Fee Paying Student Visa

This visa is for students who are paying international tuition fees themselves, or with support from family, a loan, or a partial scholarship. You must have an offer of place from an approved education provider.

Apply online
  • Length of stay

    Up to

    4 years

  • Cost

    From

    NZD $850

  • Processing time

    80% within

    5 weeks

To apply you must:

  • be offered a place on a by an
  • have enough money to pay your tuition fees, or have a scholarship
  • have enough money to pay your living expenses, or have an acceptable sponsor
  • declare that you will have insurance that is acceptable to your education provider
  • have your parent or legal guardian with you if you are aged under 10 and not living in an New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA)-approved hostel
  • meet the other requirements of this visa.

This visa lets you:

  • study full-time in New Zealand on an approved course, including primary, secondary, tertiary study
  • work part-time up to 20 hours a week while studying and full-time in holidays, depending on your visa conditions
  • travel in and out of New Zealand until your visa expires.

You cannot include your partner or dependent children in your visa application, but they can apply for visas based on their relationship to you.

Bringing family if you have a student visa

Note

On 18 August 2025, applications for international student visas moved to our enhanced Immigration Online system.

International student visa applications now on enhanced Immigration Online

You can access your old applications, and until 17 September 2025 you can access and submit your draft applications, on the previous system:

Access our old system

Alert

From 18 September 2025, we will no longer accept paper applications for this visa. All applications from 18 September must be submitted online. Check our guidance if you need help completing your application online:

Applying online

Open

We are currently in a peak period for student visa applications. Try to get your application in at least 3 months before your intended travel date to avoid delays.

Apply early to get ahead of the student visa peak

Apply online

How long you can stay

Your visa is normally issued for the same period as the study you have paid for, or up to when your passport expires if that is due to happen sooner. Your visa may be shorter than the length of your course. For example, if you have paid for 1 year of study for a multi-year course or if your passport expires before the end date of your study.

This visa can be issued for a maximum of 4 years.

Who can apply

To apply for this visa you must:

  • be offered a place on a by an approved education provider
  • have enough money to pay your tuition fees, or have a scholarship
  • be in good health
  • be of good character
  • have a genuine reason for coming to New Zealand
  • have enough money to pay your living expenses during your stay, or have an acceptable sponsor
  • show you can leave New Zealand at the end of your stay
  • have full medical and travel insurance for your stay
  • provide information about your holidays and your course, and have written permission, if you plan to work
  • show you are passing your course and meeting attendance requirements, if you already have a student visa
  • be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian and live with that person while studying, if aged under 10 and not living in an approved school hostel.

Place on a course

You must have been offered a place on a course by an . You will need to provide evidence of this, or confirmation of enrolment if you are a returning student.

The offer of place evidence must include:

  • the name of your course
  • how long it will last
  • whether your study will be full-time or part-time
  • if you will be learning from a distance or a correspondence student — if studying outside New Zealand, proof you need to be in New Zealand for more than 3 months to study at your education provider
  • the dates of all of the course’s scheduled holidays, if it lasts for more than 1 academic year (you can provide information about the dates of holidays in a separate document).

Check our 'offer of place' templates to make sure your offer has the information we need:

Offering a place to a student

Note

If you are applying from outside of New Zealand, you can apply with a conditional offer of place from your education provider. We can assess your application and approve your visa in principle, but you will need to provide an unconditional offer of place before we can approve your visa.

An offer of place must also include a declaration signed by your education provider to say they have assessed, and are satisfied, that:

  • the course they offer you is appropriate to your expectations, and
  • you have the English language ability and academic capability to pass the course.

Your 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.

Wellbeing and safety for international learners — New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA)

Tuition fees

Unless you are exempt, you must have enough money to pay your tuition fees.

You must be able to show you have paid the tuition fees for 1 course, or 1 year of study — whichever is shorter.

Depending on your situation, evidence can include any of the following:

  • a letter or receipt from your approved education provider showing you have paid your fees
  • confirmation from your education provider that you do not need to pay tuition fees
  • documents that show you have applied for a government loan in your home country studying a bachelor degree programme or higher at a private training establishment, or at a university or institute of technology or polytechnic, with a letter from your education provider confirming they expect to receive the fees.

If you apply for your visa outside New Zealand, you can choose not to pay your tuition fees until we let you know that we have approved your application in principle. Your application will take longer to process as you will need to provide evidence that you have paid your tuition fees before we can issue your visa.

