Student and Trainee Work Visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Student and Trainee Work Visa
Purpose	Practical training and work experience
Stay	Six months to four years
Cost	From NZD $1,455
Processing	80% within 10 weeks
Eligibility timing	Not stated in the source
Work rights	Restricted to approved training work
Study	Up to three months yearly
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Travel facility	Multiple entry conditions may apply
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Children apply separately
Visa record	Conditions recorded in eVisa
Age	Jockeys aged 16 or older

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Purpose

This visa is for students and trainees completing practical work experience in their field. It covers:

• Students completing practical training requirements.
• Religious trainees in formal training programmes.
• Medical or dental trainees undertaking practical training.
• Apprentice jockeys.

Stay and Study

Visa duration depends on the training category:

Applicant type	Maximum stay
Medical or dental trainee	Up to 6 months
Student practical training	Up to 6 months
Religious trainee	Up to 12 months per visa
Religious trainee, additional visas	Up to 4 years total
Apprentice jockey	Up to 4 years

You may study for up to 3 months in any 12-month period. For longer study at a tertiary education institute, apply for a student visa.

General Eligibility

You must:

• Meet the requirements for your training category.
• Be in good health and of good character.
• Genuinely intend to meet visa conditions.
• Provide identity evidence and a valid passport.
• Meet funds or sponsorship requirements where required.

Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after your planned departure from New Zealand.

Funds or Sponsorship

Students completing practical work experience and medical or dental trainees must show either sufficient funds or an acceptable sponsor.

Required funds are:

• NZD $1,000 per month, or
• NZD $400 per month if accommodation is prepaid.

Evidence may include bank or credit-card statements, bank drafts, traveller’s cheques, prepaid accommodation evidence, or a completed Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry.

Religious trainees and apprentice jockeys do not need to meet these funds requirements.

Training Category Requirements

Practical Work Experience Students

Provide evidence that:

• The work experience directly relates to your study or training.
• Your education provider supports the work experience.
• You have a written job offer from a New Zealand education provider or employer.
• You meet funds or sponsorship requirements.

Religious Trainees

Provide:

• Written confirmation of a place in a formal New Zealand religious training programme.
• A completed Sponsorship Form for Religious Workers (INZ 1190).

The sponsoring religious organisation must:

• Be registered with Charities Services.
• Have advancing religion as its main purpose.
• Have provided religious training for at least 5 years.
• Be able to provide accommodation, financial support and return-home assistance if needed.

You cannot be an officer or nominated person of your sponsoring organisation.

Medical and Dental Trainees

Provide evidence that you:

• Are qualified and experienced.
• Have practical training work offered by a New Zealand hospital.
• Meet funds or sponsorship requirements.

You are not eligible under this category if you already hold a student or visitor visa.

Apprentice Jockeys

You must be aged 16 or older and provide:

• An apprenticeship offer from a New Zealand trainer.
• The trainer’s written guarantee to cover return-home costs if needed.
• New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Incorporated’s written guarantee for accommodation and living costs.

Health and Character

You must be in good health. Immigration New Zealand may require a chest X-ray, medical examination, or both.

You normally do not need:

• A chest X-ray for stays under 6 months.
• A medical certificate for stays under 12 months.

Police certificates are required if your total time in New Zealand will reach 24 months or more across all visits, or if requested. Certificates must:

• Be less than 6 months old when submitted.
• Cover countries of citizenship or countries where you lived over 5 years since age 17.

Applicants aged 16 or younger do not need police certificates.

Documents

Provide:

• One acceptable photo online, or two for paper applications.
• Passport or certificate of identity.
• Evidence for your applicable training category.
• Financial or sponsorship evidence, where required.
• Health and character evidence, if requested.

Additional identity documents may apply for applicants from China, Hong Kong, Macao, Indonesia, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna, or New Caledonia.

Application Steps

1. Prepare identity, training, financial and supporting evidence.
2. Apply online through Immigration New Zealand Online.
3. Upload a passport copy with an online application.
4. Provide your passport later if Immigration New Zealand requests it.
5. Pay the applicable fee; costs and process details depend on nationality.

Paper applicants should provide an original passport or certified copy. Original passports can usually be processed faster.

Work Conditions

You may only work in the role and for the organisation, employer or trainer that supported your application:

• Religious trainees: only for the organisation providing training.
• Apprentice jockeys: only for the approved New Zealand trainer and role.
• Practical, medical and dental trainees: only for the named education provider or employer.

Apprentice jockeys changing trainers must apply for a variation of conditions using INZ 1020.

Family Provisions

You cannot include dependent children in your application. They may apply separately for visas based on their relationship to you.

Travel and Arrival

Your eVisa records your conditions.

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

Before travel, complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration:

• By air: from 24 hours before travel begins.
• By sea: from 24 hours before departure from the last overseas port.

Important Warnings

You may be refused entry permission if you:

• No longer meet character requirements.
• Have changed circumstances since visa grant.
• Refuse a photo, fingerprint or iris scan.
• Cannot provide required onward-travel or funds evidence.

You must leave New Zealand before your visa expires. Religious trainees may be able to apply for another Student and Trainee Work Visa; other trainees and students may be able to apply for a Work Visa.