Exchange Student Visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Exchange Student Visa
Purpose	Approved full-time student exchange
Stay	Up to 4 years
Cost	From NZD $850
Processing	80% within 4 weeks
Apply timing	Once exchange is confirmed
Location to apply	Outside New Zealand
Study	Full-time exchange study
Work rights	Up to 25 hours weekly
Holiday work	Full-time, if conditions allow
Tuition fees	Domestic student; no tuition fees
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Travel facility	Multiple-entry conditions required
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Not stated in the source
Visa record	eVisa
Extension option	Visitor visa, up to 3 months

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Purpose

The Exchange Student Visa allows applicants accepted into an approved student exchange scheme to study full-time in New Zealand.

Approved schemes include:

• School-to-school or sister-school exchanges.
• Exchange programme organisation (EPO) schemes.
• Tertiary exchanges.

Study Abroad programmes are not approved exchange schemes. Study Abroad students should apply for a Fee Paying Student Visa.

Eligibility

You must:

• Be outside New Zealand when applying.
• Have an offer of place from an approved education provider, unless coming through an EPO.
• Be accepted into an approved student exchange scheme.
• Be in good health and of good character.
• Genuinely intend to study in New Zealand.
• Plan and be able to leave New Zealand at the end of your stay.
• Show sufficient living funds from a genuine, verifiable source, or have an acceptable sponsor or guarantor.

If already in New Zealand, this visa can only be granted in very special circumstances. You must explain why you arrived without a student visa.

Exchange evidence

Provide either:

• An offer of place from an approved education provider stating that you are an exchange student, for school-to-school or tertiary exchanges; or
• A letter from your EPO confirming you are an exchange student.

Also provide evidence of acceptance into an approved exchange scheme, such as a letter from the scheme organiser.

Stay and Visa Validity

You may stay for up to 4 years, depending on the length of your exchange.

If approved, the visa is valid from the date you enter New Zealand. You must leave before it expires.

Study Rights and Conditions

You must:

• Study the course recorded on your visa.
• Attend the course, unless you have a good reason for absence.
• Make satisfactory academic progress.

You are considered a domestic student and do not need to pay tuition fees.

Work Rights

Work rights are recorded on your eVisa. You may be allowed to:

• Work up to 25 hours a week during the course year.
• Work full-time during scheduled holidays and Christmas/New Year holidays.

Work-right requirements

To work up to 25 hours weekly during the course year, you must be studying full-time under an approved tertiary exchange scheme.

For full-time scheduled-holiday work rights, provide evidence that:

• Your course is worth 120 credits; and
• Your approved education provider confirms holiday dates.

If aged 16 or 17 and studying at a tertiary provider, or in Years 12 or 13 of secondary school, you need written work permission from:

• Your parent or legal guardian.
• Your approved education provider.
• Your exchange programme organisation.

Students aged 15 or younger cannot work on a student visa. Applicants aged 18 or older at secondary school do not need written permission to work during Christmas and New Year holidays.

Work restrictions

You cannot:

• Be self-employed.
• Work as an independent contractor.
• Provide commercial sexual services.
• Operate a business providing commercial sexual services.

You must work as an employee under an employment agreement. If working, you need an Inland Revenue Department (IRD) number to pay tax.

Practical work experience

If practical work experience is required by your course, provide evidence from your education provider or course outline. This practical experience is additional to permitted work hours.

Health and Character

Health requirements

You may need a medical examination, chest X-ray, or both.

• Staying under 6 months: normally no chest X-ray required.
• Staying under 12 months: normally no medical certificate required.

For stays over 6 months, a chest X-ray is required if you:

• Are a citizen of a country without low tuberculosis incidence; or
• Spent more than 3 months in the last 5 years in such a country.

Medical and chest X-ray evidence must be less than 3 months old when received.

Character requirements

Police certificates are required if:

• You are aged 17 or older; and
• Your total New Zealand stay will be 24 months or longer, including prior stays.

Provide certificates from:

• Countries of citizenship; and
• Countries where you have spent more than 5 years since age 17.

Police certificates must be less than 6 months old when applying. Applications without required certificates may be declined or granted for a shorter period.

Required Documents

Submit high-quality scans of:

• Passport or travel-document information page.
• One acceptable photo.
• Offer of place or EPO exchange-student letter.
• Evidence of approved exchange-scheme acceptance.
• Evidence of sufficient living funds, acceptable sponsorship, or guarantor support.
• Evidence of practical work experience, if required.
• Work permission letters, if required.
• Course and holiday information for full-time holiday work rights.
• Outward travel ticket or evidence of funds for one.
• Details from the New Zealand exchange administrator, if they will arrange departure.
• Medical or chest X-ray evidence, if required.
• Police certificates, if required.

Your passport or certificate of identity must remain valid for at least 3 months after your intended departure date.

Provide certified English translations of police and medical certificates that are not in English. Translations of other non-English evidence may help avoid processing delays.

Additional country-specific documents

• Indonesia citizens: Kartu Keluarga.
• French Polynesia, New Caledonia, or Wallis and Futuna applicants who are not French nationals: carte d’assuré.
• New Caledonia applicants: passports of partner and children, plus livret de famille, even if they are not travelling.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online; paper applications are no longer accepted.

1. Confirm your exchange placement and scheme acceptance.
2. Gather identity, study, funding, departure, health, character, and work-right documents.
3. Create or log in to an online account.
4. Complete the application and upload documents.
5. Pay the applicable fees.
6. Check your online account for progress and requests for further information.
7. Receive an email decision and eVisa if approved.

You can apply as soon as your exchange is confirmed. International students are strongly encouraged to apply 3 months before intended travel.

Apply online

Arrival and Travel

When arriving, you must have either:

• A ticket to leave New Zealand; or
• Details from the New Zealand student exchange administrator confirming they will arrange your departure.

All travellers must complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration.

You may be refused entry permission if you:

• Do not have genuine intentions.
• No longer meet character requirements.
• Have had a change in circumstances.
• Refuse biometric collection.
• Cannot show you will leave New Zealand.

Leaving and re-entering New Zealand

You need valid multiple-entry travel conditions to travel outside and return to New Zealand. If you leave without multiple-entry travel conditions, your visa expires.

Check your eVisa for travel conditions.

Staying Longer

After completing your exchange, you may apply for a visitor visa to stay in New Zealand as a tourist for up to 3 more months.

Apply before your current visa expires.