New Zealand - a study abroad destination where world-class education meets breathtaking adventure. An extraordinary destination for international students to learn, grow, and thrive!
As an international student dreaming of studying in NZ, you should not be upset if somebody tells you that you can not study in New Zealand because the borders are closed. In reality, the New Zealand border opening for international students took place on February 28, 2022, and announced a five-step plan on February 3rd, and student visa applications are now fully open and being accepted.
In March 2020, New Zealand closed all its borders to almost everybody. No visitors, workers, and international students were permitted to enter any city of NZ because of the widespread control of COVID‑19. Entry was closed through a strict MIQ, i.e., Managed Isolation and Quarantine system. The restriction was ended before mid‑2022
In early 2022, the government announced a 5-stage New Zealand border opening scheme. The key dates included:
27 Feb 2022: Some essential expats and native people in NZ who were fully vaccinated were allowed to enter or travel sans MIQ (Managed Isolation and Quarantine system).
13 March 2022: Most temporary visa holders, for instance, working holiday makers, or seasonal workers who were in dire need at the time, could enter without isolation.
14 April 2022: International students to study in New Zealand became part of a “border class exemption,” allowing up to 5k students to enter with quarantining rules relaxed, according to some reliable sources.
The New Zealand government brought forward its border reopening timeline and confirmed on 11th May 2022. On 16th May, some of the Pacific Island visitors were allowed to apply for visas. All work visa categories opened on 4th July. On 31st July, 2022, all student and visitor visa categories reopened and cruise ships were permitted to dock.
From 31st July, 2022, almost all international students who wanted to study in NZ and were waiting to reopen the New Zealand borders, holding their valid student visa, could enter without special exceptions.
Immigration in New Zealand started processing the international student visa from 31st July, 2022, 3 months earlier than planned. The New Zealand border opening freshly enabled hundreds of thousands of students to return to their studies. By August 2023, all but 74,121 student visas had been approved by the government of NZ since the border reopened. Your answer is here: When will New Zealand open its borders again for International students? The NZ border is now fully open—not just for international students and expats, but for tourists, workers, employees of different companies, cruise ships, and yachts.
Alongside border reopening for international students, expats and tourists, NZ authorities updated student visa rules to focus on skilled courses. Let’s see what they are:
If you hold a bachelor’s degree or higher diploma, which is akin to a UG degree and have post‑study work entitlements equal to the length of three years of study, you have the right to work after your studies.
If you are in a sub‑degree program, you can receive post‑study work rights if your qualification matches a government “Green List” of skill shortages, which normally applies to skilled workers.
As an international student, you must show, you have adequate funds to support yourself while you study in New Zealand.
The aim is to catch the students in skill-shortage domains, not mass enrollments for the residency pathways in NZ.
Many international students returned as soon as possible, for example, polytechnics saw about 4.9k full‑time or their equivalent international students in 2023, up from 2.8k the prior year. Moreover, the student visa processing delays remained a challenge in 2024 for many. A majority of students and top universities flagged concerns about the New Zealand border opening, where some Indian students faced a 40% visa refusal rate in 2024. Beyond the student visa, problems, such as accommodation, mental health support and quality education, become a big concern.
One year after full reopening, by August 2023:
Over 1.5 million travel visa approvals were given by the government, including 74k approx. student visas. Also, the immigration policy continued to focus on skilled migrants, such as teachers, nurses and trades in late 2022. In early 2025, the NZ government notified that migration should match the infrastructure as well as resources, without any rollbacks on international student visa rules.
The answer is unequivocally yes! The NZ borders have been fully reopened for international students since July 31st, 2022. The good news is - there are no time-limited exceptions as of now; as long as an international student, you hold a valid student visa, you can enter New Zealand without any hassle.
Here is what you should know before applying for a student visa to study in New Zealand.
You need to have enough money to study and live in NZ, for example, tuition fees of an average of NZD 20k, for living expenses.
It depends on the course you applied for and the university.
The good news is - COVID-19 MIQ as well as isolation roles have ended. So, you need a usual medical check, police verification certificates and health fitness certificates are required.
Without any issue, you can start now. It is a great time! Here are the things you need to do:
You can take advantage of new and more competitive work opportunities and rights, especially if you are already in a demanding domain.
|
Date |
Event Description |
|
March 2020 |
Border fully closed |
|
Eary 2022 |
Phased reopening begins |
|
April to May 2022 |
Some students were allowed in via exceptions |
|
11th May 2022 |
Updated timeline announced |
|
31st July 2022 |
Full reopening – all student visas valid |
|
August 2023 to July 2025 |
Borders remain open; immigration focus tight |
The New Zealand education system is one of the leading in the world. Bespoke education, world-class universities, excellent infrastructure, globally accredited degrees, and international exposure, set NZ as one of the most reliable destinations for studying abroad among international students.
Since 31st July, 2022, New Zealand has now fully reopened its borders for expats, tourists and international students. The borders remain open today. So don’t worry if you plan to study in one of the top colleges or Universities in NZ. If you hold a valid student visa, you can now travel, study, and work without any issue in New Zealand under the current post-study work rules. This is particularly applicable when you choose UG or PG programs aligned with in-demand skills.
Don’t worry, Education Vibes, one of the leading and most trusted study abroad consultants, is here to help you! If you are thinking about studying in New Zealand, we can help you with:
Choosing the best institutions in your field
Visa steps and checklist
Or, help you know about life as a student in New Zealand
Just ask! Look no more!
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