Plan to fund subsequent years of study

If you study for more than 1 year — on a single course or several courses — it can strengthen your application if you show us a credible plan for how you will pay for your tuition fees and living costs for the following years. For example, by showing us evidence of family income.

You do not need to have the money available for any subsequent years now. However, a plan for how you will fund your subsequent years of study will help us decide if you:

  • are a genuine applicant
  • are likely to meet the conditions of your visa
  • will leave New Zealand before your visa expires, if you cannot get another visa.

Parent or legal guardian

If the student is aged under 10 and not going to live in a New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA)-approved school hostel, they must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian and live with that person while studying. Grandparents do not generally meet requirements for a guardian visa, due to our definition of .

The parent or legal guardian must provide evidence they:

  • have the legal right to care for their dependent child (including education and health), and
  • care for the dependent child in their home country.

Evidence of the legal right to provide care for the dependent child can include:

  • the child’s birth certificate or adoption papers, if they are the child’s parent
  • court documents, if they are a court-appointed guardian
  • relevant legal documents, for example, if they were named as the child’s guardian in a will.

Evidence a legal guardian cares for this dependent child in their home country can include:

  • their passport or residence document showing they have been living with them in the child’s home country
  • documents showing that they have paid for the child’s education
  • educational records or documents showing they are responsible for this child’s education.

Note
The parent or legal guardian must apply separately for the type of visa they need.

Practical work experience

If you are required to do practical work experience as part of your course, you must provide evidence that it is a requirement of your studies.

Evidence can include:

  • a letter from your approved education provider confirming that you must complete work experience as part of your study
  • a course outline that shows you must do practical work experience — this information may be in your offer of place document.

Note 

Time you spend doing practical work experience is in addition to the hours you are allowed to work under the conditions of your visa.

However, if your main activity is work, you must apply for a work visa.

Permission to work

If you are aged 16 or 17 at a tertiary education provider, or in years 12 or 13 at school, you must have permission to work, for your student visa to be granted with work rights.

Your visa may be issued with rights allowing you to work up to 20 hours a week and full-time in the summer holidays, or during scheduled breaks if you are at a tertiary education provider or private training establishment. For this, you will need to provide a letter agreeing that you can work, from your: 

  • parent or legal guardian, and
  • approved education provider.

Note

If you are aged 18 or older you do not need written permission to work during the summer holidays. Students aged 15 or younger cannot work on a student visa.

Working on a student visa 

Working full-time in your scheduled holidays

To be given work rights allowing you to work full-time in scheduled holidays, you must provide information about your course and holidays.

You will need to show:

  • your course has a value of 120 credits — this information may be on your fee receipt or invoice, or other correspondence provided by your approved education provider
  • when holidays are scheduled during your course — you can usually find this in your education provider's offer of place letter.

Working on a student visa 

If you already have a student visa

If you apply for another student visa, you will need to provide documents showing your previous performance, progress and attendance. These can include:

  • academic transcripts
  • attendance records
  • a letter from your approved education provider.

If you have not met performance or attendance requirements, you must provide an explanation for this. Genuine reasons for absence will be considered.

If you are studying a bachelor’s degree or higher, you may not have attendance records, but you must still provide evidence of your progress.

Health

You must be in good health.

We may ask you to have a chest X-ray, a medical examination or both as proof of your health.

If you are staying less than:

  • 6 months, you do not normally need a chest X-ray
  • 12 months, you do not normally need a medical certificate.

When you apply, you must answer questions about your health. This will help to decide whether you need to provide evidence of a chest X-ray or medical examination. Even if you do not need these when you apply, we may ask for them when we process your application.

Check the situations where we may ask you to have a chest X-ray or medical examination.

Note

You must be in good health, even if you have medical or travel insurance.

Full fee-paying students do not usually need to provide a medical certificate.

Who needs an X-ray or medical examination

Evidence of a chest X-ray or medical examination must be less than 3 months old when we receive them.

If staying for more than 6 months

If you will be staying in New Zealand for more than 6 months, you must have a chest X-ray if you:

  • are a citizen of a country that does not have a low incidence of tuberculosis (TB), or
  • have spent more than 3 months in the last 5 years in a country that does not have a low incidence of TB.

