Student and Trainee Work Visa

Visa details

This visa is for students and trainees who want to get practical work experience in their field. This can include, but is not limited to religious trainees, dental or medical trainees and apprentice jockeys.

Length of stay

See below

Age range
Jockeys must be aged

16 or over

Cost
From
NZD $700
Processing time
90% within
49 days
With this visa you can
  • Stay for up to 6 months if you are medical or dental trainee.
  • Stay for up to 6 months if you are a student undertaking practical training.
  • Stay for up to 36 months if you are a religious trainee.
  • Stay for up to 4 years if you are an apprentice jockey.
  • Do practical work experience to complete a study or training requirement.
  • Complete a formal religious training programme or apprenticeship as a jockey.
  • Do practical dental or medical training.
Things to note
  • If you'll be studying for more than 3 months at a tertiary education institute, you should apply for a student visa instead.
  • You can't include a partner or dependent children in your visa application, but they can apply for visas based on their relationship to you.
    Explore family visa options

Who can apply

The criteria and evidence below will provide you with the information you need to provide to meet the requirements of this visa.

View All Evidence

Identity

You must provide proof of your identity

  • 1 acceptable photo if you apply online, or 2 photos if you use a paper application form.
  • your passport or certificate of identity.

Acceptable photos

If you submit a paper application, provide your original passport or a certified copy.  We can usually process your application faster if you provide your original passport.

If you apply online, you must upload a copy of your passport when you apply. We will let you know if you need to send your passport after you've applied.

Sending your passport for online applications

Tips

  1. Also provide your Kartu Keluarga.

  2. If you’re not a French national, also provide a copy of your carte d’assuré.

  3. Also provide a copy of your livret de famille.

  4. Please also provide a copy of your carte d’assuré.

  5. Also provide a copy of your Identity card.

  6. Also provide your:

    • Hukou (household registration book)
    • Chinese identity card.

  7. If you are a citizen of China and you submit a paper application form in China, you must also complete a supplementary form.

    Supplementary form for Chinese citizens (INZ 1027) PDF 338KB

  8. If you are submitting a paper application form, you must provide a supplementary form for Hong Kong and Macao visitors, workers and students.

    Supplementary form for Hong Kong and Macao visitors, workers and students (INZ 1220) PDF 240KB

Character

You must be of good character

You may need to provide police certificates as proof of your good character.

If you are aged 17 or older and plan to stay in New Zealand for more than 24 months (including any time you have already spent in New Zealand), you must provide police certificates from:

  • any country you are a citizen of
  • any country you have spent more than 5 years in since you turned 17.

You do not need to provide police certificates if:

  • you have provided them to us with an earlier visa application, and
  • they were issued in the previous 24 months.

Good character

How to get a police certificate

Funds or sponsorship

If you’re a student doing practical work experience, or a dental or medical trainee, you must have enough money to support yourself while you’re in New Zealand or have an acceptable sponsor

You must have at least NZD $1,000 per month, or NZD $400 per month if you’ve already paid for your accommodation.

Evidence can include:

  • proof of accommodation pre-payment, like hotel pre-paid vouchers or receipts
  • bank statements
  • credit card statements
  • bank drafts
  • travellers’ cheques
  • a 'Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry' completed by an acceptable sponsor.
If you are sponsored:

Your sponsor must provide evidence they can look after you in New Zealand. Evidence can include:

  • recent bank statements
  • pay slips
  • employment agreement
  • accommodation ownership or payment of rent.

Criteria and process to become a sponsor

What sponsors must do while you are in New Zealand

Tips

  1. If you are pregnant, there are additional requirements.

    Paying for maternity care

  2. If you’re a religious trainee or an apprentice jockey, you don’t need to meet these requirements.

Practical work experience

You must meet the requirements for students who need to do practical work experience as part of their study or training

To meet the requirements, you must provide evidence:

  • your work experience is directly related to your study or training
  • your education provider supports your work experience 
  • you have a written offer of work from a New Zealand education provider or employer 
  • you have enough money to live on while you’re in New Zealand or have an acceptable sponsor (see ‘Funds or sponsorship’).
Tips

  1. If you’re a religious trainee, medical or dental trainee or an apprentice jockey, you don’t need to meet these requirements.

