Student Visas in New Zealand
Studying there, and whether study leads to residency
A student visa requires an offer of place from an education provider approved by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, evidence of funds and accommodation, and insurance. Its value to people planning to stay lies in the post-study work visa, whose length and openness depend closely on the level of the qualification and, for some, on whether the field appears on the Green List.
| Visa type | Fee Paying Student Visa source |
| Provider requirement | Offer of place from an NZQA-approved provider source |
| Living costs evidence | Commonly around NZD 20,000 for a year of study |
| Work while studying | Commonly up to around 20 hours a week for eligible students |
| After study | Post-study work visa, commonly up to around three years source |
What the application asks for
- An offer of place from a provider approved by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority; study at a non-approved provider does not support a visa.
- Evidence of tuition payment or an approved arrangement to pay.
- Evidence of funds for living costs, commonly benchmarked at around NZD 20,000 for a year.
- Acceptable accommodation arrangements, with stricter requirements for applicants under 18.
- Medical and travel insurance for the duration of study, which is a condition of enrolment at most institutions.
Post-study work rights, and where they narrow
The post-study work visa is the reason many students choose New Zealand, and its length is tied to the level and duration of the qualification rather than granted uniformly. Degree-level and postgraduate study generally attracts a longer entitlement; shorter or lower-level qualifications attract less, and in some cases the entitlement is restricted to work in the field studied where the occupation requires registration.
Because these settings have been revised more than once in recent years, the entitlement attached to a particular course at a particular provider is worth confirming in writing before enrolment. It is not discretionary at the end.
Study as a route to residence
Study alone does not lead to residence. What it produces is the ability to work legally after graduation, and skilled work in New Zealand is what carries weight under the Skilled Migrant Category and under the work-to-residence tier of the Green List.
Fields that align with Green List occupations therefore have a materially clearer path than fields that do not, which is a consideration at the point of choosing a course rather than at the point of graduating.
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Official sources
Checked against these pages in September 2026. Fees and processing times change without notice — confirm before you act.