Student and Trainee Work Visa

At a glance

The Student and Trainee Work Visa enables eligible individuals to undertake practical training, work experience, or apprenticeship in New Zealand as part of their study or professional development. [WE1] The visa is granted for a period related to the time required for the study or training, up to maximum periods specified for each trainee category. [WE2] This visa covers:

• Medical and dental trainees fulfilling compulsory practical training requirements. [WE1]
• Students studying overseas who need practical work experience in New Zealand as part of their programme of study. [WE1]
• Jockeys aged 16 or over undertaking an apprenticeship with a New Zealand trainer. [WE1]
• Religious trainees undertaking a formal religious training programme sponsored by a qualifying religious organisation. [WE1]
• Primary sector trainees from qualifying countries undertaking vocational programmes of study and subsequent work placements. [WI18.5]

How to apply

Applicants must submit a complete work visa application to Immigration New Zealand, including the prescribed fee and supporting documents that demonstrate eligibility under the student and trainee work instructions. In addition to meeting the specific requirements for the relevant sub-category, applicants must also satisfy generic temporary entry requirements, including health and character, and provide evidence of sufficient funds or an acceptable alternative. The application should include all evidence specified in the instructions for the particular trainee category.

Eligibility criteria

Medical and dental trainees

To be eligible, an applicant must satisfy an immigration officer that they: [WE1]

• are appropriately qualified and experienced;
• hold a letter of acceptance from a New Zealand hospital;
• are not the holder of a student or visitor visa; and
• meet the funds requirements for maintenance and accommodation [W2.15].

Registration in New Zealand is not required. [WE1]

The work visa may be granted for up to a maximum of six months. Immigration officers may consider requests for extensions on a case-by-case basis. [WE2]

Students undertaking practical work experience

Students studying in their home country or any other country (excluding New Zealand) who need to complete a programme of study by undertaking practical work experience in New Zealand must satisfy an immigration officer that they have: [WE1]

• the support of their educational institution;
• an offer of work from a New Zealand educational institution or employer; and
• sufficient funds for maintenance and accommodation [W2.15].

The practical work experience must be directly related to the programme of study. [WE1]

The work visa may be granted for up to six months. [WE2]

Jockey apprentices

Jockeys aged 16 or over wishing to undertake an apprenticeship in New Zealand must satisfy an immigration officer that they have: [WE1]

• a job offer from a New Zealand trainer;
• a guarantee of maintenance and accommodation from the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Incorporated; and
• a guarantee of repatriation from the individual trainer, should the applicant not continue the apprenticeship.

The work visa may be granted for up to a maximum of four years. [WE2]

Religious trainees

Religious trainees who wish to undertake a formal religious training programme in New Zealand must satisfy an immigration officer that they: [WE1]

• have written confirmation of a place and are sponsored by a religious organisation that meets the requirements for provision of religious training [WE1.1];
• meet temporary entry health and character requirements; and
• are not an 'officer' or 'nominated person' of the religious training institution sponsoring them.

To meet the requirements for provision of religious training, the sponsoring religious organisation must: [WE1.1]

1. be registered as a charity with Charities Services;
2. demonstrate that their primary purpose is advancing religion;
3. demonstrate they have at least a five year track record providing religious training — evidence should include the current number of trainees under instruction (both New Zealanders and non-New Zealanders);
4. submit a completed Sponsorship Form for Religious Workers (INZ 1190) guaranteeing accommodation, maintenance and repatriation; and
5. meet the generic sponsorship requirements set out at E6.5 and E6.15.

The work visa may be granted for up to one year. Subsequent visas can be granted annually up to a maximum of four years. [WE2]

Note: If the offer of a place is to undertake a programme of study at a tertiary institution that is longer than three calendar months, the applicant must apply for a student visa instead. [WE1]

Primary sector trainees

Primary sector trainees from a qualifying country may be granted a work visa to undertake vocational programmes of study and subsequent work placements, provided that the applicant meets all of the following: [WI18.5]

• is funded or supported by the government of a qualifying country;
• has a place available under that country's quota for primary sector trainees [WI18.5][WI18.15];
• meets the study requirements (minimum 12 weeks at a Category One education provider) [WI18.5];
• meets the work placement requirements (maximum nine months, not in forestry, arranged and monitored by the education provider) [WI18.5];
• agrees to hold medical and comprehensive hospitalisation insurance that remains current throughout their stay [WI18.5];
• meets health and character requirements [WI18.5];
• is a bona fide applicant; and [WI18.5]
• has employment agreements that comply with all relevant New Zealand employment law and pay at least the minimum statutory hourly wage. [WI18.5]

Visa conditions: Upon grant, the work visa will be issued with the following conditions: it will be valid for multiple entries to New Zealand for a maximum of 12 months; it will permit study at a specified education provider; and it will restrict work to a maximum of nine months for a land-based primary sector employer. [WI18.20] These conditions reflect New Zealand's international trade commitments.

