Dear agents,

As we approach the start of Semester Two 2024, we are aware that not all students have provided their visa.

Provide a visa: To provide a valid visa, please upload it through our Providing your Visa information form.

Semester Two 2024 commences on 15 July. We encourage all students to be on campus with a valid visa by this date, as late arrival may impact their academic achievement and eligibility for Post-Study Work visas.

If your student is not unable to arrive on time, please carefully check the following sections:

Offshore start

International students that are unable to be on campus because they are awaiting a visa from Immigration NZ will be eligible to start the semester remotely for the duration of the University's add/drop period, which ends on Friday 26 July.

Students who still have not received their visa by 26 July may be eligible* to continue remotely for a further two weeks until Friday 9 August, if the full enrolment is suitable for continued remote learning.

*Eligibility for offshore start extension until 9 August:

• Location: Students must be offshore AND
• Visa status: Have submitted a Visa application before 15 July and the visa is still being processed, AND
• Enrolment: At least 45 points of 'offshore start' courses, which you can view at Offshore start Semester Two 2024. Students are responsible for making sure that their enrolment met this requirement, any adjustment to the enrolment should be done before the end of the add/drop period (26 July). Students enrolled in research courses will need to seek approval from their supervisors.
• Programme: Students enrolled in Foundation programmes are not eligible.

Students do not need to confirm their participation in this offshore initiative. The visa compliance team will be able to confirm the visa status with Immigration NZ and review the enrolment.

Please note: The Offshore start initiative is available for eligible students; however, students must fully understand the visa implications before deciding to choose this option:

• Duration of the Post-Study Work Visa (PSWV): The visa duration will correspond with the duration the applicant spent studying the qualification in New Zealand.
• Eligibility for the Post-Study Work Visa: One of the eligibility requirements for the PSWV is that student visa holders must have studied the programme visa granted for at least 30 weeks in New Zealand. Therefore, students pursuing a one-year programme should carefully consider this requirement before choosing the Offshore Start option, as you may not fulfil the 30-week requirement.

Deferring enrolment for current students

If your student is not eligible for the offshore start or if they decide not to participate in this initiative, your student can defer their studies to the next intake.

For information on how to do this as a continuing student, see Defer enrolment to next semester.         

Deferring enrolment for new students

Before 15 July

Students will need to Request to defer a firm or conditional offer.

After 15 July

The deferral button in Apply to study is not available after the first day of the semester, if they need to defer your student will need to:

1. Drop your enrolment
2. Delete the programme
3. Submit a new application to the next intake. Offers to new intakes will be prioritised for students with visa applications in progress submitted before 15 July. If you have not received your offer in 2 weeks, please contact us at int-questions@auckland.ac.nz.

Visa compliance - Drop of enrolments

During the 3rd week (week of 29 July), enrolments for international students with no valid visa AND not eligible for offshore start will be dropped.

During the 5th week (week of 12 August), enrolments for international students with no valid visa will be dropped.

Visa compliance - Students in NZ without student visa

Please note that non-student visa holders are not allowed to enrol in a programme longer than 3 or 6 months unless a Variation of Condition is approved by INZ. Once the semester commences, the enrolment of students in New Zealand without a Student visa or Variation of Condition for study, will be withdrawn immediately.

For more information, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions Page