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:

See the detailed offer of place requirements of international students.

Your course must be approved by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA).

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.

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.

Some people who have committed serious crimes will not be allowed into New Zealand at all. See sections 15 and 16 of the Immigration Act 2009.

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.

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.

For full details, see U3.25 of our Operational Manual.

Passport

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

Visa conditions

Once you have a student visa, you must meet certain conditions during your stay.

• You must attend the place of study noted on your visa. However, you may apply to us to change your course and/or education provider.
• If you have to be accompanied by a guardian, you must live with that person.
• You must be able to show that you are passing your course and meeting your attendance requirements.
• You may only undertake work allowed by your student visa.
• You must obey New Zealand’s laws.
• You must only stay in New Zealand for the time allowed by your visa.

If you breach any of these conditions you may liable for deportation.