May update from Immigration New Zealand

Update on Student visa processing*    

Since New Zealand’s international borders reopened in August 2022, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has received 35,069 student visa applications from international students outside of New Zealand. We have completed 30,936 of these applications.   

Our recent processing times for international student visa applications are published on our website. These are updated each month: Visa processing times for international students | Immigration New Zealand  

*Figures current as at 10pm on 8 May 2023.    

Visitor visas and short-term study 

A holder of a visitor visa is permitted to attend a programme or programmes of study which are not more than a total of 3 calendar months in duration per 12-month period. 

Recently we have received several queries regarding students intending to undertake a programme of study of more than 3 months duration (for example, a diploma) who wish to begin their studies while holding a visitor visa. This is not permitted as the intended programme is more than 3 months duration. Students must hold a student visa for the full duration of their intended programme of study (or hold an interim visa with open study conditions) if the programme of study is longer than 3 months duration. 

Tuition fees  

We would like to remind you that changes to the requirements for tuition fee payment evidence for students were introduced last year as part of the Immigration Rebalance.   

Students need to pay tuition fees for the first year, or first programme of study (whichever is the shorter), and they will have to prove personal/maintenance funds for the same period. We do not accept payment of tuition fees by instalment; the only exception is for some aviation students.