What is a 'domestic' student in New Zealand?
In New Zealand, your status as an international or domestic student is determined by the type of visa you hold. While New Zealand citizens are deemed domestic students for any level of study, visa holders may get domestic study rights depending on their visa (or their parents') and the level of study they are undertaking.
Temporary Visa Holders
Early Childhood Level (Before Age 5):
Dependent children of temporary visa holders can attend kindergarten on a dependent child visitor visa.
Primary or Secondary Level:
Dependent children of certain temporary visa holders need a student visa but will, in most cases, be considered domestic students. This means they can study fee-free at any public school in New Zealand.
If you're working in New Zealand on a work visa, in most cases your children can study for free at primary and secondary school.
Tertiary Level:
Adult students need a residence-class visa or an international student visa to study at tertiary institutions, unless they hold a temporary visa that allows for short-term study (usually 3 to 6 months).
Residence Visa Holders
To study at the tertiary level (University, ITP, PTE) as a domestic student, you need a residence-class visa. This allows you to pay domestic fees, which are significantly lower than international fees.
Benefits for Resident Students
Being to study in New Zealand at tertiary level as a domestic student brings more benefits than just paying less than an international student. You may be able to get up to 2 years of study subsidised by the Government, and/or an interest-free student loan.
Fees Free is a fund designed for first-time tertiary learners in New Zealand. It may cover fees for one year of study or two years of work-based training, up to a certain amount. The fund is paid directly to your tertiary education organization, which could be a university, Te Pūkenga, a private training establishment, or a wānanga. This includes both provider- and work-based study or training at Levels 3 and above on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework.
In 2023, the Government announced changes to the Fees Free scheme, transitioning from a first-year Fees Free scheme to a final-year Fees Free scheme starting January 2025.
You may also seek an interest-free student loan. To qualify for an interest-free student loan, you must have lived in New Zealand on a residence-class visa for 3 years.
Additional details can be found on the Studylink website.
Contact us for further guidance on obtaining the appropriate visa and taking advantage of these benefits to study in New Zealand as a domestic student.
