A Pathway Student Visa is intended for individuals who are planning to study three courses consecutively and on a single visa. All courses must be undertaken at recognised ‘Pathway Education Providers’.
Who can apply for a Pathway Student Visa?
In order to qualify for a Pathway Student Visa, you must:
- have received an offer of a study pathway by one or more recognised education providers
- this might be at a school, vocational college, university or English language study provider, or a combination of these
- be able to provide the details of the courses you will be studying as part of the study pathway
- have made arrangements for the payment of your tuition fees for either the whole course or one year of study, whichever is shorter
- the fees can be paid by yourself or by a third party e.g. a scholarship or study loan
- if you are exempt from paying fees for your intended course, you will have to provide evidence of this
- be able to demonstrate that you will be able to pay for all the courses that make up your study pathway
- commit to securing sufficient travel and medical insurance for your stay
- have enough funds or support (e.g. via a sponsor or homestay family) to cover your living and accomodation costs while in New Zealand
- if the applicant is aged 9 or younger, be accompanied by a parent or guardian or intend to live in an approved school hostel
- demonstrate (through a travel ticket, funds or sponsorship) that you have the means to leave New Zealand when or before your visa expires
- meet standard health and good character requirements for New Zealand visas
What does a Pathway Student Visa offer?
With a Pathway Student Visa, you can:
- live and study in New Zealand for as long as you continue to study the three courses that make up your study pathway, up to a maximum of five years
- work up to a maximum of 20 hours per week during your studies, providing your visa conditions permit it
- you may also work full-time during the Christmas and New Year period, and during scheduled academic holidays
- travel to and from New Zealand freely, providing you are granted ‘multiple entry travel conditions’
- NB: check your travel conditions carefully before leaving New Zealand. Your visa may expire if you leave the country without the appropriate travel conditions, regardless of the expiry date of the visa.
Your partner and any dependent children will be eligible to apply for visas of their own on the basis of your securing this visa.
How do I apply for a Fee Paying Student Visa?
Applications for a Fee Paying Student Visa can be submitted online or on paper, and from inside or outside New Zealand.
The fee to apply for this visa depends on your nationality and where you are applying from, and ranges from free for citizens of certain countries to around NZD $750.
80% of applications for this visa are processed within ten weeks.
