Visas for studying in New Zealand
There are many different visas that let you study in New Zealand. You can go to school, take a short course, study for longer or do other training.
Visas that allow you to study
There are a range of visas you can apply for to study in New Zealand.
You do not need a visa to study in New Zealand if you are an Australian citizen.
Temporary visas and NZeTA
If you have a visitor visa, work visa or a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA), you can study up for to 3 months in any 12-month period.
School-aged children who have visitor visas can study for up to 3 months in any calendar year.
Note
If children are going to be studying for more than 2 weeks, their education provider must be a signatory to the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021.
Find out if an education provider is a signatory, and how the code protects international students.
New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA)
Working holiday visas
If you are aged 18 to 30, or 18 to 35 in a select few countries, and a citizen of a country that has a working holiday agreement with New Zealand, you can apply for a working holiday visa.
On a working holiday visa, you can study 1 or more courses for up to 6 months in New Zealand. For example, you could study English, do a Study Abroad programme, or a short training course.
You must be coming mainly to holiday — study should be a secondary intention.
Who can apply for a working holiday visa
Student visas
If you want to study for more than 3 months in New Zealand, you will need an offer of place from a New Zealand education provider to apply for a student visa.
Students younger than 10
We only give student visas to international students younger than 10 if they will be living in New Zealand with their legal guardian or in an approved school hostel.
Parents and legal guardians of children studying in New Zealand can visit New Zealand to live with and care for their children.
Guardian of a Student Visitor Visa
Students younger than 18
International students who are younger than 18 must provide a statement from their education provider confirming their accommodation complies with the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021.
Explore visa options
Visa filter tool
Use the visa filter tool to help you choose a visa that fits your situation.
Visa lookup
You can find a visa directly from the ‘Visa lookup’ search field found in the footer on each page.
Simply start to type a visa name or key word such as 'student' and a list of visas that match your search will appear. You can then select the visa you would like to view.
Customising information on a visa page
If you are looking at a visa page online, entering your details on the page will display information specific to someone from your country.
The most common student visa for international students is the Fee Paying Student Visa. With this visa you can study full-time in New Zealand up to 4 years. You will need to pay the full cost of your courses and enrol with an approved education provider.
You may be able to study full-time up to 3 courses, one after the other, on a single student visa for up to 5 years. The visa is only available for study with approved Pathway Education Providers and for some courses of study.
If you have an appropriate work or student visa, you can apply for this visa to bring your dependent children aged 19 and younger to study as domestic students at a New Zealand primary or secondary school.
If you have been accepted into an approved student exchange scheme and are outside New Zealand, you can apply for this visa to study full-time up to 4 years.
Apply for this visa if you are a trainee who has been awarded a New Zealand Short Term Training Scholarship by Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships, or you are a nautical student.
If you are funded by a New Zealand scholarship administered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) or Education New Zealand, you can apply for this visa to study full-time up to 4 years.
This visa lets children aged 19 and younger study at a New Zealand primary or secondary school while their parents’ claim for refugee or protection status is being decided.
If you have a foreign government loan or scholarship, you can apply for this visa to study full-time in New Zealand for up to 4 years.
With this visa, a child who the New Zealand Police believes to be a victim of people trafficking can study as a domestic student at a New Zealand primary or secondary school. They must be aged 17 or younger and in New Zealand.
Applying for a student visa
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Step 1: Research student visas and find the one that works best
There are a few visa options for people who want to study in New Zealand. Each visa option for studying here has different requirements.
Read through the visa requirements of the student visa options to find out which option is the best visa based on your circumstances and intended study plans.
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Step 2: Enrol with your education provider
When you have decided what subject you want to study and where, you must apply for your place to study with that education provider.
Application times vary depending on the education provider, so it is best to look at their website to find out about their application process.
When you are accepted by an education provider, they will give you an 'offer of place'. You will need this offer to apply for your student visa.
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Step 3: Apply for your student visa
When you have been accepted for your programme of study in New Zealand, you can apply for a student visa.
Note
On 18 August 2025, applications for international student visas are moving to our enhanced Immigration Online system. If you are applying for a student visa in this timeframe you need to know how we will manage applications.
International student visa applications moving to enhanced Immigration Online
Before you apply, you will need to make sure that you have all the required documents. These include the offer of place from your education provider, evidence of your health and character, and evidence that you have enough funds to support yourself during your stay.
We recommend applying for a student visa 3 months in advance of your intended travel, if possible. There is no deadline for your application, but you should allow at least 8 weeks for visa processing.
If you already have a student visa but intend to stay in New Zealand for longer, you need to make sure that you apply for a further visa at least 4 weeks before your current visa expires.
There are guides available to help you prepare your application.
Immigration advice and help
If you receive immigration advice on applying for your student visa, or someone has helped you by explaining, translating or recording information on the form, you must declare this in your application and the person must complete the Student Visa Declaration Form.
To give immigration advice, people must be licensed to do so, or exempt from licensing. Education agents who are outside New Zealand, advising on student visas only, are exempt. Even if they are legally able to provide you with immigration advice, they must be declared in the visa application.
When you have your student visa
Getting ready
The Think New website has information to help you plan your trip to New Zealand, and make sure you know how things work here.
Naumai NZ — Think New, New Zealand Education
Arriving in New Zealand
There is also information on this website and the Think New website about the documents you will need when you get here, and what it is like to live in New Zealand.
Before you leave — Live and Work New Zealand
Living in New Zealand — Think New, New Zealand Education
You may be allowed to work while you are on a student visa in New Zealand, this depends on the conditions of your visa.
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When you do not need a student visa
You do not need a student visa to study in New Zealand, if you are:
- a New Zealand or Australian citizen
- studying a short course that is less than 3 months, and you already have a visitor, work or student visa.