Studying in New Zealand less than 3 months (effective 26 July 2010)

Students can spend up to 3 months with a New Zealand education provider once per calendar year as a visitor – non-consecutive terms.  This means a student can study 1 or more short courses for up to 3 calendar months’ duration in total per visa stay conditions.

The courses must still be approved by NZQA.

If students intend to study in New Zealand for longer than 3 months they must apply for a student visa offshore.

This includes school aged children – they can spend up to three months in a New Zealand school once per calendar year (in non-consecutive terms) as a visitor.  The study must start and finish within the calendar year.  It must not be in Term 1 if a single period of study was undertaken in Term 4 of the previous year.  Study must also be at a Code signatory school if they attend for more than two weeks or they are fee-paying foreign students.

If the student intends to study in New Zealand for longer than 3 months they must apply for a student visa offshore.

Group Visitors Visas

 A ‘Group Student’ is part of a group of 2 or more international students aged 10 and over, holding a group visa issued by Immigration New Zealand.

Group visas are a type of Group Visitors Visa.  However there is no specification by Immigration New Zealand that groups of students MUST apply for a Group Visa.
 

Working Holiday Visas

All students who come to New Zealand on a Working Holiday Visa (WHS) can study at more than one provider during their stay in New Zealand without needing a student visa, as long as the total duration of the courses does not exceed 3 months.  [Note:  WHS students from Canada, Germany, Japan, Taiwan and the United Kingdom can study at more than one provider during their stay in New Zealand without needing a student visa, for up to 6 months.]

Students should note that Working Holiday Visa requirements vary depending on what country they come from – for example, there are some limitations on the number of people from a country who can receive Working Holiday Visas per year.

See http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/workingholiday/ for more information on WHS.

If working holiday makers wish to study for longer than 3 months (or 6 months if their scheme allows it), they can apply for a student visa while in New Zealand.

People who do not need a student visa

Students do not need a visa/permit if they:

•    are a citizen of New Zealand or Australia
•    hold a New Zealand residence visa
•    are an Australian resident with a current permanent residence visa or a current resident return visa
•    are exempt from having to hold a visa/permit (this is seen most often in relation to diplomats and their dependents).

Transfer and Course Changes

Students, who wish to transfer from one course to another or from one institute to another, must apply for a variation of conditions to their student permit. There are new policies in place regarding changing course and provider.  A further student permit or variation of conditions, for the purpose of changing course and/or education provider, will only be granted if an immigration officer is satisfied that:
1.    the applicant meets the student policy requirements; and
2.    the applicant has not breached their permit conditions; and
3.    the original student visa would have been issued for the proposed course and/or education provider; and
4.    the applicant remains a bona fide applicant

 If the education provider is certified with Students Online, the student can make their application at their nearest certified educational institute.  If the educational provider is not certified with Students Online, the student will need to complete the Application for Variation of Conditions Form and all Variation requirements.

 

Interim Visas

An Interim Visa is similar to a bridging visa – it maintains a person’s lawful status while their application for a further temporary visa is decided.  The applicant must be lawfully in New Zealand when making their application.  It is valid for six months or until the substantive application is decided.  In most cases an interim visa will be granted automatically by electronic means, and there is no fee and no visa label.  People who are granted interim visas will be notified by email or by letter.

Interim visas for student visa applicants have open study conditions.  They do not have travel conditions.