Qualifying countries and quotas:

• Chile: 60 places
• Republic of Korea: 50 places

This list is effective from 20 December 2015. [WI18.15]

Evidential requirements — when submitting their application, a primary sector trainee must provide: [WI18.10]

• a completed work visa application form, along with the prescribed fee, Immigration Levy, and the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy;
• a letter of support or funding arrangements from their home government;
• an offer of place from a high quality education provider (see [WI18.5]) that is a signatory to the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021; and
• agreement to hold medical and comprehensive hospitalisation insurance that will remain current throughout their stay in New Zealand.

The education provider is responsible for arranging, monitoring and recording all work placements, arranging suitable alternative placements if needed, and notifying INZ of any breach of visa conditions or employment agreements. [WI18.5] An immigration officer may decline the application if not satisfied the education provider can meet these responsibilities. [WI18.5]

INZ must decline an application if the employer (or any associated person influencing recruitment, employment or supervision) has a history of non‑compliance with immigration or employment law, is on a non‑compliant employer list maintained by MBIE (see Appendix 10 and Appendix 18), or has been convicted of specific Crimes Act 1961 offences (sections 98, 98C, 98D). [WI18.5]

No further work visa under these primary sector trainee instructions may be granted for two years after the visa's expiry. [WI18.5]

Interpretation & edge cases

• Medical/dental registration: Registration with the Medical or Dental Council of New Zealand is expressly not required for medical and dental trainees under this category, which lowers barriers for overseas trainees. [WE1]
• Offshore students: The practical work experience category is for students studying outside New Zealand. Students already in New Zealand on a student visa cannot use this category; they must instead meet the practical experience requirements under their own student visa conditions. [WE1]
• Jockey apprenticeship guarantees: The guarantee of repatriation from the individual trainer is a specific condition of this pathway; if the apprenticeship ends early, the trainer is responsible for ensuring the jockey can depart New Zealand. [WE1]
• Religious trainee sponsorship: Sponsoring organisations must satisfy WE1.1 requirements, including being a registered charity, having a primary purpose of advancing religion, and demonstrating a five‑year track record of providing religious training. A completed Sponsorship Form for Religious Workers (INZ 1190) and meeting generic sponsorship obligations are also required. If the organisation does not meet these criteria, the trainee's application will be declined. [WE1][WE1.1]
• Religious trainees and student visas: A religious trainee who has an offer to undertake a programme at a tertiary institution lasting more than three months cannot use this work visa. The immigration officer must treat the application as one for a student visa. [WE1]
• Medical/dental trainee extensions: Immigration officers have discretion to consider requests for extensions beyond the initial six-month maximum on a case‑by‑case basis. [WE2]
• Jockey apprentice duration: The four‑year maximum is the total period allowed; no further extensions are provided for under these instructions. [WE2]
• Religious trainee extensions: Religious trainees may be granted annual visas up to a cumulative total of four years. Each subsequent application must meet the same requirements. [WE2]
• General conditions on granted visas: Work visas granted under the student and trainee work instructions are subject to conditions appropriate to undertaking the practical training. [WE3]
• Jockey trainer changes: Apprentice jockeys who wish to change trainers must apply for and obtain a variation of conditions to their student and trainee work visa. [WE3]
• Religious trainees' secondary employment: Religious trainees may not undertake secondary employment outside the organisation providing religious training. [WE3][WE1.1]
• Primary sector trainee stand‑down: A primary sector trainee cannot apply for a further work visa under these instructions for two years after the expiry of their current visa. [WI18.5]
• Forestry ban: No work placements may be undertaken in the forestry sector for primary sector trainees. [WI18.5]
• Education provider oversight: INZ officers have discretion to decline a primary sector trainee application if they are not satisfied the education provider can arrange, monitor, and report on work placements. [WI18.5]
• Employer non‑compliance bar: An application must be declined if the prospective employer (or an associated person) has a history of immigration/employment non‑compliance, appears on MBIE's non‑compliant employer lists, or has been convicted of people trafficking, smuggling, or slavery offences under the Crimes Act 1961. [WI18.5]
• Qualifying countries for primary sector trainees: Only nationals of Chile and the Republic of Korea are currently eligible under the primary sector trainee quota. Immigration officers must verify that a place remains available under the relevant country's quota (60 for Chile, 50 for Republic of Korea) before granting the visa. [WI18.15]

Citations

• WE1 — Who is eligible for a student and trainee work visa
• WE1.1 — Requirements for the provision of religious training
• W2.15 — Funds requirements
• WE2 — Currency of student and trainee visas
• WE3 — Conditions of student and trainee work visas
• WI18.5 — Primary sector trainee requirements
• WI18.10 — Evidential requirements
• WI18.15 — Qualifying countries
• WI18.20 — Conditions of work visa