You must provide a new chest X-ray certificate, even if you have provided one to us previously, if you:

  • have spent 6 months in a row in a country that does not have a low incidence of TB since the date of your last X-ray certificate, and
  • are now coming to New Zealand for more than 6 months — if you are in New Zealand this includes any time you have already spent here.

Character

You must be of good character.

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

If you have a criminal conviction, or are a security risk to New Zealand, we might not give you a visa.

You must provide police certificates that are less than 6 months old when you apply, if:

  • you are aged 17 or older, and
  • your total time in New Zealand will be 24 months or longer — this includes time you spent in New Zealand in the past on other visas.

Police certificates must be obtained from:

  • countries you are a citizen of, and
  • countries you have spent more than 5 years in since you turned 17.

If we ask for a new police certificate when processing your application, you will need to send us a new one.

Note

You do not need to provide police certificates if you:

  • provided them with an earlier visa application and they were issued in the last 36 months, or
  • are aged under 20 and have held New Zealand student visas (or interim visas with study conditions) continuously since you turned 17.

Genuine intentions

You must genuinely intend to study in New Zealand and meet the conditions of your visa.

When we decide if your intentions for coming to New Zealand are genuine, we will consider all the information that:

  • you provide to support your application
  • we have about your personal circumstances
  • you have previously provided to us.

If your course has English language or academic requirements, you can provide evidence to show that show you meet those requirements. Evidence can include an online verification report for current tertiary study, or English language test results (such as IELTS or TOFEL).

Evidence of English language test results are not mandatory but can help us assess your genuine intention to study.

Enough money to live on

You must have enough money to live on while you are in New Zealand, or have an acceptable sponsor.

The evidence you send us can include:

  • bank statements
  • documents that show your living costs have been paid — for example, confirmation of a school homestay where you will live with a local family while you study
  • evidence of a full or partial scholarship
  • evidence of an education loan, including the loan sanction letter (covering the security, the moratorium period, the interest payable, and the repayments) as well as evidence of how the loan will be repaid
  • evidence of fixed-term deposits
  • a Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry, completed by an acceptable sponsor
  • a Financial Undertaking for a Student form, completed by an acceptable guarantor.

If you are paying for yourself

If your studies are tertiary level, English language or other non-compulsory study you must have:

  • NZD $20,000 for each year if you are studying for 1 year or more
  • NZD $1,667 for each month if your study is shorter than 1 year.

If you are studying in compulsory education — for example, at a school in Years 1 to 13 — you must have NZD $17,000 for each year or NZD $1,417 for each month.

If you plan to study for more than 1 year, it can strengthen your application if you show us a credible plan for how you will pay for your living costs for the following years. For example, by showing us evidence of family income.

Cost of living — NauMai NZ

Note

The amount it costs you to live in New Zealand will depend on where you live and how much you pay for accommodation, transport and food.

If you have a sponsor

Your sponsor is responsible for your accommodation and living costs while you are in New Zealand. They can be an organisation or an individual.

Individual sponsors must be a family member or friend.

Sponsorship process for a visa

Your sponsor must complete a Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry if you are applying on paper. They can provide supporting documents including:

  • recent bank statements
  • pay slips
  • their employment agreement
  • ownership papers for your accommodation or receipts for rent payments.

You submit the form and evidence with your application to show us how they will pay your living expenses.

Note

If you are in New Zealand and applying for a further international student visa, you can only be sponsored if your first student visa was sponsored. Sponsorship must be by the same person or organisation that acted as the sponsor for your initial visa application.

If you have a guarantor

Before you arrive in New Zealand, a third party or guarantor can agree to provide you with financial support while you are in New Zealand. The guarantor can be an organisation or an individual — if an individual, they must be a relative or friend of the student.

The guarantor must:

  • complete a Financial Undertaking for a Student form
  • provide evidence that they have money that is their own and not loaned, such as recent bank statements or confirmation from the bank.

Paying for health care

You or your sponsor will need to pay for any health care or medical assistance you receive while in New Zealand.

If you are pregnant, there are additional requirements.

Note

Some people may be eligible for public health care.

Who can get public health care

Citizens of India, Sri Lanka, China, Vietnam and Philippines

You may be able to use the Funds Transfer Scheme to show that you will be able to access your funds in New Zealand. 

Funds Transfer Scheme

Citizens of India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal or Bhutan applying from any of those countries

If you are applying in South Asia, only immediate family are able to sponsor you or provide a financial undertaking. Immediate family are your partner, parents, siblings, grandparents and parents-in-law.

