Vocational Trainee Student Visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Vocational Trainee Student Visa
Purpose	Scholarship training or nautical study
Stay	Varies; award maximum 12 months
Cost	From NZD $850
Processing	80% within 3 weeks
Eligibility timing	Scholarship award period
Work rights	25 hours weekly; full-time holidays
Study	Full-time nautical study required
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Travel facility	Multiple-entry conditions required for return
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Family must apply separately
Visa record	Conditions recorded in eVisa
Self-employment	Not permitted
Application method	Online or paper application

---

Purpose

This visa is for trainees who either:

• Hold a Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships Short Term Training Award, or
• Are nautical students with a paid place at Manukau Institute of Technology and an employer guarantee.

Scholarship trainees may train at a government agency, private establishment or tertiary institute for the duration of their award.

Nautical students may study a full-time nautical programme at Manukau Institute of Technology.

Eligibility

You must:

• Meet identity, health, character and genuine-intentions requirements.
• Hold a New Zealand Scholarship under the Short Term Training Award scheme, or
• As a nautical student, have a paid place and employer guarantee.

Scholarship trainees

Provide evidence of your New Zealand Scholarship Short Term Training Award.

A student visa may be granted for the award period, up to 12 months.

Nautical students

You must provide:

• Evidence of a place at Manukau Polytechnic, such as an offer or enrolment confirmation.
• Evidence that tuition fees have been paid, such as receipts.
• A letter from your shipping-company employer guaranteeing payment of:
  • Your living costs in New Zealand.
  • Your departure from New Zealand at the end of your stay.

Domestic students may be exempt from tuition fees.

Cost and Processing

• Cost: From NZD $850.
• Processing: 80% of applications within 3 weeks.

Actual costs and application processes depend on your nationality and location.

Required Evidence

Identity

Provide:

• One acceptable photo for an online application, or two for paper applications.
• Your passport or certificate of identity.

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

For online applications, upload a passport copy. Immigration New Zealand will advise if the original passport is needed.

For paper applications, provide your original passport or a certified copy. Original passports may allow faster processing.

Country-specific identity documents

Additional documents may be required:

• Chinese citizens applying from China: Hukou, Chinese identity card, and INZ 1027 for paper applications.
• Applicants in Hong Kong or Macao: Identity card, and INZ 1220 for paper applications.
• Indonesian citizens: Kartu Keluarga.
• Applicants in French Polynesia or Wallis and Futuna: Carte d’assuré if not French nationals.
• Applicants in New Caledonia: Livret de famille; carte d’assuré if not French nationals.

Health

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

Normally:

• A chest X-ray is not required for stays under 6 months.
• A medical certificate is not required for stays under 12 months.

Applicants from China, Hong Kong or Macao applying there must provide a chest X-ray completed within the last 3 months if they:

• Have spent 6 consecutive months in China since their last X-ray certificate, and
• Will stay in New Zealand for more than 6 months.

Character

You must be of good character.

Police certificates are required if your total time in New Zealand will be 24 months or longer, including previous visits on other visas. They may also be requested at Immigration New Zealand’s discretion.

Police certificates must:

• Be less than 6 months old when submitted.
• Be from each country where you are a citizen or have lived more than 5 years since turning 17.

Applicants aged 16 or younger do not need police certificates. Previously submitted certificates need not be provided again if less than 24 months old.

Work Rights and Conditions

You may:

• Work up to 25 hours a week while studying or training.
• Work full-time during all scheduled holidays.
• Complete required nautical practical work experience in addition to permitted work hours.

You must not:

• 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. You must also pay tax on New Zealand earnings.

Study Conditions

Nautical students may study only nautical programmes at Manukau Polytechnic.

You must study full-time unless you have a reasonable excuse for absences and make satisfactory course progress.

For a later student visa application, you may need to provide evidence explaining absences and showing course progress.

Family Provisions

You cannot include your partner or children in this visa application.

They may apply separately for visas based on their relationship to you.

Travel

You need valid multiple-entry travel conditions to leave and return to New Zealand.

If you leave New Zealand without multiple-entry travel conditions, your visa expires.

Applicants applying from within New Zealand will normally receive multiple-entry travel conditions. Your travel conditions are shown on your visa label or visa letter.

Arrival and Ongoing Obligations

Before travelling, complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration:

• By air: from 24 hours before your journey begins.
• By sea: from 24 hours before your ship leaves its last overseas port.

You may be refused entry permission if you:

• No longer meet character requirements.
• Have changed circumstances since visa grant.
• Refuse biometric collection.
• Cannot show required onward travel or funds.

You must leave New Zealand before your visa expires. Your visa conditions are recorded in your eVisa.