Your Future in New Zealand: Study, Work and Residence Requirements

Your plans in New Zealand may begin with a university programme or a job, but each pathway has its own requirements and costs. ElWijha brings together the essential information to help you choose your path, prepare for life there and understand the options available to your family.

Entry requirements vary according to your nationality, the purpose of your stay and its duration. Separate visas are available for visiting, studying, working and residence, each with its own conditions.

A visitor visa does not automatically allow you to work for a New Zealand employer or undertake long-term study.

Choose your programme and institution, then check the required qualifications, English language proficiency, documents, fees and application deadlines. These vary by subject and university.

A Fee Paying Student Visa requires admission to an approved institution, funding for tuition and living expenses, medical and travel insurance, and compliance with the other visa requirements.

For tertiary study and English language courses, a self-funded student must demonstrate access to NZD 20,000 per year, or NZD 1,667 per month for study lasting less than a year, in addition to tuition fees and the means to leave the country. University admission does not guarantee a visa.

New Zealand institutions offer scholarships whose coverage, requirements and application deadlines vary according to the programme, study level and nationality. Check the institution’s announcement for eligibility criteria and required documents.

The Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships programme is available to specified eligible countries and applicants; it is not automatically open to all nationalities.

The Accredited Employer Work Visa — AEWV requires a job offer from an accredited employer for at least 30 hours per week, an approved Job Check, and compliance with skill, experience, pay and other requirements.

The visa is linked to the employer, job and work location stated on it. Changing these conditions requires the appropriate application or procedure.

Skills-based residence pathways include the Skilled Migrant Category and the Green List. Eligibility depends on the job, qualifications, pay, occupational registration and required experience.

Permanent residence requires at least two consecutive years as a resident, along with compliance with the other requirements. Two years on a student or work visa alone are not enough.

The options depend on your visa and its conditions. Studying for a master’s or doctoral degree, or certain specified qualifications, may allow you to support a work visa application for your partner. Student visas for children have separate requirements.

Partnership-based applications require evidence of a genuine and stable relationship and living together, according to the chosen pathway’s conditions. A marriage certificate alone does not prove that all requirements are met.

Expenses vary according to the city, accommodation and lifestyle. Budget for rent, the tenancy bond, utilities, food, transport, insurance and travel. Compare student accommodation, shared housing and private rentals.

Publicly funded healthcare is not automatically available to all visa holders. Check your eligibility and the insurance coverage you need before travelling.

A visa may allow work for up to 25 hours per week and full-time work during eligible holidays. Research master’s and doctoral students may work without an hourly limit while continuing to study full-time.

Follow the conditions stated on your visa. If it specifies a 20-hour limit, do not exceed it without having those conditions changed.

An eligible graduate may obtain a Post-Study Work Visa for up to three years, depending on the qualification and study duration. Not all programmes are eligible.

No. Graduating or obtaining a Post-Study Work Visa does not automatically grant residence. You must meet the requirements of a residence pathway appropriate to your circumstances.