3 June 2020 – Immigration New Zealand Update

WARNING – New visa condition:

Visa holders who do not comply with instructions from a Health Officer can be detained and deported.

Information for Student visa holders currently in New Zealand

Classes resume – For most students, contact classes resumed on Monday 18 May 2020 under Alert Level 2. If your education provider has resumed face to face teaching, you are expected to attend.

Student visa holders who cannot attend classes in person due to COVID-19 restrictions should agree remote learning arrangements with their education provider.

Visa Expiry dates

If your visa expires after July 9, 2020, your visa expiry date is unchanged.

If your visa expires on any date from April 2 to July 9, 2020, your visa has been extended to September 25th. Extensions were confirmed by email to the most recent address provided to us by the student or their agent.  Your visa type and conditions are unchanged – unless an application to work extended hours was previously approved under Level 3 or 4. 

If your visa expired before April 2, 2020, you are unlawfully in New Zealand and must either leave or apply for a special temporary visa under Section 61 of the Immigration Act.

Applying for a new visa or variation of conditions. To to find out how to apply for a new visa or to change your visa conditions – see here (variation of conditions for students). NOTE: To apply for another student visa you will need a tuition fee receipt and proof of NZD $15,000 of funds per year (pro-rata for courses under 36 weeks).

Confirming a visa expiry date. If for any reason you are unsure, you can confirm a visa expiry date online with our visa verification services.

Working more than 20 hours a week

If you have been working more than 20 hours a week for an essential service under COVID Level 4, your automatic variation of conditions ends on either July 3 (for healthcare workers) or on June 25 (for all other workers including supermarkets).

If still required, your employer can apply for a new variation of conditions

on your behalf.  Please note – the employer and the work required must be a continuation of the work you have been doing under Levels 3 and 4.

NOTE:  Students must put study first. If you want to work more than 20 hours, discuss your plans with your education provider as you still must meet the study requirements of your student visa.

Student visa holders and applicants outside New Zealand

Student visa holders offshore cannot currently enter New Zealand. Exceptions could be made for exceptional circumstances only – for details see here.

If you are offshore and have an approved Student visa – check the “first entry before” date in your visa: 

If the ‘first entry before’ date has passed, you will need to apply for a new visa when you can travel to New Zealand – for details see here.

Applying for a Student visa

As there is no date set for lifting of border restrictions, DO NOT APPLY for a student visa if you are outside of New Zealand

Online Study while offshore

Students who are overseas may be able to study online without a visa, with the agreement of their education provider. When border restrictions are lifted, evidence of such online study may support a visa application.

Post-study work visas

NZ based requirements for post-study work visa applications still apply.  Online study from offshore may not qualify. Check with your education provider.

Visa processing

New Zealand based immigration offices have opened from Alert Level 2. Our Beijing, Manila, Mumbai and Pacific offices remain closed.

We will prioritise temporary entry visas, including student and post-study visas, and residence visas from applicants in New Zealand.

Processing times. We are unable to confirm processing timeframes for any visa categories at this time.

Refunds

If your visa application has not been processed you can contact us to withdraw it. Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.