Immigration New Zealand has announced the Pathway Student Visa (PSV) programme will be permanent by 2021, with some changes.

The pilot was introduced in 2015 to enable international students to study up to three consecutive courses on a single student visa for up to five years.

Currently, the visa is only available with approved education providers, and some courses of study.

INZ intend to make two changes to the Pathway Student Visa as it becomes permanent:

• Education providers will only be able to qualify to be a PSV education provider if INZ approves at least 80% of applications from offshore students intending to study with them.
• INZ will also update restrictions around study pathways that begin with English language study. This is to make sure restrictions are consistent with the requirements of the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF) Programme Approval and Accreditation Rules 2018.

Assurance processes to check PSV providers are meeting their obligations are intended to be developed by INZ.