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New Zealand is a young country where independence, initiative and resourcefulness are more highly regarded than status or rules. As a student here you’ll be encouraged to be questioning, flexible and to seek your own answers by thinking for yourself.
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New Zealand Student Visa Guide
New Zealand Student Visa Guide
Updated on Jul 22, 2020Rahul Singha
Study Abroad Expert1.3L Views56 CommentsDownload Guide
Visa Description
Students going to New Zealand to study for more than three months would require to apply for a New Zealand Student Visa. A student visa allows applicants to study full-time in New Zealand for a stipulated period of time. A student visa may have conditions you must meet – for example, it may include (not limited to):
- The name of the program you are allowed to study
- The name of the educational provider
- The New Zealand location of the provider, and
- The requirement to hold acceptable insurance
Also Read
| New Zealand Student Visa Processing Time | How to Get Work Permit in New Zealand? |
| New Zealand Average Salary for International Students | Job prospects for Indians who have studied in New Zealand |
Cost of New Zealand Student Visa
New Zealand Visa Cost: Students who are submitting their Student Visa Application online are required to pay a Visa fee of NZD 330 + INR 747 (approximately) as the receiving centre fees (New Delhi). Candidates who are applying for their Student Visa via post are required to pay USD 222 + Rs. 1,124 (approximately) as the receiving centre fees (New Delhi). Candidates should note that the handling charges could change depending on the Visa Centre, hence applicants are required to check the official website before applying for the exact amount at the time.
Documents Required for New Zealand Student Visa
Candidates looking to apply for their New Zealand Student Visa must have the following documents as part of their visa application process:
- Valid passport – Your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond your period of stay in New Zealand
- Completed Student Visa Application Form (INZ 1012)
- Application fee payment receipt (fee as mentioned above)
- An offer of a place – You need to have an offer of a place from a New Zealand institute/university. The forms are usually issued after the tuition fees have been received
- Letter from your current institution confirming status as a study abroad student
- Health insurance receipt
- You may be required to show Health and Character certificates, to prove that your intention of staying in New Zealand is genuine
- Two passport-sized photographs
Note: Additional documentation may be required. During the personal interview, additional documents may be requested by the interviewer. These may be documents to prove evidence of academic or financial status.
- Transcripts, diplomas, degrees, or certificates from schools you attended
- Scores from tests that your college required, such as TOEFL, GRE, or GMAT scores
- How you will pay for all educational, living and travel costs
Related Reads
- Affected by COVID-19? What international students studying in New Zealand should know
- Permanent Residency in New Zealand after study
How to apply for a New Zealand Student Visa online?
Candidates should note that the preferred mode of submitting your New Zealand Visa Application is via the online method. The online method is not only less time consuming but also less expensive as compared to post. Here is how to complete your application online using NZ Immigration Online.
Gather your documents as mentioned above and scan and prepare all your main and supporting documents in PDF format. Ensure you have scanned and attached a photo of yourself. Candidates are instructed to visit the official website for photograph specifications required by the embassy.
| The average time taken by the New Zealand High Commission for the visa procedure is approximately 63 calendar days depending on the individual’s background. So the students need to apply for their visas at least three months prior to their course commencement. Complete your online application – You need to create an account online and fill in the form. |
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Dependents
In most cases, the spouse and dependent children of a student will be granted a visitor visa for the same duration as their partner or parents’ stay. Spouses of the student on Work Visa can work full time in NZ. However, the dependents of students on visitor visas have no work rights. Read: Student’s Spouse Visa for New Zealand
You must be in a genuine and stable relationship with your partner and you must hold a New Zealand student visa to study for:
- A level seven (or higher) qualification on the New Zealand Qualification Framework in an area of absolute skill shortage as specified in the Long Term Skill Shortage List, or
- A postgraduate qualification
Additional Information
As an international student, you must complete your course within the minimum course duration listed on your acceptance letter. If you do not yet have a job offer, you may apply for a Post-study work visa. Visas granted are valid for up to 12 months and allow you to work in a temporary job while you look for a job in your field.
You can work part-time for up to 20 hours per week if your program of study meets one of these criteria:
- It is at least two years in duration.
- It leads to a New Zealand qualification that qualifies for points towards an application for a Skilled Migrant visa.
- It is a tertiary institution, and the main purpose is to develop English language skills – you must also have an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) overall band score of 5.0 or above in the general or academic modules.
