New Zealand Student Visa
A New Zealand Student visa allows you to undertake full-time study in one of the prestigious educational institutes of the country. You must meet the New Zealand student visa requirements, and be able to fund your education and stay.
The INZ (Immigration New Zealand) may grant you the student visa NZ offers, so that you can come to the country on for full-time study. Note that you cannot pursue an education of more than 3 months in the country without going through the New Zealand student visa process to get the INZ approval. You may need to meet the New Zealand student visa IELTS requirements along with satisfying the New Zealand student visa requirements.
You will be able to stay in New Zealand for up to 4 years to finish your full-time study once your student visa NZ offers is approved.
Here are your visa options to pursue full-time study in New Zealand:
Fee-Paying Student Visa
Before you enter the New Zealand student visa process for this category, you may want to ensure that you meet the following New Zealand student visa requirements; you must:
- Have a letter of acceptance in an educational program offered by an INZ approved institute
- Show enough finances to be able to fund your stay and tuition
You may become eligible for a Work Visa after you finish your study on a Fee-Paying Student Visa.
Foreign Government Supported Student Visa
A Foreign Government Supported Student Visa allows you to pursue full-time study in New Zealand if you meet the following New Zealand student visa requirements; you must:
- Have a letter of acceptance in an educational program offered by an INZ approved institute
- Prove that a foreign government will cover your tuition and living expenditures via a loan or scholarship
You may become eligible to apply for a Work Visa or another Student Visa after you finish your study on a Foreign Government Supported Student Visa.
Exchange Student Visa
An Exchange Student Visa will allow you to pursue full-time study in New Zealand if you meet the following New Zealand student visa requirements; you must:
- Establish that a student exchange program approved by the INZ has accepted you
- Initiate your New Zealand student visa process from outside New Zealand
This is your future we are talking about. If you are not sure of which New Zealand student visa process you should follow, and what the New Zealand student visa processing time will be, get in touch with the immigration experts at NZ Migration Help. We have helped many international students realise their dream of studying in New Zealand and can do the same for you. Book a consultation today.
New Zealand Student Visa Requirements
Apart from meeting the New Zealand student visa requirements outlined above for the specific New Zealand student visa process you may decide to follow, the INZ lays down the following qualification criteria for all New Zealand student visas; you will need to:
- Provide an acceptable ID proof
- Prove good character by providing documentation such as police certificates. If you have Character Issues, the INZ will not approve your visa, or you may have to face an extended New Zealand student visa processing time.
- Show that you do not have any Medical Issues, or get Medical Waivers to convince the INZ to grant you a visa
- Produce a letter of admittance by an INZ approved establishment. You may qualify for a student visa NZ offers even if you are a correspondence or long-distance student who needs to travel to the country to sit in examinations or undergo practical training
- Carry travel and health insurance – this requirement is waived for PhD students
- Show enough funds or prove that a sponsor will cover your tuition fee and living expenses. If you are covered by a sponsor, they will be required to cover your deportation expenses if the INZ issues a DLN (Deportation Liability Notice) for you
- Meet New Zealand student visa IELTS requirements if your educational establishment needs you to
- Declare any mandatory practical training required by your courses
- Provide a list of scheduled holidays
This is, by no means, the entire list of documentation and evidence that needs to be supplied as part of your New Zealand student visa process. Do not blow away the chance of experiencing one of the world’s best education systems by getting your visa rejected or being stuck in prolonged New Zealand student visa processing time. Our Auckland based team of immigration experts can help you get the student visa NZ provides for international students quickly and at a low cost. Book a consultation and discuss your case with our licensed immigration advisers.
Advantages of Having a Student Visa NZ Provides for Foreign Students
Here are the perks of having an approved New Zealand Student Visa, you can:
- Join the schools mentioned in your New Zealand student visa to attend the courses you have signed up for
- Work for 20 hours/week when the school is open – the time limit goes away when the school is closed
- Bring your dependent children and partner along with you. They will, however, need to get separate visas
You will be required to stay with your parents, guardians or an NZQA (New Zealand Qualifications Authority) facility if you are not old enough to live independently.
