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Student visas
International students can apply for a student visa to study at a New Zealand education provider, including schools, tertiary, and English language.
Overview of student visas
International students can apply for a student visa to study at a New Zealand education provider, including schools, tertiary, and English language.
There are also options for Working Holiday Visas which allow young people between 18 and 30 to work or study while they holiday in New Zealand.
Processing during peak periods
The periods between November to March and May to August are when we see the highest volumes of student visa applications. This is because students apply for a student visa before the start of the academic year/mid-year, as well as students already in New Zealand applying for a further visa to continue their studies.
Additionally, in 2024 we have seen higher volumes of applications compared to pre COVID-19, and we no longer process student visa applications offshore. Because of this, we are saw approximately 20 percent more applications than the peak period for 2022/2023.
The high volumes mean applications may take longer to process during these periods, particularly if applications are incomplete and we need to request further information.
Why some visa applications take longer to process than others
Supporting documents
Applications can also take longer to process if they are missing information.
Applicants should include all supporting documents required with their initial application to avoid further delays.
Use our student visa checklists when completing your application, to make sure you have everything you need. These checklists can be found on our student visa information page.
Working on a student visa
Whether a student can work before or after the course has finished depends on the work rights specified in the student visa.
The following table clarifies how student work rights apply before a student has started their course, and after their course has finished.
| Work rights granted: | 20 hours per week | Summer/scheduled vacations | Full time work rights (Masters by research or doctoral degree students) | Full time work rights for practical experience |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before the course has started | Student may work | Student may not work | Student may work | Student may not work |
| After the course has started | Student may work until their visa expiry date | Student may work until their visa expiry date | Student may work | Student may not work |
More information can be found in Visa Pak 493: Work rights for students pre and post course.
Visa Pak 493: Work rights for students pre and post course PDF 247KB
After completing study
There are options for people to stay and work in New Zealand after completing study, such as the Post Study Work Visa.