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New Zealand Student Visa Guide

New Zealand is well-known as one of the world’s most developed and liveable countries, and ranks highly in most social indicators such as quality of life, public infrastructure, economic freedom and educational quality. It is an island country located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, a few hours east of Australia. Moreover, New Zealand has become an increasingly diverse country with nearly a fourth of the total population of 5 million residents being foreign-born or immigrants.

With eight New Zealand universities ranked in the QS Global Top 500, the small island country is also emerging as a premier study destination for international students from all over the globe. Students are attracted by the safe and exciting urban environments in cities such as Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington, as well as the natural beauty of New Zealand’s mountains and its coastal regions.

New Zealand is currently home to over 50,000 international students, with over 150,000 student visa applications filed every year!

The New Zealand Student Visa

The most common student visa obtained by international students in New Zealand is the Fee Paying Student Visa. This visa enables you to reside and study in New Zealand for the entire duration of your degree programme. Your family members will also be awarded visas to stay with you if required, in the form of the ‘Guardian of a Student’ Visa or the ‘Dependent Child Student Visa’.

You should make sure that you have the following documents in order to successfully apply for the Fee Paying Student Visa in New Zealand:

  • Valid passport for at least three months beyond period of stay in New Zealand
  • Completed Student Visa Application Form (INZ 1012)
  • Application fee payment receipt
  • Valid enrolment in a degree programme at a New Zealand university. The confirmation of enrolment is generally issued after tuition fees have been received by the university
  • Valid Health Insurance
  • You may also be required to show Health and Character certificates
  • Two passport-sized photograph
  • Transcripts, diplomas and past degree certificates
  • GRE or GMAT scores as sent to your New Zealand university
  • Proof of financial resources to pay living and tuition expenses

In addition to the above requirements, you may be required to submit additional documents depending on your nationality.

International students should also note that whilst your visa application doesn’t require any form of English language certification, your university of choice may still require proof of English ability in the form of IELTS or TOEFL scores.

If you are under 18, you will only receive a student visa if your parent or legal guardian also resides with you in New Zealand.

You may also apply for the Fee Paying Student Visa in New Zealand if you are a remote learning or correspondence student who is studying outside New Zealand and you need to visit New Zealand for more than 3 months to attend classes or events at your enrolled university.

Below are a few additional visa types granted by New Zealand that enable you to study in the country as an international student:

  • Visitor Visa: Study for up to 3 months
  • Exchange Student Visa: Study for up to 4 years in a student exchange scheme
  • MFAT-funded NZ Scholarship Student Visa: For international students funded by a New Zealand-based scholarship administered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade (MFAT)
  • Student & Trainee Work Visa: For students who need to complete practical training for their degree programme
  • Foreign Government Supported Student Visa: For students funded by a foreign government loan or scholarship

New Zealand Fee Paying Student Visa Charges for International Students

The New Zealand government charges a flat fee of approximately 430 NZ Dollars as a non-refundable application cost for students all over the world.

Additionally, depending on the method of your application submission and your home country, you may be required to pay an additional fee to your local visa application processing centre. This fee varies depending on your nationality and the country you will apply from. In China, for instance, you are not required to pay any additional fee while in India and Iran, for example, you must pay an additional fee for the processing of your passport and other documents.

We recommend that you visit the official New Zealand Immigration website to further research the exact document requirements and fees for each student visa type according to your nationality.

New Zealand Student Visa Work Rules

Current New Zealand student visa rules enable undergraduate students to work up to 20 hours a week alongside your degree programme, provided that the programme duration is at least two semesters. Additionally, you will be allowed to work full-time during Christmas and other periods of academic breaks if your degree programme fulfils certain requirements, such as being worth at least 120 credits.

For Master’s and PhD international students, there are no restrictions on work hours in New Zealand. If practical experience is a requirement for your course, you will be granted the student work visa with certain extra conditions that allow you to complete your vocational training.

It is easy to see why international students are looking at New Zealand as a favourite destination for degree programmes. The country’s friendly atmosphere, welcoming cities, picture-perfect landscapes and high public safety levels create an excellent environment for focused academic growth, world-class research and recreational activities to engage you outside the classroom.