New Zealand Student Visa Processing Time and Cost
The New Zealand student visa processing time can be anywhere from 25 to 90 days. However, if there are immigration issues in your case that make it hard to prove that you meet the INZs good health and character requirements, expect an outright rejection or an extended New Zealand student visa processing time.
We have been helping international students come to New Zealand on the student visa NZ offers for many years. Our immigration experts know how to maximise the success rate of your New Zealand student visa process even in the trickiest situations.
We know how to minimise the New Zealand student visa processing time and get your visa hassle-free at the lowest cost possible. Book a consultation to see how we can help you achieve your dream of getting a world-class education in New Zealand.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Here are the answers to the common queries that overseas students have.
Yes, you will need a student visa to study in New Zealand. You can apply for a student visa online or at your nearest New Zealand embassy or consulate.
It usually takes around 4-6 weeks to process a student visa application. However, it is advisable to apply for your visa as early as possible to allow enough time for processing.
To be eligible for a student visa, you must:
- Be accepted into a full-time course of study at a New Zealand institution
- Have sufficient funds to support yourself during your studies
- Meet the character requirements
- Have adequate medical and travel insurance
The visa application fee is NZD$350. You may also need to pay an international student levy of NZD$1,265, which helps cover the cost of your education in New Zealand.
Yes, you are allowed to work part-time (up to 20 hours per week) while you study in New Zealand on a student visa. If you want to work full-time, you will need to apply for a work visa.
Yes, you will need to renew your student visa every year as long as you remain enrolled in your course of study. You can renew your student visa online or at your nearest New Zealand embassy or consulate.
If your student visa expires, you will need to leave New Zealand and reapply for a new visa from your home country. If you overstay your visa, you may be ineligible for a future visa and could be deported.
Yes, you can bring your partner and/or dependent children with you to New Zealand on a student visa. They will need to apply for their own visas and meet the relevant requirements.
If you want to study in New Zealand for more than four years, you will need to apply for a variation of conditions (VoC) once you arrive in New Zealand. This will allow you to extend your student visa beyond the standard four-year limit.
All institutions that enrol international students must be accredited by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). This means that they have been assessed as meeting strict quality standards.
You can check if your institution is accredited by NZQA on their website.
If you have a complaint about your institution, you can contact the International Student Complaints Scheme (ISCS) for free, impartial advice and assistance.
The ISCS is a service provided by the New Zealand government to help resolve disputes between international students and their institutions.
If you want to change your course or institution, you will need to apply for a variation of conditions (VoC) to your student visa. You can do this online or at your nearest New Zealand embassy or consulate.
If you want to study part-time, you will need to apply for a variation of conditions (VoC) to your student visa. You can do this online or at your nearest New Zealand embassy or consulate.
If you want to take a break from your studies, you will need to apply for a variation of conditions (VoC) to your student visa. You can do this online or at your nearest New Zealand embassy or consulate.
If you want to transfer your credits from another institution, you will need to apply for a variation of conditions (VoC) to your student visa. You can do this online or at your nearest New Zealand embassy or consulate.
If you want to change your level of study, you will need to apply for a variation of conditions (VoC) to your student visa. You can do this online or at your nearest New Zealand embassy or consulate.
Once you have completed your studies, you will need to apply for a visitor visa or other type of visa in order to stay in New Zealand. For more information, please see the Immigration New Zealand website.
There are a number of options available for international students who want to work in New Zealand after they finish their studies. These include the Post-Study Work Visa, the Skilled Migrant Category, and the Work to Residence Visa.
There are a number of options available for international students who want to apply for permanent residence in New Zealand. These include the Skilled Migrant Category, the Business Migration Categories, and the Family Migration Categories. For more information, please speak with one of our experts.
If you have a question that is not listed here, you can contact us for free, impartial advice and assistance.