Pathway Student Visa: English, foundation and a degree on one visa

Many students don’t come to New Zealand for just one course. A common route is English study, then a foundation programme, then a bachelor’s degree. Applying for a separate student visa at each step means more paperwork and more fees. The Pathway Student Visa is designed to cut that down.

According to Immigration New Zealand (INZ), this visa lets you:

• Study up to 3 courses, one after the other, on a single visa for up to 5 years.
• Take a break of up to 16 weeks between programmes, such as the summer before university.
• Work up to 25 hours a week while studying and full-time in holidays, depending on your course.

The key requirement is a pathway offer of place from a provider on INZ’s pathway education provider list, plus a letter of support setting out each course and its start and end dates. Universities on the list include the University of Auckland, AUT, Massey, Otago, Canterbury, Lincoln, Waikato and Victoria University of Wellington. Victoria University of Wellington, for example, asks English for Academic Purposes and Foundation Studies students moving into a degree to get a Pathway Support Letter from its International Office.

Since 20 July 2026, INZ has made the visa more flexible. Year 12 and 13 students now have only the qualification type and provider on their conditions (for example, "Bachelor’s degree at University of Auckland"), so they can change discipline with their provider’s approval without a new visa. Pathways at NZQCF levels 1 to 4 are now allowed, and some students can spend up to 30 weeks on English study instead of 20.

One thing to keep in mind: you still need to meet the entry requirements for your second and third courses. The University of Waikato notes that if you finish foundation studies but don’t qualify for the degree, you’ll need to apply for a new visa. Partners and children can’t be included either; they apply for their own visas based on their relationship to you.

Planning a multi-step study route and wondering whether the Pathway Student Visa fits? BeVisa is happy to look over your study plan with you before you apply. Learn more about our student visa services or book a free assessment.

Source: Immigration New Zealand — Pathway Student Visa; Pathway Student Visa education providers; Improvements to the Pathway Student Visa (20 July 2026). Always re-check INZ before you apply.