If you are in New Zealand on a visitor's visa, you may be able to study for up to 6 months
Immigration New Zealand has waived the need to apply for a "variation of conditions" to their visitor visa or for a student visa.
Who is eligible?
If you held a valid visitor visa on Friday 11 September 2020, and are still in New Zealand, you can now study for up to six months in a year. This gives you an extra three months on top of the usual three months usually allowed on a visitor visa.
This change applies to school-age children attending school but also people studying short courses with tertiary education providers, whether New Zealand universities, Polytechs, or Independent Tertiary Providers (ITPs).
If your visitor visa was granted after 11 September 2020, your study allowance will remain the standard three months.
How is this a good thing?
This change was made to benefit visitors who wish to continue studying while they potentially wait for flights to depart New Zealand. For instance, many people studying English in New Zealand may find themselves in this situation.
School-age children will also benefit as they will be able to study for more than one term as a visitor
More importantly, school-age children will also benefit as they will be able to study for more than one term as a visitor: they can also now study in Term 1 2021, even if they studied in Term 4 2020. Note that If they meet the definition of domestic student as defined by the Ministry of Education, they will not need to pay international fees and can essentially study fee-free at public schools in New Zealand.
Domestic versus international fees?
Most people studying at tertiary-level are required to pay full international fees for study in New Zealand.
School-aged children from overseas who are unable to leave New Zealand due to COVID-19 are now allowed to go to local schools as temporary domestic students for the rest of 2020 if they meet certain criteria (such as not having previously been enrolled as international students).
