To study in New Zealand, you will need to obtain a New Zealand visa.
The type of New Zealand visa you should aim to obtain will vary depending on your circumstances and study method.
Therefore, by planning your study period and other study plans before obtaining a New Zealand visa, you can find the perfect New Zealand visa for you.
Let’s take a look at New Zealand visas on this page.
Types of New Zealand Visas
For studying in New Zealand, a visa is not required if your stay is less than three months.
Studying in New Zealand for more than three months is generally done on a tourist visa, working holiday visa, or student visa, but the type of visa you need depends on your purpose.
The following are the types of New Zealand visas that international citizens typically aim to obtain.
| visa | Application | School attendance period | Length of stay | work |
| Tourist visa | Application required | Within 3 months | Up to 9 months | 　　　Not possible　　　　 |
| Student visa | Application required | 20 hours per week, for 3 months or more. | Same as the school attendance period | Possible under certain conditions |
| Working Holiday Visa | Application required | Up to 6 months | Maximum 1 year (extendable) | Possible |
New Zealand Visas: Student Visas
A New Zealand student visa is required for those who intend to attend a language school, vocational school, or university in New Zealand for three months or more, and for 20 hours or more per week.
With a student visa, you are permitted to work up to 20 hours per week during your studies and full-time during holiday periods.
Therefore, it becomes possible to study abroad while earning money for living expenses and tuition fees.
However, the conditions vary depending on the case, so please check the conditions clearly stated on the visa yourself.
What are the requirements and documents needed to apply for a student visa in New Zealand?
The requirements and documents needed when applying for a student visa are as follows:
New Zealand Student Visa: Application Requirements
- If the period of study is 3 months or longer
- Your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond your intended stay.
- You must have insurance that covers the duration of your stay.
- Having sufficient funds (approximately 15,000 NZD per year)
New Zealand Student Visa: Required Documents
- Passport (valid for at least 3 months beyond your stay)
- ID photo
- Admission letter
- Tuition Payment Certificate
- An English letter outlining your reasons for wanting to study abroad and the necessity of doing so.
- Bank statement (such as an English bank statement issued by a financial institution)
- A health checkup at a hospital designated by the embassy (required depending on the length of study)Â
About English Letters
An English letter is a required document for applying for a New Zealand student visa.
This document is required to be submitted by all student visa applicants.
The content should include things like “Why do you want to study in New Zealand?”, “Why did you choose this school?”, and “How do you plan to use this experience when you return to your home country after studying?”.
The contents of this letter will be used by the immigration authorities to determine whether your study abroad is legitimate.
Insurance requirements when applying for a student visa in New Zealand
When applying for a student visa to New Zealand, you must have insurance that covers you from the day you depart your country until the day you return.
Insurance premiums vary depending on the insurance company and plan, but a rough estimate is around 400 to 1,000 NZD per year. This works out to approximately 30 to 80 NZD per month.
New Zealand student visa application fees
The application fee for a New Zealand student visa differs depending on whether you apply from your origin country or from New Zealand.
When applying in your country
- Paper application: Application fee is free, but there is a 35 NZD (International Tourist Tax) and processing fee.
- Online application: Application fee is free, but a 35 NZD (International Tourist Tax) is required.
When applying in New Zealand
- Fee: 310 NZD (Application fee + International Tourist Tax)
Applying for a student visa in New Zealand requires having insurance that covers the entire duration of your stay, so be sure to purchase insurance.
What you can study with a New Zealand student visa
Studying in New Zealand offers a variety of options to suit your plans, including language study, vocational school studies, and full-time university and graduate school programs.
For more details, please check the New Zealand Immigration website.
Language study abroad
When studying English in New Zealand, the type of visa you need will vary depending on the length of your stay.
If you plan to study English in New Zealand for more than three months, you will need to obtain a New Zealand student visa.
New Zealand is one of the most popular destinations for language study.
In the General English course, you can learn the four English skills (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) in a well-balanced manner.
Furthermore, for intermediate and advanced levels, Cambridge exam preparation courses and business English courses are recommended.
Studying abroad for a specialized field
In New Zealand, specialized study abroad programs allow you to learn about a wide range of fields, from business and hospitality to design and tourism, focusing on areas that interest you.
Furthermore, studying can provide you with knowledge and experience that will be useful for your future career.
In New Zealand, there are private vocational schools called PTEs and public vocational schools called ITPs, and students studying vocational in New Zealand will primarily attend these schools.
University/Graduate School Study Abroad
New Zealand is known for its high educational standards, and students can attend prestigious universities such as the University of Auckland, the University of Canterbury, the University of Lincoln, and the University of Otago.
