Visa Requirements
If you plan to study at Canterbury College as an international student, you will need to ensure you are on the appropriate visa. If you plan to study for less than 12 weeks, e.g. English language for 10 weeks, you may enter New Zealand on a visitor’s visa. If you plan to study at Canterbury College for longer than 12 weeks, you will need a student visa.
A student visa from Immigration New Zealand means you can study with Canterbury College in New Zealand for a set time period as a full-time student. You can find out more about student visas, advice on rights to employment while studying and reporting requirements from Immigration New Zealand.
Application timeframes
It is important to apply for your student visa as soon as possible, as in some cases the application process may take a number of weeks.
- For offshore applicants / outside of New Zealand: Immigration New Zealand will fully reopen border to international students on 31 July 2022..Please find more information from Immigration New Zealand.
- For onshore applicants / already in New Zealand Please process your student visa application as soon as you can. As an onshore student visa applicant, please remember to submit your international fee receipt with your student application to Immigration New Zealand..
What type of visa do you need to study in New Zealand?
Student Visa - study for more than 3 months
If you want to study a full-time course in New Zealand that’s longer than 3 months in total duration, you’ll need a Student Visa, unless you have a working holiday visa.
• Your student visa is normally issued for the same length of time as the study you’ve paid for.
• Depending on your visa conditions, you may be able to work up to 20 hours a week during the term and full-time over the holidays.
As New Zealand borders reopen, processing of new student visa applications is due to restart from 31 July 2022.
Visitor Visa - Study a short course for up to 3 months
If you want to take a short course of study in New Zealand, a visitor visa may be the best choice of visa for you. A visitor visa allows you to take one or more short courses lasting up to 3 months in total, or a term at school.
If you are not from a visa-waiver country, you must be granted a visa before you travel to New Zealand.
As New Zealand borders reopen, processing of new visitor visa applications is due to restart from 31 July 2022.
Find out more about visitor visas
Visa-waiver countries - Study a short course for up to 3 months
If you’re from a visa-waiver country, you do not need to apply for a visitor visa before you travel, but you will need to apply for an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority).
On arrival you will be granted a visitor visa that allows you to study one or more short courses up to 3 months, or a term at school.
Visitors from visa-waiver countries are now able to enter New Zealand.
Find a list of visa waiver countries
Working holiday Visa - Study a short course for up to 6 months
You can study one or more short courses lasting up to 6 months in total on a working holiday visa, but your main reason for travel must be to holiday.
Working holiday visas are available to young people, usually aged 18 to 30, but 18 to 35 in a select few countries. They let you travel and work in New Zealand for up to 12 months, or 23 months if you are from the UK or Canada.
Many working holiday schemes are now open for applications, with others opening in the coming months.
Learn more about working holiday visas
