Are you dreaming of relocating to New Zealand but unsure which immigration pathway might work best for you and your family?
In this week’s NZ Ahead podcast episode, we sat down with the brilliant Fabien from New Zealand Shores to demystify one of the most powerful—and often misunderstood—routes to residency: studying in New Zealand.
It’s a game-changer for families, and Fabien broke it all down for us.
This isn’t just about getting a qualification; it’s about unlocking a door for your entire family to build a new life here (and if you’re exploring all your options, it’s worth looking into the different types of New Zealand work visas to see what might be the best fit for your situation).
As a migrant himself who moved from France 15 years ago, Fabien brings personal experience and professional expertise to the conversation. Let’s dive into this often-overlooked but highly effective pathway to New Zealand.
This post may contain affiliate links. They cost you nothing, but we make a small commission. Please see our Disclaimer page for more details.
The Master’s Degree Route: A Family Solution
One of the most promising pathways for families looking to relocate to New Zealand is through higher education—specifically, pursuing a Master’s degree.
Fabien recommends this approach particularly for mid-career professionals with existing qualifications.
Why a Master’s Degree?
“If you’re in your mid-40s with a bachelor’s degree and about a decade of experience in your field, we would recommend you undertake a Master’s in New Zealand,” Fabien explains. The benefits of this approach are substantial:
- Work rights for your partner: Your spouse/partner can obtain full open work rights while you study
- Free education for your children: Your children can attend school free of charge as dependents of a Master’s student’s partner
- Post-study opportunities: Upon completion, the entire family becomes eligible for a 3-year open work visa
This isn’t a short-term fix; it’s a strategic pathway.
Once you graduate, your entire family is eligible for a 3-year Post-Study Work Visa.
This gives you plenty of time for you or your partner to secure a skilled job and transition to residency.
This is a fantastic alternative if your partner doesn’t qualify for a New Zealand Partner Visa through a different pathway.
Do you Love NZ?
Sign up for our FREE Life in New Zealand 5-Day Video Guide HERE, and we will share some fabulous secret behind-the-scenes glimpses into what life in New Zealand is REALLY like!
Sign up NOW to get your FREE videos about life in New Zealand!
The Visa Application Process
If you’re considering this path, you’ll need to apply for specific visas:
The student applies for a Fee-paying Student Visa (also called an International Student Visa)
Your partner applies for a Partner of a Student Work Visa
Children apply for either:
A Dependent Child Student Visa (if aged 5 or above)
A Dependent Child Visitor Visa (if under 5, suitable for kindergarten attendance)
Financial Requirements
Before you start packing your bags, be aware of the financial commitments:
- Tuition fees: Approximately NZ$50,000 for a one-year Master’s course
- Maintenance funds: At least NZ$20,000 for the student’s living costs per year
- Family maintenance: An additional NZ$4,200 for the rest of the family per year
- Travel funds: Around NZ$2,000 per person for potential outward travel
Freedom to Choose Your Field of Study
Unlike other study pathways, a Master’s degree (Level 9) offers complete freedom in what you study.
“If you’re aiming for a Master’s level, it doesn’t matter what you’re going to study as long as you’re studying at a Master’s level,” Fabien notes.
This is because immigration policy states that qualifications at Level 9 and above automatically provide these benefits.
Do you Love NZ?
Sign up for our FREE Life in New Zealand 5-Day Video Guide HERE, and we will share some fabulous secret behind-the-scenes glimpses into what life in New Zealand is REALLY like!
Sign up NOW to get your FREE videos about life in New Zealand!
The Path to Residency
After completing your studies, you’ll need to make the most of your 3-year post-study work visa by securing skilled employment.
This positions you well for applying for residency, typically through the Skilled Migrant Category point system.
“You would get 5 points for your Master’s granted in New Zealand,” Fabien explains. “You would just need to work for a year in New Zealand in a skilled occupation to claim that missing 1 point because the Skilled Migrant Category requires 6 points for you to be eligible.”
The key is planning your education with your long-term goals in mind.
Fabien’s team helps map this out for clients: “We tell them you should aim for this type of course… we can actually pinpoint specific courses that will match your goals, your budget, what you want to achieve, and possibly where you want to study.”
