Visas for families of returning students

In January 2021, a border exception category was announced enabling 1,000 returning bachelor’s degree and post-graduate students to enter New Zealand in stages and complete their studies from April 2021. These students must have studied in New Zealand in 2019 or 2020 and had intended to resume their study in New Zealand in 2020 but were unable to because of the New Zealand border closure.

New Zealand education providers are responsible for identifying eligible students to be nominated to the Ministry of Education to return to their New Zealand studies. Eligible partner and/or dependent children of these students may also apply for visa(s) based on their partnership with the returning student and to travel with them to New Zealand. Students and family members will still need to stay in, and pay for, their 14 quarantine stay when entering New Zealand.