Careers360

New Zealand
Student Visa
Guidelines
Know all about student
visa for new zealand

Types of student visa Application checklist Visa assessment levels & more...

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Contents

Introduction 

Types of New Zealand Student Visa

New Zealand Student Visa Checklist

How to Complete a New Zealand Student Visa Application Form? 

New Zealand Visa Processing

New Zealand Student Visa Processing Timings

10

Who Doesnt Need a Student Visa? 

11

Visa denial

12

Work While Studying 

13

Work after Studies

14

Other Useful Resources 

15

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Introduction

he number of students going to New Zealand for higher studies

is increasing every year because of its accessibility to the immigrants. The low tuition fee and the variety of courses offered
by the countrys universities attract thousands of students. The most
sought-after courses in New Zealand are IT, management and medicine. The international students need a student visa to study in the New
Zealand depending on the nature and duration of study. We are providing comprehensive information about the process involved in getting a
New Zealand student visa.

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Types of New Zealand Student Visa

he Immigration New Zealand provides student visa

maximum for four years. It decides the length of the
student visa based on three factors.

If you are a full-fee paying student, the visa will be issued

for the length that you have paid the fee for. If you are following the New Zealand academic year, your visa which
is issued for one year will expire on March 31 the next
year.

If your education provider has a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Immigration New Zealand, you
can apply for length of course visa which allows you to

stay full length of the course you chose (up to four years)
regardless of the period for which you paid the fee for.
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If you are a full-scholarship student, the visa will be

issued for the period which the scholarship is grated (up
to four years).

If you are a student under the age of 13 and enrolled

in years one to eight of a school in a private training
establishment, you must be accompanied either by your
parents or a legal guardian. They will have to apply separately for the guardian visa. However, you dont need a
guardian if you are:

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A domestic student

Enrolled in a school hostel approved by the Code Administrator at the Ministry of Education

In a years of seven and eight and aged between 11 and 13

and the private training establishment you are enrolled
has an approval from the Code Administrator at the
Ministry of Education

You are coming to the country to undertake a study which

doesnt exceed nine months
Your education provider is approved to accept international students New Zealand Qualifications Authority

You meet the visitor visa requirements

You show the proof of paying the tuition fee

You will get a student visa only if you are coming to

undertake a full-time study. You can do part-time study
on a visitor visa if:

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New Zealand Student Visa Checklist

ou can apply for the New Zealand student visa either

online or on paper. Click here (https://www.immigration.govt.nz/secure/login+student) to apply online.
If you are planning to apply on paper, you can download
the application form from here. (http://www.immigration.
govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/1939D919-202D -4388-83C3C934016C3BB9/0/INZ1012.pdf )

The student visa checklist includes:

c) Offer letter from the University/ education provider

stating that you have obtained a place. The offer should
include the following details:

The education providers name, full address and

contact details

a) Completed and signed application form

The proof that the programme offered by the education provider meet the requirements for international students in New Zealand

The annual tuition fee

The proof that the applicant has paid the fee

b) Two recent passport size photographs

Name of the programme to be undertaken by the

applicant and the duration of the course

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Whether the fee is domestic or international

Whether the course is full-time or part-time

Confirmation that all requirements are met including the accommodation for the students under the
age of 18 years

Zealand
j)

If the documents and transcripts are not in English, you

will have to provide translation. The translation must be:

Be in English

d) Valid passport

e) Visa application fee. Click here (http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/live/partner/LinkAdministration/ToolboxLinks/officeandfeescalculator.

htm?level=2) to calculate your application fee

f ) Evidence for the enrolment for the course and payment

of the tuition fee

g) Medical certificates: TB clearance or medical X-ray and

police certificates (if required)

h) Details of the application for guardian visa for the students under the age of 13 years

Be accompanied by the original certificate or a certified copy of the same

Not be prepared by you or any of your family members or an immigration officer who is helping you
with the application process
Be certified as a correct translation by a person who
knows both languages well
Be on the official letter head of the translation
business
Be accompanied by the seal or signature of the
translator or translation business
Be paid for by the candidate for translation

i) Evidence of financial support during the stay in New

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How to Complete a New Zealand

Student Visa Application Form?

Section: A- Personal Details

This section you need tom provide your personal details. You
must also attach two passport size photographs of size 45x35
mm which must be taken no more than six months. The photographs must be of good quality colour one. No black and
white photographs are accepted.
A3: Other names you are known by or you have ever known
by- This includes your English name, birth name or name
after marriage.
A7: Passport details- You must provide the passport details.
The passport must be valid for at least three months after you
are planning to leave New Zealand.
A11: Partnership status- You must provide your current or
most recent partnership status.

Section: B- Contact Details

B5: You must provide your contact details clearly in this

section.

