The New Zealand government recently approved an exception class for 1,000 international tertiary students, degree level and above, who began their study in New Zealand but were caught offshore when border restrictions began. The students will be allowed back into the country to resume their studies in stages from April 2021 through what is being called a “border exception”.

The students will return to a variety of tertiary institutions from universities and polytechnics/institutes of technology to wānanga (public institutions that provide education in the context of Māori culture), and private training establishments.

Students will be subject to the same border rules and quarantine regime as all other arrivals – with any additional restrictions depending on where they come from. They will need to book their space through the allocation system and will be billed the standard charges for managed isolation. They also need to be able to do more to support themselves in New Zealand, with the living expenses that are required for international students to be granted a visa now raised to $20,000 – up from $15,000.

Students with questions about this border exception should contact their providers. The Ministry of Education will continue to work with tertiary education providers to manage this process.

To be eligible for this border exception, students must

• hold, or have held a visa to study in 2020
• be studying towards a bachelor’s degree level or above qualification
• have studied in New Zealand in 2019 or 2020 toward their current qualification
• be returning to study with their current provider
• need to be in-country to complete their study.

Priority will be given to students who are closest to graduation