Ace Peartree Consulting

When talking about visas for Australia or New Zealand, you’ll often come across the terms onshore and offshore. Here’s what they mean and why they matter.

What Do Onshore and Offshore Mean?

• Onshore: You’re already inside the country (Australia or New Zealand) at the time you submit your application.
• Offshore: You’re outside the country when applying and must wait for approval before entering.

Why Does Location Matter?

Your location determines how you apply, which documents you need, and what happens while you wait.

Australia Student Visa (Subclass 500) & New Zealand Student Visa Comparison

Let’s talk about your current visa situation. Already on a student visa → generally smoother process if continuing studies.

On a visitor or work visa → you may face extra checks since this could be your first student visa.

In all cases, you must apply before your current visa expires to keep your immigration status valid.

Onshore Australia	Offshore Australia
Must have a CoE (letters of offer no longer accepted). Receive a bridging visa, letting you stay legally while your new visa is processed. Often faster since some checks (health/character) may already be valid.	Must also provide a CoE. ❌ No bridging visa — you must wait outside Australia until a decision is made. Processing times can be longer, and entry is only possible once the visa is granted.

Read more in my blog post about all Visa Changes 2025 for Australia 👉👉🏼👉🏽👉🏾👉🏿 here 👈👈🏼👈🏽👈🏾👈🏿

Onshore New Zealand	Offshore New Zealand
Application allowed for a new student visa. Faster processing is common since health and police checks may be reused.	Must wait outside NZ until the visa is granted. Apply online or through embassies.

Australia and New Zealand Working Holiday Visa

Australia’s working holiday visa (Subclass 417 / 462) feels rather complicated to decipher, or is it easier than what we think? Here’s the breakdown:

Onshore Australia	Offshore Australia
1️⃣ First Working Holiday Visa ❌ Not possible. You must be offshore to apply.	Apply online from outside Australia. Once granted, you can enter and begin your 12-month WHV. ❌ No bridging visa option.
2️⃣ Second Working Holiday Visa To qualify, you must complete 88 days (3 months) of specified work during your first visa. After completing this, you can apply for your second WHV (again up to 12 months). If applied onshore, you usually receive a bridging visa to let you stay while waiting.	✅ Can also apply offshore (if you left Australia), as long as you fulfilled the criteria mentioned. 👈👈🏼👈🏽👈🏾👈🏿
3️⃣ Third Working Holiday Visa To qualify, you must complete 179 days (6 months) of specified work during your second visa. This unlocks a third WHV (another 12 months). If applied onshore, you usually receive a bridging visa to let you stay while waiting. Total maximum stay on WHVs = 3 years.	✅ Can also apply offshore (if you left Australia)), as long as you fulfilled the criteria mentioned. 👈👈🏼👈🏽👈🏾👈🏿

The New Zealand working holiday visa is simpler than Australia’s. You generally get one visa only, with conditions depending on your country of passport.

Extension/Second WHV: There’s no standard “2nd” or “3rd” working holiday visa like in Australia. The only “longer” option is if your nationality allows 23 months from the start (must do medicals).

Onshore New Zealand	Offshore New Zealand
❌ Not possible. You must be offshore to apply.	Apply online when quotas open. Wait for approval before entering NZ.

High School Australia (Subclass 500 – School Sector)

What’s the difference for underaged students compared to 18 years and over?

If the student is under 18, they must have approved welfare and accommodation in place before the visa can be granted. They need to show one of the following:

✈️ Travel With Parents

1. Parent or legal custodian will travel with them. Parent is listed as guardian on the visa.
2. Relative over 21 years old (approved by Home Affairs) will care for them. Must be a parent’s sibling, grandparent, aunt/uncle, niece/nephew, or step-equivalent.

✈️ Travel Without Parents

If a parent is not travelling with the child, they must provide:

1. Form 157N (Nomination of a Student Guardian), or
2. School or education provider takes responsibility. Meaning; the school issues a Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare (CAAW) letter. This sets approved accommodation, support, and guardianship until the student turns 18.
3. The student cannot enter Australia before the welfare arrangements start (the visa conditions will enforce this).
4. Student must live only in the approved accommodation until 18.

New Zealand – Student Visa (Secondary School)

• Similar rules: students under 18 must have accommodation and guardian arrangements approved by Immigration NZ.
• Schools often issue a Designated Caregiver Agreement if parents are not present.
• Immigration NZ may require proof of:
  • Caregiver’s suitability (police checks, references).
  • Safe and stable housing.

Onshore Australia	Offshore Australia
If the student is already in Australia on another valid visa (e.g., visitor), they can apply onshore. While the new application is processed, they’ll usually receive a bridging visa — this lets them stay legally in Australia without needing to leave. This is common when families first visit Australia, find a school, and then switch to a student visa.	Apply before travelling. You must wait outside Australia until the visa is granted. You can only enter once the visa is approved.

Onshore New Zealand	Offshore New Zealand
Similar to Australia. Possible to apply if already in NZ with another valid visa (e.g., visitor). May benefit from faster processing.	Similar to Australia. Must wait overseas for visa decision. Only travel once visa is granted.

Processing Times

• Australia: Timelines vary depending on workload. Onshore doesn’t always mean faster.
• New Zealand: Onshore applications can sometimes be finalised more quickly (10–30 days), while offshore applications may take 1–2 months.

Risks of Incorrect Applications

• Submitting an onshore application without the right documents (e.g., missing CoE after 2025 in Australia) = invalid application + no bridging visa → risk of unlawful stay.
• Offshore applicants must remain overseas until their visa is granted – entering too early can make the application invalid.

Final Takeaway

Knowing whether to apply onshore or offshore can have a big impact on:

• how long you wait,
• whether you get a bridging visa,
• your access to healthcare and work rights, and
• how smooth the overall process will be.

✨ Ready to take the next step in your journey to Australia or New Zealand?
Whether you’re planning a student visa, working holiday, or high school exchange, I can guide you through the onshore vs offshore process and help you avoid costly mistakes.

👉 Book a free consultation today and start your adventure with confidence!