! If you're not sure about your visa conditions, contact Immigration New Zealand(external link that opens in a new tab). They will help you.
Tip: Be aware of when your visa will expire. If you need to make a new application to stay longer, ensure you apply for another visa in good time before your current visa expires. Don't leave it until the last minute! To find out more, check out this information from Immigration New Zealand about how long it takes for your visa to be processed(external link that opens in a new tab).
If you don't apply for a new visa before the old visa expires, you will be in New Zealand unlawfully.
Absences and illnesses
Studying in New Zealand is an exciting experience but it also comes with responsibilities. You must take your studies seriously. Unless there is a very good reason for being absent, you must:
- attend the course recorded on your visa at the approved place of study recorded on your visa (you can’t just decide to change courses or your place of study without contacting Immigration New Zealand(external link that opens in a new tab) and applying for a change in your visa conditions(external link that opens in a new tab)).
- make good progress on your course and complete all the requirements of your course. This may include attending classes or lectures and completing exams, assignments or field trips. Check with your course to make sure you know what the requirements are.
If you are ill or injured during your course you need to go to a doctor and get a medical certificate. This is a letter where a doctor will say the date they have examined you and that in their opinion you have an illness or injury on that date. The medical certificate will say if the doctor believes your illness or injury requires you to take time away from your studies to rest and recover.
If you are absent from your course because you are feeling lonely, homesick or depressed, it's important to get help as soon as you can. Check out our information about what to do if you're feeling lonely, homesick or stressed.
Tip: Talk to your place of study as soon as you can about how you can complete any requirements you have missed due to illness, injury or other good reasons. For example you may be able to get an extension on an assignment (which means you can hand the assignment in for marking at a later date).
You may need to show a medical certificate to your place of study so remember to always ask for one when you visit a doctor.