To study in New Zealand, international students will probably require a student visa and/or permit.
Some people will need a student visa, some people won’t. But, most international students will require a permit that sets out the conditions of their stay here.
Students may not need a visa or permit if they are:
- a New Zealand citizen, or
- a New Zealand resident, or
- the holder of a valid Australian passport, or
- the holder of a current Australian Permanent Resident Visa, or
- the holder of a current Australian Resident Return Visa.
People on short courses
If the course of study is a single short course of less than three calendar months duration, and is approved or exempted by NZQA, the student does not need a student visa, and can apply for a visitor visa.
If the student wants to study two or more short courses of study or training (whether at the same time, or one after the other), he or she needs a student visa or permit.
Note: We do not consider a term spent studying at a primary, intermediate or secondary school to be a short course, and a student visa/permit must be applied for.
People who cannot get a visa/permit
In some circumstances a student from overseas may not be able to get a visa, and in others they may need a limited purpose visa to study in New Zealand.