Section: C- Your Health

C 13: You must not provide the chest X-Ray if you will be in
New Zealand for less than six months
C 15: You must provide a chest X-Ray of less than three
months old

Section: E- Your Visa

E1: Applying for student visa- Before applying for student

visa, make sure that you are meeting all the requirements
mentioned by the Immigration New Zealand to obtain the
visa.

Section: D- Your Character

D3: Have you been excluded or refused entry to any country? - You must tick Yes if your visa has been denied before
D4: Police Certificates- If you are above the age of 17 years
and intending to stay in New Zealand for more than 24
months, you must submit the police certificate from the area
you were living for five years since you turned 17.

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New Zealand Visa Processing

uring the assessment of the visa application, the immigration department

will see if the candidate meets all requirements for the student visa to be
a bona fide student, means the student is genuinely intended to study in New
Zealand. It includes:
l

Your personal circumstances such as your family ties in the home country
and New Zealand and personal, employment and financial conditions in the
home country and New Zealand.
Information about whether any country has denied your visa
Information on whether you have any dependants who are unlawful in New
Zealand
Information on your capabilities of leaving New Zealand at the completion
of the course

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New Zealand Student Visa

Processing Timings

he average time taken to issue a student visa is 25 days. Usually, 95%

of visas are issued during this time. In some cases, when the complete
information is not available or some documents are missing, the processing may take more time.
The students will get an email or SMS notification when the completed
application form is received provided they give accurate email id or phone
number. If you are not receiving any communication 30 days after submitting the application form, you should send the query to pnthapplication@
dol.govt.nz.

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Who Doesnt Need a Student Visa?

You dont need a student visa if:
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You are a citizen of New Zealand

You hold a New Zealand residence class visa

You hold an Australian permanent residence Visa

You hold an Australian resident return visa

You are a school-age visitor visa holder undertaking a

course of study for not more than three months
Participants of working holiday scheme can undertake
one or more courses lasting three to six months depending on the type of scheme

You are undertaking one or more short courses which are

approved or exempted by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority for a duration less than three months

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Visa denial
There are certain conditions in which the
Immigration New Zealand rejects the visa.
They are:
l

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If you are unlawfully staying in New Zealand during the

time of apply
If you do not meet the health and character requirements
If you have convicted and imprisoned for more than five
years
If you are a member of a terrorist entity under the Terrorism Suppression Act 2002

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Work While Studying

You are allowed to work for 20 hours per week during
the term and full time during vacation if you meet one of
the following criteria:
l

The course must be two years of duration

The course must lead to a New Zealand qualification that
gives enough points for a New Zealand skilled migrant
visa
The course must last for at least one academic year and
you must be a part of a tertiary exchange programme
It is a private training establishment which conducts
classes to improve English language. You must also have
a minimum IELTS band score of 5.0
You are a New Zealand Aid Programme Scholarship
student who has one of the following scholarships:

Commonwealth Scholarship

New Zealand Development Scholarship

New Zealand Pacific Scholarship

New Zealand Association of South East Asian

Nations (ASEAN) Scholars Award

Unlimited work rights for PhD students and

Masters by research students

If you are enrolled for Masters by research or a PhD programme, there are no working hour restrictions for you.
However, you cannot work if you are doing one of the below
given programmes:
l

Short-Term Training Awards

New Zealand Regional Development Scholarships

English Language Training for Officials

Full-time work rights

You can get the full time work right if your course is of at
least one year duration and you must earn at least 120 credit
points in eight months (two semesters).

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Work after Studies

If you want to work in New Zealand after your studies,
you need to apply for a work visa.

Applying for a post-study work visa (open)

If you dont have a job offer in place and like to look for a
job, you can apply for post-study work visa (open). The visa
will be valid for 12 months. During this time, the candidate
can start working with any firm and then find a job in the
area which he/she specialised in. To apply for this visa, the
candidate must have:
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Successfully completed the course of study that qualifies

for points for Skilled Migrant Category of Immigration
New Zealands Residence Instructions
The candidate must be recently finished his/her studies,
no later than three months of completing the course

Three years if you are working towards obtaining a

membership or registration from a New Zealand professional association which requires more than two years of
relevant practical work experience

To apply for this visa, the candidate must have:

l

Successfully completed the course of study that qualifies

for points for Skilled Migrant Category of Immigration
New Zealands Residence Instructions
The candidate must be recently finished his/her studies,
no later than three months of completing the course or
he/she must have a post-study work visa (open)
The candidate must have a job offer in place

The candidate must show NZ$4,200 to meet her financial needs during the period of stay

Applying for a post-study work visa (employer

assisted)

This is the visa that you need to apply if you have a job offer in
place. The visa will be valid for a maximum period of:
l

Two years to obtain practical experience to suit your

demands

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Other Useful Resources

Why New Zealand?

15

Study in New Zealand:

Admission Cycle

New Zealand: Admission and

Visa Guidelines

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