New Zealand Visa: About the Working Holiday Visa
The New Zealand Working Holiday Visa is a visa designed to allow individuals to experience New Zealand culture and lifestyle while supplementing their income by working during their stay.
Therefore, with a Working Holiday Visa, you can stay in New Zealand and work for up to one year. Studying is also permitted for up to six months, and it is possible to work in a wide range of occupations.
Unlike working holiday visas in Australia and other countries, there are no particular restrictions on working on a New Zealand working holiday visa.
Additionally, if you have at least three months of farm work experience during your one-year working holiday, you can extend your New Zealand working holiday visa by three months.
However, this is not an automatic renewal, so an application is required.
New Zealand Working Holiday Visa Application Requirements
The application requirements for a New Zealand Working Holiday Visa are mainly
- Applicants for the Working Holiday Visa must be between 18 and 30 years old (under 31 years old).
- You must possess a valid passport.
- You have not previously visited New Zealand on a Working Holiday Visa.
- Do not bring children with you.  Â
- Being healthy and having no criminal record
- You must have more than 4,200 NZD in funds.
Required documents for applying for a New Zealand Working Holiday Visa
The following documents are required to apply for a New Zealand Working Holiday Visa.
- Passport (with at least 15 months remaining until expiration)
- A certificate of no criminal record (if your total stay, including past stays, exceeds two years)
Within 15 days of applying for a working holiday visa, you must undergo a chest X-ray examination by a designated physician and submit the results to the immigration office.
Therefore, before applying for a visa, please make sure to schedule an appointment in advance so that you can submit your test results promptly.
Application fees for a New Zealand Working Holiday Visa
When international citizens apply for a New Zealand Working Holiday Visa online, there is no application fee. However, a separate international tourist tax of 35 NZD is required.
I also recommend getting insurance while on a working holiday in New Zealand.
Insurance premiums vary depending on the insurance company and coverage, but they are generally around 500 to 900 NZD per year.
Language school during a working holiday in New Zealand
Depending on your New Zealand working holiday plans and English proficiency, attending school will likely allow you to enjoy your New Zealand working holiday more.
Furthermore, since English proficiency is often considered a requirement when looking for a job, most people attend a language school first before beginning their job search.
With a working holiday visa in New Zealand, you can attend language school for up to six months.
Costs of a Working Holiday in New Zealand
The following is an estimate of the costs involved in a one-year working holiday in New Zealand.
| Cost of a working holiday in New Zealand: 1 year | |
| Visa application fee | 35 NZD |
| Insurance premiums | 500 NZD to 900 NZD |
| Enrollment fee | Please inquire |
| Teaching material cost | Please inquire |
| Tuition fees | Language school: 300-350 NZD x number of weeks attended (up to 6 months) |
| Accommodation costs | 7,200 NZD to 9,600 NZD |
| living expenses | 8,400 NZD to 12,000 NZD |
| Total (if attending school for 6 months) | 23,300 NZD to 31,000 NZD |
New Zealand Visa: Tourist Visa Information
In New Zealand, you can study abroad for a short period of up to three months using a tourist visa.
A tourist visa allows you to stay in a country for up to nine months after entering the country, with a single visa application.
If you wish to stay in New Zealand for more than three months for travel or other purposes, and also wish to attend school for up to three months, we recommend obtaining a tourist visa.
Tourist visa application requirements and necessary documents
The application requirements and necessary documents for a New Zealand tourist visa are as follows:
- New Zealand Long-Term Tourist Visa Application Form
- Long-term tourist visa application fee (Visa application fee: Free, but additional fees may apply)
- Passport (valid for at least the duration of your stay plus 3 months)
- Two passport photos
- Proof of funds (proof that you have 1,000 NZD/month in funds for your stay)
- Airline tickets for departure from New Zealand (round-trip tickets, etc.)
- Tuberculosis screening X-ray (for those staying for 6 months or more)
Short-term study abroad in New Zealand without visa application
International citizens staying in New Zealand for a period of three months or less are exempt from visa requirements.
While employment is not permitted, tourism and short-term study abroad programs of up to three months are allowed.
Read Also: Visa Sponsorship Scholarships in Australia & New Zealand
New Zealand Visa: Regarding Extensions
If you wish to extend your New Zealand visa, please refer to the table below to determine which visa type you are eligible to change from.
| To a Working Holiday Visa | Student visa | Tourist visa | |
| From a Working Holiday Visa | 3 months (conditional) | 〇 | 〇 |
| From student visa | 〇 | 〇 | 〇 |
| From tourist visa | 〇 | 〇 | Conditions apply (inquire for details) |
When changing or extending a New Zealand visa, the immigration authorities may require additional documents or meet other conditions, such as a chest X-ray.