Medical and travel insurance

You must agree to have insurance for travel and any health care you need, from the start of your course until your visa expires. This will be a condition of your student visa.

Your education provider will tell you what your insurance policy must cover, or they may arrange insurance for you. 

Your insurance policy must meet the requirements set out in the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021, and be acceptable to your education provider.

The Tertiary and International Learners Code of Practice — NZQA

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students do not need to have insurance.

Note

Some people may be eligible for public health care.

Who can get public health care

Leaving New Zealand

You must be able to show that you plan to leave the country at the end of your stay.

If you are paying for yourself, you will need to provide:

  • your ticket for travel out of New Zealand at the end of your stay to a , or
  • documents, such as bank statements, that show you have enough money to buy a ticket.

Note

The money for your ticket must be in addition to what you have to live on.

If you are being sponsored and you do not have a return ticket, your sponsor can provide recent bank statements to show they have enough money to buy you a ticket out of New Zealand.

A guarantor can also decide to cover the costs of outward travel.

Documents you need

When you apply

When you apply, you will need to provide:

  • a copy of your passport or
  • 1 acceptable photo if you apply online, or 2 photos if you apply on paper
  • evidence you have been offered a place in an approved course of study
  • evidence you have paid tuition fees, can do so, or do not need to
  • evidence you have enough money to live on while you are in New Zealand and that the money is from a genuine source we can confirm
  • if you have a sponsor, a copy of the completed Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry if applying on paper, or your sponsor's if you are applying online
  • if you have a guarantor, a copy of the completed Financial Undertaking for a Student form
  • evidence that practical work experience forms part of your study, where applicable
  • if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, proof that they are responsible for you in your home country
  • if you are aged under 18, permission from your parent or legal guardian, as well as from the approved education provider, if you will be working during your stay
  • information about your course and holidays, if you plan to work full-time in your holidays
  • evidence of a chest X-ray, if required
  • evidence of a medical examination, if required
  • police certificates, if required
  • evidence of a ticket (or money to pay for a ticket) for travel out of New Zealand at the end of your stay
  • certified English translations of any police certificates or medical certificates that are not in English.

Your passport or certificate of identity must be valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave New Zealand.

Alert

You may not be allowed to check in to your flight if your passport is close to expiring. Check that it will not expire while you are in New Zealand or close to when you plan to leave New Zealand.

Before you travel to New Zealand

After you apply

After you apply, we may contact you and ask for police certificates as proof of your good character.

When you arrive

When you arrive, you will need to have:

  • a ticket to leave New Zealand at the end of your stay, proof you have enough money to buy one, or agreement that a sponsor will pay for one
  • proof you have enough money to pay your living expenses during your stay.

How to apply online

Follow these steps to complete your application online.

Note

To help prevent delays with processing, make sure your application contains all the required documents.

  1. 1

    Step 1: Have a place on a course

    Provide details of the course you have been accepted for, including a signed declaration from the approved education provider. 

    If you are a returning student, you must provide confirmation of your enrolment. 

  2. 2

    Step 2: Gather your documents

    The section 'Who can apply' explains the requirements for this visa and what you will need as proof.

    Get documents translated

    For your application you must provide:

    • certified translations of police and medical certificates that are not in English
    • scanned copies of the original documents.

    Note

    If your other evidence is not in English, you can provide a translated copy to help prevent delays with processing.

    Documents must be translated by someone who meets our requirements for providing English translations.

    Organise proof you have been offered a place, and can pay your tuition fees 

    Gather the documents to show that you have been offered a place by an approved education provider, or confirmation of enrolment if you are a returning student.

    You will also need to show that you have either paid your tuition fees, have the ability to do so, or are not required to pay tuition fees.

    Organise work-related information and permissions

    Where applicable, gather the documents you will need to show that:

    • practical work experience is part of your course of study
    • you have permission to work while in New Zealand
    • you can work full-time in your holidays.

    Organise proof of identity, citizenship and age

    If you need a new passport, allow yourself enough time to get it.

    When you apply, make sure you enter your identity details exactly as they appear on your passport or certificate of identity.

    Alert

    If there are any mistakes in your identity details, your application may be delayed. We may also decline your application or refuse you entry to New Zealand.

    Make sure your photos are acceptable for a New Zealand visa.