Children as International Students: A Different Approach
For families primarily interested in having their children experience New Zealand education, there’s a separate pathway:
How It Works
- Obtain an offer of a place from a New Zealand school
- Apply for a Fee-paying Student Visa for the child
- One parent can apply for a Guardian Visitor Visa to accompany the child
However, there’s a limitation: “You can only get one guardian visitor visa per family,” Fabian explains.
This often suits families where one parent remains overseas for business or other commitments while the other relocates with the children.
While this approach isn’t explicitly designed as a pathway to permanent residency, Fabien notes that “a lot of people who can afford to place their children as international students… are people who usually have an entrepreneur mind, and will find a way to remain in New Zealand for a longer period of time, either by being an entrepreneur starting a business or perhaps through the investor category.”
(And for those thinking even further ahead, if bringing older family members is part of your long-term plan, understanding the Parent Visa for New Zealand options is a good idea.)
Do you Love NZ?
Sign up for our FREE Life in New Zealand 5-Day Video Guide HERE, and we will share some fabulous secret behind-the-scenes glimpses into what life in New Zealand is REALLY like!
Sign up NOW to get your FREE videos about life in New Zealand!
Working Remotely While in New Zealand
If you hope to work remotely while in New Zealand, you might have heard about the Digital Nomad Visa. Fabian clarifies this isn’t actually a separate visa category:
“The digital nomad visa is not actually a visa… What immigration came up with is simply clarifying that you could come here as a tourist or a visitor… and work remotely for your overseas business… as long as you don’t go to the workplace, or you don’t work for a New Zealand employer.”
This arrangement typically allows for a 9-month stay, with potential extension to 12 months.
New Zealand’s Education System: A Perfect Balance
Beyond immigration considerations, New Zealand offers truly world-class education. Fabian, who experienced both French and New Zealand education systems as a parent, praises the balanced approach:
“New Zealand has the perfect balance—highly regarded at the academic level, but really keeping in mind all those socialising skills, all those things outside of the classroom and the diversity.”
This diversity is particularly valuable: “My kids went to a great public school… they had children from all walks of life and all different corners of the world, and that’s really something that I think will be very valuable to them moving forward.”
New Zealand schools have also struck a good balance with technology, allowing kids in New Zealand to use devices for educational purposes while maintaining strict boundaries around their non-academic use.
Getting Started: Timing Is Everything
If you’re considering this pathway, Fabian strongly recommends consulting with immigration advisors early in the process:
“We like to bring people on board early on so they don’t make the mistake of picking the wrong course. We’ve come across people who got a visa for themselves, and when they applied for their partner, they realised the course doesn’t actually qualify for a partner visa.”
While securing an offer of place from an educational institution is relatively straightforward, the student visa application process has become increasingly stringent:
“Immigration New Zealand is proving really strict, particularly on the evidence of funds, and on that whole genuine intention to study… You need to satisfy immigration in the first instance that you genuinely intend to study.”
Financial documentation needs to be thorough, with “full traceability of these funds over a period of at least 3 months, if not 6.”
Final Thoughts
Moving to New Zealand through education pathways offers a viable option for many families, particularly those with the means to invest in their future through higher education.
With proper planning and expert guidance, what begins as an educational opportunity can evolve into a permanent relocation to one of the world’s most beautiful countries.
If you’re interested in exploring educational pathways to New Zealand, you can reach out to New Zealand Shores at st***@**************es.com or join their community channel on our Slack for personalised advice.
Become Part of Our Supportive Community!
Figuring all this out can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. Our NZ Ahead community is a thriving Slack channel where hundreds of people, just like you, are sharing advice, asking questions, and supporting each other through every step of the journey.
How do you join? It’s easy!
Start by grabbing our FREE 5-Day Video Guide. It’s packed with essential tips for moving to NZ. On Day 5, we’ll give you all the details on how to become a member of our exclusive community.
👉 Click here to get your free guide and find your tribe: www.nzahead.com/free
We can’t wait to welcome you in and help you on your path to New Zealand!
