Studying in Auckland
A Guide for International Students
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Immigration - Student Visas and Permits
The New Zealand Immigration Service (NZIS) looks after Student Visas and Permits. International students must have a valid student Visa and/or permit before coming to New Zealand to study. Students must apply for a new Visa/permit before their present Visa/permit expires.
Full details of visa and permit requirements, advice on rights to employment in New Zealand while studying, and reporting requirements are available through New Zealand Immigration Service, and can be viewed on their website at www.immigration.govt.nz.
Note: NZIS has access to a FREE telephone interpreting service called Language Line. It operates from Monday to Friday, 10:00am to 6:00pm. When you contact NZIS either by phone or face to face while you are in New Zealand, just ask for Language Line and your language (for example: Language Line, Mandarin). Language Line is available in 35 languages. For further details go to: www.languageline.govt.nz
Student Visas
A Student Visa is:
- an endorsement you need in your passport to facilitate your travel to New Zealand for the purpose of study; and
- an endorsement you need in your passport if you are in New Zealand and wish to travel overseas and return to New Zealand for the purpose of study; and
- an endorsement showing you have permission to travel to New Zealand and may be granted a Student Permit when you arrive; and
- able to be issued for a single (one journey) or multiple (more than one journey) entry.
You will need to apply for a Student Visa if:
- you are outside of New Zealand, and are coming to New Zealand to study full time for longer than three months (Your spouse or partner and children who wish to accompany you may apply for a Visitor or Student Visa).
Potential students entering as visitors to New Zealand from visa free countries may apply for a Student Permit once an educational institute has accepted them.
Student Permits
A Student Permit is:
- an endorsement in your passport, which allows you to study in New Zealand. It will state the expiry date and give the conditions of your permit.
The conditions of your Student Permit will include details about:
- your course of study; and
- the educational institution; and
- the location of the institution in New Zealand; and
- any other restrictions (such as not being allowed to work).
You may apply for a Student Permit if:
- you are a visitor or a worker in New Zealand and wish to study full time; or
- you need to extend your Student Permit for further study or training; or
- your spouse is in New Zealand on another type of temporary permit i.e., Work Permit; or
- you are a child and wish to study while your family is in New Zealand.
You do not need a visa or permit to study in New Zealand if you are:
- a New Zealand citizen or a New Zealand Resident Permit holder; or
- an Australian citizen or an Australian resident who holds a current Australian resident return visa; or
- one of a group of people who are exempt from the requirement to hold a permit to be in New Zealand; or
- studying a course of no more than three months (while on a valid visitor permit); or
- a holder of a Limited Purpose Permit granted for the express purpose of attending a course of study or training; or
- a holder of another type of temporary permit of which you have varied the conditions of your permit to allow you to undertake your course of study or training.
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