    Book medical appointments, if required

    If you have determined that you need a chest X-ray or medical examination, book an appointment.

    For your application, you will need to provide the:

    • reference code from the clinic submitting your health information
    • name of the clinic submitting your health information, if there is no eMedical reference code, or
    • medical certificate, chest X-ray certificate, or both if the clinic gave these to you.

    Note

    Evidence of a chest X-ray or medical examination must be less than 3 months old when we receive it. Allow yourself enough time to get this.

    Apply for police certificates, if required

    Check if you will need to include police certificates with your visa application.

    If you do, use the tool to find out how to get police certificates in different countries.

    How to get a police certificate

    Note

    Your police certificates must be less than 6 months old when you submit your application. Allow yourself enough time to get these certificates.

    Organise proof of guardianship

    Where the student will be accompanied, have the necessary documents to prove the parent or legal guardian is responsible for the applicant in their home country.

    Organise proof you have enough money to live on

    Gather the documents you need to prove you have enough money to cover your living expenses while you are in New Zealand, or an acceptable sponsor or guarantor.

    These must be included with your online application.

    Sponsorship process for a visa

    If you have a guarantor, make sure you get a copy of their completed Financial Undertaking for a Student form.

    Organise proof you can leave New Zealand

    Evidence can be a plane ticket, proof you have the money to buy one, or agreement that your sponsor, or a guarantor, will pay for any onward travel.

  3. 3

    Step 3: Submit your application and pay the fee

    To apply online, log in to your account or set up an account if you do not have one already.

    Apply online, upload your documents and pay the applicable fees.

    Check the 'How to pay and submit' section for fees.

  4. 4

    Step 4: Wait for our decision

    We will let you know if we need more information to process your application.

    Waiting for a visa 

    Check the 'How to pay and submit' section for timeframes.

    Note

    If you are already in New Zealand, you must have a valid visa. If your current temporary visa is going to expire while you are waiting for our decision, we will normally issue you an Interim Visa to let you stay in New Zealand lawfully.

    Interim Visa

  5. 5

    Step 5: Check your application status

    Log in to your account to check the status of your application.

    Checking your application status

    We will email you when we make a decision.

    If we approve your application, we will give you an eVisa and send you a copy.

    Using eVisas and visa labels

    Check the 'While you are in New Zealand' section to find out what you can and cannot do when you come to New Zealand.

How to apply on paper

Follow these steps to complete your application on paper.

Alert

From 18 September 2025, we will no longer accept paper applications for this visa. All applications from 18 September must be submitted online. Check our guidance if you need help completing your application online:

Applying online

Note

To help prevent delays with processing, make sure your application contains all the required documents.

  1. 1

    Step 1: Have a place on a course

    Provide details of the course you have been accepted for, including a signed declaration from the approved education provider.

    If you are a returning student, you must provide confirmation of your enrolment.

  2. 2

    Step 2: Gather your documents

    The section 'Who can apply' explains the requirements for this visa and what you will need as proof.

    Our guide to applying for a student visa can also help. This is available in languages other than English.

    Get documents translated

    For you application you must provide:

    • certified translations of police and medical certificates that are not in English
    • copies of the original documents.

    Note

    If your other evidence is not in English, you can provide a translated copy to help prevent delays with processing.

    Documents must be translated by someone who meets our requirements for providing English translations.

    Organise proof you have an offer of place, and can pay your tuition fees

    Gather the documents to show that you have been offered a place by an approved education provider, or confirmation of enrolment if you are a returning student.

    You will also need to show that you have paid your tuition fees, have the ability to do so, or are not required to pay tuition fees.

    Organise work-related information and permissions

    Where applicable, gather the documents you will need to show that:

    • practical work experience is part of your course of study
    • you have permission to work while in New Zealand
    • you can work full-time in your holidays.

    Organise proof of identity, citizenship and age

    If you need a new passport, allow yourself enough time to get it.

    When you apply, make sure you enter your identity details exactly as they appear on your passport or certificate of identity.

    Alert

    If there are any mistakes in your identity details, your application may be delayed. We may also decline your application or refuse you entry to New Zealand.

    Make sure your photos are acceptable for a New Zealand visa.

    Book medical appointments, if required

    If you have determined that you need a chest X-ray or medical examination, book an appointment.

