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Migration Overseas
Back to New Zealand
Study at New Zealand's top-ranked universities with a clear pathway to residency. Work up to 25 hours a week while you study, and if you qualify, stay up to 3 years on a Post-Study Work Visa. Rules last checked against Immigration New Zealand on 6 November 2026.
All 8 universities in New Zealand are ranked in the global top 3%, with strong international reputations.
QS 68 - Engineering, Medicine
QS 206 - Medicine, Sciences
QS 241 - Law, Humanities
QS 256 - Engineering
Agriculture, Veterinary
Business, IT
Agriculture, Environment
Design, Engineering
Te Pukenga institutes and private colleges popular among Indian students for practical, job-focused qualifications.
IT, Construction, Business
Engineering, IT, Trades
IT, Healthcare, Business
Engineering, Construction
Hospitality, Cookery, Business
IT, Business, Healthcare
Software, Cybersecurity
IT, Data Science, Networks
Engineering, Health, Computing
Business, Engineering, Tourism
Trades, Business, Health
Health, Engineering, Design
Computing, Engineering, Health
Business, Health, Engineering
Business, Design, IT, Health
Engineering, Computing, Business
Engineering, Health, Design
The New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF) level of your qualification, and how long you studied, decide whether you can get a Post-Study Work Visa and for how long.
| Level | Qualification Type | Duration | Post-Study Work Visa |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Doctoral Degree (PhD) | 3-4 years | Up to 3 Years |
| 9 | Masters Degree | 1-2 years | 3 Years (30+ weeks full-time) |
| 8 | Postgraduate Diploma / Honours | 1 year | Equal to study time |
| 7 | Bachelor's Degree | 3-4 years | Equal to study time, up to 3 years |
| 7 | Graduate Diploma | 1 year | From 16 Nov 2026: only with a bachelor's, up to 1 year |
| 6 | Diploma (Level 6) | 1-2 years | Eligible list only |
| 5 | Diploma (Level 5) | 1-2 years | Eligible list only |
| 4 | Certificate (Level 4) | 6 months - 1 year | Eligible list only |
The Post-Study Work Visa length no longer depends on whether you studied in Auckland or regional New Zealand. A master's or doctorate studied full-time in NZ for at least 30 weeks gets 3 years; Level 8 or lower gets a visa equal to your study time. Non-degree qualifications at Level 7 or lower qualify only if they are on INZ's eligible list, and the job must relate to your study. You can hold one Post-Study Work Visa only. Fee from NZD 1,670.
A world-class education with excellent post-study opportunities and quality of life.
Work up to 25 hours a week while studying (the limit rose from 20 hours on 3 November 2025) and full-time in scheduled holidays, depending on your visa conditions. The adult minimum wage is NZD $23.95 per hour from 1 April 2026.
Master's and doctoral graduates who studied full-time in NZ for at least 30 weeks get up to 3 years. Level 8 or lower qualifications get a visa equal to study time. A 6-month Short-Term Graduate Work Visa opens on 16 November 2026 for some graduates who do not qualify.
A Post-Study Work Visa can lead to residence through the Skilled Migrant Category or, for Green List roles, the Straight to Residence or Work to Residence visas, subject to each visa's job, pay and experience rules.
A partner can get a work visa only if you study at Level 9 or 10, or a Level 7 or 8 qualification specified for a Green List role or on INZ's Post-Study Work Visa eligible list. Otherwise a partner can apply for a visitor visa only.
Safe, beautiful country with friendly people. English-speaking with multicultural society.
Tuition typically runs from NZD $22,000 to $50,000 a year depending on the course. Compare the full cost of tuition and living before you choose a destination.
Stay and work in New Zealand after completing your studies. Duration depends on your qualification level and how long you studied. New rules start on 16 November 2026.
Master's (Level 9) or doctoral (Level 10) graduates who studied full-time in NZ for at least 30 weeks. Any legal job, anywhere in NZ.
Bachelor's (Level 7) and Level 8 graduates get a visa equal to their study time, up to 3 years. From 16 November 2026 a Level 7 graduate diploma qualifies only with a bachelor's, for up to 1 year.
Short-Term Graduate Work Visa from 16 November 2026: open work rights for Level 5 to 7 graduates who studied full-time in NZ for at least 24 weeks and do not qualify for a Post-Study Work Visa. NZD $5,000 in funds required; partners cannot be supported.
Study in these in-demand fields to work towards residence after graduation. Each role has its own tier, qualification or registration, and pay rules on INZ's Green List.
Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Software & other engineering disciplines with strong job demand.
Dentists and dental technicians appear on the Green List. Check the tier and registration rules for each role.
Construction Project Managers appear on the Green List. Check the qualification and experience rules for the role.
Registered Early Childhood Teachers and Educational Psychologists appear on the Green List. Check the tier and registration rules for each role.
Registered nurses, midwives and food technologists appear on the Green List. Check the tier and registration rules for each role.
Medical Laboratory Scientists and Technicians appear on the Green List. Check the tier and registration rules for each role.
Key requirements for New Zealand student visa from India.
An offer of place from an approved education provider that signs the pastoral care code. A conditional offer is enough to apply from outside NZ, but you need an unconditional offer before approval.
Tuition paid for one course or one year, whichever is shorter, plus NZD $20,000 per year for living costs (NZD $1,667 per month if your study is under a year). Bank statements, scholarship letters, loan sanction letters and fixed deposits are accepted.
Your education provider sets the English requirement for your course. INZ does not make a test score mandatory for the student visa, but IELTS or similar results can help show you genuinely intend to study.
