HELP loans for some New Zealanders
22 December 2015
New Zealand citizens living in Australia are eligible to access a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) at a university or higher education provider where the government pays part of your fees. However, not all SCVs are eligible to access a HELP loan.
Please read the following information carefully. Some New Zealand citizens became eligible for student loans from the 1 January 2016.
In November 2015 the Australian Government made changes to the Higher Education Loan Programme (HELP) scheme to allow young Special Category Visa (SCV) New Zealand citizens, who meet certain eligibility criteria, to access HELP loans from 1 January 2016.
You must meet all of the following eligibility criteria eligible for HELP loans.
To access HELP loans you must hold a Special Category Visa, and:
- first entered Australia at least 10 years ago as a dependent child aged under 18 years of age;
- been ordinarily resident in Australia for the previous 10 years (that is, you have been physically present in Australia for at least eight out of the past 10 years) and 18 months out of the last two years at the time of application for the loan; and
- are otherwise eligible for the loan.
If you do not meet ALL of the above requirements, you cannot get a HELP loan
Gaining permanent residency or citizenship
From 29 June 2023, New Zealand citizens who formerly held a Special Category Visa and have transitioned to a permanent resident visa on the pathway to citizenship will have continued access to the Higher Education Loan Program.
This amendment will allow these students to return to their course of study, without the burden of upfront payment of tuition fees while they wait for their Australian citizenship to be granted.
Refer to the New Zealand citizens residency requirements information on the Study Assist website.
Related
Department of Education Help loans for New Zealand citizens