    For your application, you will need to provide the:

    • reference code from the clinic submitting your health information
    • name of the clinic submitting your health information, if there is no eMedical reference code, or
    • medical certificate, chest X-ray certificate, or both if the clinic gave these to you.

    Note

    Evidence of a chest X-ray or medical examination must be less than 3 months old when we receive it. Allow yourself enough time to get this.

    Apply for police certificates, if required

    Check if you will need to include police certificates with your visa application.

    If you do, use the tool to find out how to get police certificates in different countries.

    How to get a police certificate

    Note

    Your police certificates must be less than 6 months old when you submit your application. Allow yourself enough time to get these certificates.

    Organise proof of guardianship

    Where the student will be accompanied, have the necessary documents to prove the parent or legal guardian is responsible for the applicant in their home country.

    Organise proof you have enough money to live on

    Gather the documents you need to prove you have enough money to live on while you are in New Zealand, or an acceptable sponsor or guarantor.

    If you have a sponsor, make sure you get a copy of their completed Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry.

    Sponsorship process for a visa

    If you have a guarantor, make sure you get a copy of their completed Financial Undertaking for a Student form.

    Organise proof you can leave New Zealand

    Evidence can be a plane ticket, proof you have the money to buy one, or agreement that your sponsor, or a guarantor, will pay for any onward travel.

    Organise proof of medical and travel insurance

    Documents you can show us include:

    • a copy of your insurance certificate
    • a letter from your insurance company.
  3. 3

    Step 3: Complete the application form

    Complete the application form and attach all supporting documents. 

    Check the 'Who can apply' section and use our student visa guide to help you.

  4. 4

    Step 4: Submit your application and pay the fee

    Check the 'How to pay and submit' section for fees and where to submit your application.

  5. 5

    Step 5: Wait for our decision

    If we need more information to process your application, we will let you know.

    We will email you when we make a decision.

    Checking your application status 

    Check the 'How to pay and submit' section for timeframes.

    If we approve your application, we will give you an eVisa and email you a copy.

    Using eVisas and visa labels

    Note

    If you are already in New Zealand, you must have a valid visa. If your current temporary visa is going to expire while you are waiting for our decision, we will normally issue you an Interim Visa to let you stay in New Zealand lawfully.

    Interim Visa

    Check the 'While you are in New Zealand' section to find out what you can and cannot do when you come to New Zealand.

How to pay and submit

When you get your visa

Your visa is valid from:

  • the date you enter New Zealand, if you are outside New Zealand when we approve your application, or
  • the date you get your visa, if you are already in New Zealand.

You must leave New Zealand before your visa expires.

When you arrive

Entry permission

You must apply for permission to enter New Zealand. You do this by completing a New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD) form.

You can start your digital declaration any time, but the earliest you can submit it is 24 hours before starting your travel to New Zealand.

A paper declaration form is available for travellers who cannot complete it online.

New Zealand Traveller Declaration — Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

New Zealand Customs and Biosecurity also check that you meet their entry requirements.

Arriving in New Zealand

Alert

You can be refused entry permission if you:

  • do not have genuine intentions in coming to New Zealand
  • do not meet our character requirements
  • have had a change in circumstances since we issued your visa
  • refuse to let us take your photo, fingerprints or an iris scan
  • cannot provide evidence that you intend to leave New Zealand at the end of your stay.

While you are in New Zealand

Attendance and progress

You must attend the course of study noted on your visa, unless you have good reason for absences.

You must make satisfactory progress in your studies.

Travel

If you want to travel in and out of New Zealand, you must have valid on your visa.

If you are applying from inside New Zealand, we will normally give you multiple entry travel conditions when we grant you this visa.

If you do not have multiple entry travel conditions and you leave New Zealand, your visa will expire.

Your travel conditions will be recorded on your visa label or in your visa letter.

Work

You may be allowed to work part-time for up to 20 hours a week and full-time during all scheduled holidays and/or the Christmas and New Year holiday period. Check your visa conditions.

Paying tax

Everyone who has a job in New Zealand pays tax on what they earn. 

To pay tax, you need an Inland Revenue Department (IRD) number from Inland Revenue — the New Zealand Government department that collects tax.

IRD numbers — Inland Revenue

Visa expiry

If your passport is due to expire, your visa will expire before this date. You need to renew your passport and apply for either a new student visa or have the 'balance' of that visa transferred to your new passport, if you want to continue studying.