Medical exam and chest X-ray only if INZ asks for them. Police certificates if you are 17 or older and will be in NZ for 24 months or more. Full medical and travel insurance for your stay.
You must genuinely intend to study and follow your visa conditions. INZ may ask for more evidence, including about your previous study and your plan to fund later years.
Prepare these documents for your New Zealand student visa application and university enrollment.
Application Form / Online University Application
Marksheet of SSC (10th Grade)
Marksheet of HSC (12th Grade)
All Graduation Marksheets (Pass/Fail)
All Post-Graduation Marksheets (Pass/Fail)
Degree/PG Certificate & Transcript
IELTS / TOEFL / PTE Score Card
Statement of Purpose (SOP)
Passport Copy (Biodata Page)
Experience Letters (If Any)
Reference Letters (Academic/Professional)
Medical Examination Report
Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)
Estimated costs for international students in New Zealand (in NZD).
Get detailed expense breakdown for your study journey
Plan your New Zealand study journey with our intake calendar. View application deadlines and course start dates.
Choose your ideal study destination in New Zealand.
Largest city, most jobs, multicultural
Capital, tech hub, creative industries
Garden city, engineering jobs, affordable
Student city, Otago Uni, low costs
Follow these steps to apply for New Zealand student visa from India.
Research courses on the NZQA website. Check provider rankings and course fees. Check whether the qualification leads to a Post-Study Work Visa.
2-4 WeeksTake an English proficiency test if your provider requires one. Check the score your course needs and book the test 2-3 months before the application deadline.
4-6 WeeksSubmit application through university portal or agent. Include transcripts, SOP, references. Pay application fee.
4-8 WeeksAccept the offer and get your offer of place letter. Pay first-year tuition, or, if you apply from outside NZ, you can wait until INZ approves your application in principle.
1-2 WeeksSubmit the online visa application at Immigration NZ. Upload documents and pay the visa fee (from NZD $850). Book a medical exam only if INZ asks for one.
80% decided within 5 weeksReceive visa approval (eVisa). Book flights, arrange accommodation. Arrive 1-2 weeks before orientation.
Ready to Fly!Skilled Migrant Category residence needs 6 points under the Points-based pathway, or eligibility under one of two experience-based pathways added on 24 August 2026. The SMC wage threshold is NZD $35.00 per hour from 9 March 2026.
| Category | Criteria | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Registration (training or experience the registration requires) | 2 years | 3 pts |
| 4 years | 4 pts | |
| 5 years | 5 pts | |
| 6 years | 6 pts | |
| Education (New Zealand qualification) | Doctorate (Level 10) | 6 pts |
| Master's (Level 9), 30+ weeks full-time in NZ and a bachelor's degree | 6 pts | |
| Other NZ master's, or Level 8 honours or postgraduate diploma with a bachelor's, or NZ bachelor's (Level 7) | 5 pts | |
| Overseas qualification (IQA needed): doctorate 6, master's 5, Level 8 or bachelor's 4 | 4 to 6 pts | |
| Income (multiple of the NZD $35.00 SMC wage threshold) | 3x (NZD $105.00 per hour) | 6 pts |
| 2x (NZD $70.00 per hour) | 4 pts | |
| 1.5x (NZD $52.50 per hour) | 3 pts | |
| NZ skilled work experience (adds to a lower qualification, registration or income score) | 1 year | 1 pt |
| 1.5 years | 2 pts | |
| 2 years | 3 pts |
Get answers to common questions about studying in New Zealand.
The main intakes are February and July. Secondary intakes include May, September, and November depending on the institution and program. Most programs follow the February-July-February schedule.
New Zealand has no maximum age for student visa applicants. Immigration New Zealand assesses your genuine intention to study, your funds and your study history. Note that Skilled Migrant Category residence requires you to be 55 or younger when you apply.
You must show you have paid tuition for one course or one year of study, whichever is shorter, unless you are exempt. If you apply from outside New Zealand, you can choose to pay after Immigration New Zealand approves your application in principle, but processing then takes longer because the payment evidence is needed before the visa is issued. Payment schedules vary by provider.
Only in some cases. Your partner can apply for a work visa if you are studying at Level 9 or 10, or at Level 7 or 8 in a qualification specified for a Green List role or on INZ's Post-Study Work Visa eligible list. If you study a bachelor's degree or other qualification outside these categories, your partner cannot get a work visa and can only apply for a visitor visa. Partners cannot be included in your student visa application. The partner work visa also requires you to show NZD $4,200 for the stay.
The Green List names occupations New Zealand needs. Tier 1 roles can apply for a Straight to Residence Visa and Tier 2 roles for a Work to Residence Visa after 24 months of qualifying work. Each role has its own qualification or registration, pay and experience rules, so graduates need a job offer from an accredited employer that meets them. Some roles are leaving the Work to Residence list on 8 March 2027.
Immigration New Zealand requires tuition paid for one course or one year of study, whichever is shorter, plus NZD $20,000 for each year of study for living costs (NZD $1,667 per month for study shorter than a year). Example: a 2-year Master's at NZD $30,000 a year, with a visa for the first year, needs NZD $30,000 + NZD $20,000 = NZD $50,000. You do not need the money for later years upfront, but a credible plan for funding them helps.
Residence is not decided in a fixed number of weeks. After you complete your studies you usually work on a Post-Study Work Visa or an Accredited Employer Work Visa first. Skilled Migrant Category applications go through an expression of interest, an invitation to apply and then a visa application, and processing times change, so check Immigration New Zealand's processing-time tool. INZ states that 80% of Straight to Residence applications are decided within 4 months.
Our education counselors will help you find the right course, apply to universities, and guide you through the visa process.
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