Religious trainees

You must meet the requirements for religious trainees

To meet the requirements, you must provide evidence:

  • you have a place on a formal religious training programme in New Zealand – you’ll need to provide written confirmation of your place
  • the religious organisation providing your training will sponsor will you – they’ll need to complete a ‘Sponsorship Form for Religious Workers’ and be eligible to sponsor you.

For your sponsoring organisation to be eligible, it must:

  • be registered as a charity with Charities Services
  • show us that its main purpose is to advance religion
  • have been providing religious training for 5 years or more
  • be able to meet the requirements for acceptable sponsors, including having the ability to provide you with accommodation, financial support and help to return home, if you need it. They’ll need to agree to this when they complete the ‘Sponsorship Form for Religious Workers’.

What sponsors must do – responsibilities and obligations

Charities Services

Sponsorship Form for Religious Workers (INZ1190) PDF 300KB

Tips

  1. You can’t be an ‘officer’ or a ‘nominated person’ of the religious organisation that sponsors you.

  2. If you’re granted a Student and Trainee Work Visa, you’ll only be able to work for the religious organisation that’s providing your training.

Medical and dental trainees

You must meet the requirements for medical or dental trainees

To meet the requirements, you must provide evidence:

  • you’re qualified and experienced 
  • have an offer of practical training work from a New Zealand hospital
  • you have enough money to live on while you’re in New Zealand or have an acceptable sponsor (see ‘funds or sponsorship’).
Tips

  1. You won’t be eligible for this visa if you already have a student or visitor visa.

Apprentice jockeys

You must meet the requirements for apprentice jockeys

To meet the requirements, you must provide evidence:

  • you have an offer from a New Zealand trainer to take up an apprenticeship, eg an  employment agreement or letter of offer
  • your trainer will cover the cost of your return home, if you don’t complete the apprenticeship – we’ll need their written guarantee. This may be included in your employment agreement or provided separately
  • New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Incorporated agrees to meet the cost of your accommodation and living costs while you’re in New Zealand – you’ll need to provide their written guarantee.

Process and costs

The information below will help you understand the process, timeframes and costs involved in applying for this visa, so you can plan ahead and have the best chance of submitting a complete application.

Notes

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How to submit

Payment methods and receiving centre details if applicable.

Notes

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Conditions

These are the conditions that you must meet once you have your visa.

Entry permission

You must apply for entry permission when you arrive in New Zealand. You can do this by completing an arrival card, which you are given on the way to New Zealand.

Arriving in New Zealand

Notes

  • You can be refused entry permission if:

    • you do not meet our character requirements
    • your circumstances have changed since you were granted a visa
    • you refuse to let us take your photo or to provide us with your fingerprints or an iris scan, if asked for them
    • you are unable to provide evidence of any onward travel or funds required by the conditions of your visa.

    If you are refused entry to New Zealand

    Before you travel to New Zealand

Funds or sponsorship

You must have enough money to live on while you’re in New Zealand or a sponsor.

Notes

  • We may ask for evidence when you arrive in New Zealand.

    If you don’t need to provide evidence, we’ll record it on your visa label.

Work (Religious trainees)

You can only work for the organisation providing your religious training.

Work (Practical work experience, dental and medical trainees)

You can only work for the education provider or employer doing the practical work experience or training that was the basis of your visa application.

Study

You can study for up to 3 months in any 12-month period.

Notes

  • If you want to study for longer than this you’ll need to apply for a student visa.

Visa expiry

You must leave New Zealand before your visa expires.

Notes

  • If you’re a religious trainee, you may be able to apply for another Student and Trainee Work Visa.

    Other trainees and students may be able to apply for a Work Visa.