Eligibility criteria

If you are approved to provide work-based delivery, AEWV holders that undertake work-based learning with you may be eligible for TEC funding. To be eligible, they must:

• be a ‘domestic student’, as described under subclause 7 of the Schedule in the Education (Domestic Student: Tertiary Education and Vocational Education and Training) Notice 2025, and
• meet the criteria set out in the funding conditions for the relevant year for the Delivery at Levels 3 to 7 (non-degree) on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework and all industry training (DQ3-7) Fund. For more information see the funding conditions by year.

For more information about meeting the ‘domestic student’ requirements, see Other valid domestic enrolments.

Note: People working on a ‘New Zealand Work Visa – Partner of AEWV’ are not eligible for TEC funding, even if they work for an accredited employer.

Which programmes are funded?

TEC publishes a list of funded programmes for work-based learners with AEWVs:

List of funded programmes for eligible AEWV work-based learners (XLSX 72 KB)

TEC funding applies if a work-based learner holds an AEWV and meets the eligibility criteria. To determine when a specific programme becomes eligible for funding, see the 'Programme list' section under the 'Instructions' tab. Check this list regularly as it can change at any time in response to policy, immigration and programme changes.

What if a learner is not eligible?

If an AEWV holder does not meet the criteria to be an eligible learner, they will not qualify for funding, unless they fall into a different category of people eligible to be treated as domestic learners. Find out more at Other valid domestic enrolments. 

Learners who are not eligible for funding may still be able to access both provider-based and work-based learning. However, international fees will apply. Individuals with holiday or work visas do not meet the criteria; the visa must be an AEWV.

Eligibility for Fees Free

AEWV learners who are eligible for TEC funding for work-based learning are treated as domestic learners, so they may be eligible for Fees Free.

Find the complete list of Fees Free eligibility criteria on the Inland Revenue website.

Learners enrolled in work-based learning before 1 January 2023

Before 2023, all individuals working legally in New Zealand and enrolled in work-based learning were eligible for TEC funding under the Industry Training Fund. This included individuals with visas other than residency visas.

From 1 January 2023, limits were placed on TEC funded work-based learning for international workers, to align eligibility more closely with funded provider-based study. As a result, fewer international workers are eligible for TEC funding.

However, any learner who enrolled in work-based learning before 1 January 2023 remains eligible for TEC funding until they complete their programme of training, if they meet all other relevant requirements. This is because they started their training under the previous policy settings.

If the learner changes employers but continues their same programme of training, they will remain eligible for TEC funding.

However, if they withdraw from or change their programme, any new enrolment will be subject to the eligibility criteria in place at the time they enrol.