As we welcome in the New Year, 1 January 2025 also marks the commencement of the Government’s new ‘final-year’ Fees Free policy (or final two years for work-based learning), with the ‘first-year’ Fees Free scheme ending on 31 December 2024.
This means learners starting a work-based training programme for the first time in 2025 may be able to access Fees Free for the final 24 months of their work-based training, to a value of $12,000 incl GST. To meet the Fees Free criteria, learners will need to complete their Fees Free eligible qualification or training programme, and:
- meet the residency criteria at the time they complete, and
- meet the prior study and training criteria, and
- have not already used Fees Free.
Once a learner has completed their qualification, they will need to apply to Inland Revenue who will make payment to the learner’s bank account – with the first payments being available in 2026.
As the details for the final-year Fees Free are still evolving, Connexis strongly encourages learners and employers to check the Fees Free website for more information and eligibility criteria at www.feesfree.govt.nz