You may work full-time during all vacations if you are enrolled in a full-time program of study of at least one academic year’s duration. If your full-time program of study has a duration of at least eight months, and is a minimum of two semesters, but is less than 120 credits, you can work full-time over the Christmas and New Year holiday period.
If you are enrolled in Masters by research or doctoral degree programs awarded by a New Zealand tertiary institution, there are no restrictions on the hours you can work.
Scholarships for Studying in New Zealand
Arranging finances for studying in New Zealand is a great concern for international students. However, the government of New Zealand and various universities are offering a number of scholarships that students can avail of and gain knowledge. We have listed out top scholarships that students can apply for studying in New Zealand. Other Scholarships include:
- CCSE Graduate Scholarship
- BrokerFish International student scholarship
- Central Sector Scheme of National Overseas Scholarship for SC etc. candidates
- Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship
Where to Apply
Provided below is the contact information of various New Zealand High Commissions located across the country.
Immigration New Zealand (INZ), New Delhi Centre
Telephone: +91 11 4259 6300
Fax: +91 11 4761 2990
Email: nzisnewdelhi@dol.govt.nz
New Zealand High Commission
Sir Edmund Hillary Marg
Chanakyapuri
New Delhi 110 021
Telephone: 0091-11-4688 3170
Fax: 0091-11-4688 3165
Email: nzhc@airtelmail.in
New Zealand Consulate General
Mumbai, India
Street Address: Level 2, 3rd North Avenue, Maker Maxity, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai 400 051, India
Telephone: +91-11-42596300 or email
Fax: +91 22 6770 9003
Email: inzmumbai@ttsvisas.com
Related Read
Know more about student visas for study abroad and student visa for prominent international study destinations:
Before you apply for a student visa
Before you start your application, you need to plan your study, work out how you’ll support yourself in NZ and check which documents you need to provide with your application.
Find out how COVID-19 affects student visa holders and their education providers.
Student visa and COVID-19 information — Immigration NZ
Making study and travel plans before you apply
To qualify for a student visa, you’ll need:
- to be accepted for a course at an education institute approved by the Ministry of Education or the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA)
- money for your tuition fees or proof that you have a scholarship that pays your fees
- proof you have enough money to live on while you’re in NZ, and
- a ticket out of NZ or evidence that you enough money to buy one.
Fee Paying Student Visa — criteria
Pathway Student Visa — criteria
The dependent children of people who already hold a work visa or a student visa do not need to be accepted for a course before they apply for a student visa.
Visa factsheet: Dependent Child Student Visa
Choosing a course
Find a programme of study or qualification that suits you.
Find primary, intermediate and secondary schools that teach international students.
If you’re applying for a Pathway Student Visa, you must study with a Pathway Education Provider.
Study fees
Most people who come to NZ to study pay full fees as international students.
Domestic students
If you qualify as a domestic student, your fees are usually less — but you’ll still need a student visa.
You’re a domestic student if, for example you’re:
- studying at primary or secondary school under a government-approved exchange programme
- studying at primary or secondary school in NZ because your parent or legal guardian is here on a student or work visa
- studying for a PhD.
Definition of a domestic student in New Zealand
Paying your living expenses
To support yourself while you study in NZ, you need to show you have one of the following:
- NZD$15,000 for your first year of study
- NZD$1250 for each month if your programme of study is less than 36 months
- a scholarship, such as a New Zealand Aid Programme scholarship, or
- a sponsor or family member who’s agreed to accept financial responsibility for you while you’re in NZ.
New Zealand Aid Programme Scholarships
Health and character
To get a visa, you need to be healthy and of good character.
Health requirements for a student visa
Character requirements for a student visa
Health insurance
If you’re a fee paying student, you need approved medical and travel insurance. Contact your education provider to get help with arranging medical and travel insurance.
Students aged 9 or younger
International students who are 9 or younger must:
- have a parent or legal guardian living with them, or
- live in a school hostel approved by NZQA.
Visa factsheet: Guardian of a Student Visitor Visa
Documents to provide with your application
Your identity
You need to provide:
- a colour photo of your head and shoulders — or 2, if you apply using the printed form
- a passport that’s valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave NZ.
Other supporting documents
If you’ve been offered a place on a course of study, the institution you’ll study at gives you a document confirming your place. You must include this with your visa application.
You may also have to provide:
- medical certificates
- police certificates, and
- translations of any documents not in English.
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