New Zealand Student Visa : Requirements, Application Process, Fees
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A New Zealand Student Visa allows international students to study in NZ. To apply for a study visa of NZ, students must have an admission offer letter from any university of NZ. Students who get an offer letter and accept it are eligible to apply for a New Zealand student visa. The NZ student visa application processing time varies between 8-10 weeks. It can longer depending on the number of applications received for one particular academic session.
Applications for student visas can be applied in 4 different ways - online, offline, through an immigration advisor or at a visa centre. The status of applications can be checked online at RealMe or NZeTA if applied online, while offline applications can be tracked through the immigration advisors and visa centre application filings are tracked through VAC. New Zealand student visa fee is NZD 375 (INR 18,951 Approx). This blog will help you to understand every information related to New Zealand study visa. We will also discuss about steps to apply, who can apply and other relevant details
New Zealand Student Visa Details
Students going to New Zealand to study for more than three months would be required to apply for a New Zealand Student Visa. A student visa allows applicants to study full-time in New Zealand for a stipulated period. Check International Student Guide for New Zealand. 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
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Qualifications for Student Visa in New Zealand
To travel to New Zealand with a student visa, an international student must fulfil the following criteria:
- Applicant must have confirmed their offer letter for a course registered under the Ministry of Education of New Zealand or NZQA.
- The applicants must show proof of NZD 20,000 (INR 9,88,500 approx) for a year to stay in New Zealand for study.
- An applicant must maintain NZD 1,667 per month to survive in New Zealand.
- A ticket not to New Zealand but elsewhere to prove that the applicant has enough expenses to study and stay in New Zealand.
Read: Financial Documents Required for Study Abroad Applications
New Zealand Student Visa Application Fee
Students who are submitting their Student Visa Application online are required to pay a base Visa fee of NZD 375 which is INR 18,951 (approximately). Candidates who are applying for their Student Visa online from New Delhi are required to pay NZD 430 which is INR 22,000 (approximately) as the receiving centre fees (New Delhi).
Those applying for a student visa in New Zealand on paper (offline mode) should note that the immigration costs would be INR 22,600, in addition to this students are required to pay a receiving Centre fee of INR 1,520. Applicants are still required to check the official website before applying for the exact amount charged. New Zealand student visas for Indians would cost around INR 24,000 for an offline application.
Check: Cost of Studying in New Zealand for International Students
New Zealand Student Visa Documents Required
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 your 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.
Note: As an evidence of identity, INZ accepts only PAN card or Aadhar Card. Voter ID, Ration Card, academic documents or driving license are not acceptable as evidence of identity.
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How to apply for a New Zealand Student Visa online?
Candidates should note that the preferred mode of submitting their New Zealand Visa Application is via 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. |
NZ Student Visa 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 a 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 in New Zealand, 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 a Master's by research or doctoral degree program awarded by a New Zealand tertiary institution, there are no restrictions on the hours you can work.
Read: Popular Job Sectors in New Zealand
Where to Apply for a student visa in New Zealand offline?
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 Reads:
Know more about student visas for study abroad and student visa for prominent international study destinations:
| Student Visa for Australia | Student Visa for Canada |
| Student Visa for USA | Student Visa for UK |
New Zealand Study Visa Processing Time
On average a student visa application is processed within 30-90 days in New Zealand for international students. The following data is based on the timeline of three months starting from August 31, 2022, and the time taken to assess and process study visas in New Zealand:
| NZ Education Provider |
Average NZ Study Visa Processing Time |
90% of Student Visa Applications are Completed Within |
|---|---|---|
| Te Pūkenga |
7 weeks |
59 weekdays |
| PTEs |
7 weeks |
47 weekdays |
| Universities |
6 weeks |
47 weekdays |
| Schools |
5 weeks |
31 weekdays |
Source: Official Website of NZ Government.
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 the top scholarships that students can apply to study in New Zealand. Other Scholarships include:
- CCSE Graduate Scholarship
- Central Sector Scheme of National Overseas Scholarship for SC etc. candidates
- Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship
Applying as Indian Students in New Zealand
In case the applicant applying for a student visa in New Zealand is an Indian national, then he/she is permitted to submit an Aadhar Card or PAN card as a form of identification. Applicants should abstain from submitting KCC loans, chit funds, and gold loans to prove they have money to study in New Zealand. However, they can submit education loans or provident fund loans with employment evidence in order to prove how they are funding their education in New Zealand.
Also evidence of repaying the loans from banks and official bank statements can work for New Zealand's immigration office. Thus, applicants must check all supporting documents required and submit them in the correct format also.
New Zealand Student Visa Requirements FAQs
Q. What are the dependent visas in New Zealand?
A. Relation based visas are the ones that for the student's family or dependents. In New Zealand the following relationship based visas are acceptable from international student visa holders' dependents:
- Culturally Arranged Marriage Visitor Visa
- Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa
- Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa
- Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa
- Child of a New Zealander Visitor Visa
- Dependent Child Student Visa
- Dependent Child Resident Visa
- Adoption Visitor Visa
- Adoption Pre-citizenship Visitor Visa
Q. How long is a student visa in New Zealand?
A. The student visa in New Zealand is for 12 months long. If the course opted by the student is for more than 1 year then he/she will have to apply again to renew the student visa. However, the students can stay up to 4 years while he/she completes their study in New Zealand.
Q. When should an international student apply for a student visa in New Zealand?
A. In order to study in New Zealand international students upon receiving their confirmation letters from the respective universities can apply for a studnet visa. International students should ideally apply 8 weeks before travelling to study in New Zealand. Applicants should keep some buffer time so that they are able to fulfil all formalities and furshish all documents as and when needed.
Q. What is the average time for processing a student visa in New Zealand?
A. The average student visa application processing time in New Zealand is between 3-4 months and varies in case some documents are missing or if the visa office requires more clarity about the applicant or his/her application.
Q. How to apply for a student visa in New Zealand?
A. There are four ways of applying for a student visa in New Zealand:
- Apply online
- Apply using a paper form
- Apply through an immigration advisor
- Apply at a visa application centre.
Q. How much bank balance is required for student visa in New Zealand?
A. International students studying in New Zealand, holding a student visa would need NZD 20,000 to pay living costs for each year of study. This is the minimum amount needed to transfer to the FTS account.
Q. Is IELTS required from international students applying for a student visa in New Zealand?
A. If international students are applying for admission to New Zealand universities and wish to get a student visa for the 2023 academic year, they'd need a minimum overall IELTS Band Score of 5.5. For New Zealand residence visas, the applicants would need a minimum score on an IELTS Band Score between 4.0 to 6.5.
Q. Is interview compulsory for NZ student visa?
A. Yes, international students who qualify for admissions to New Zealand universities will have to appear for an interview after applying for a student visa. No matter how tough the interview may sound, its significant to qualify for the interview in order to be able to get a student visa to study in New Zealand.
Q. Does New Zealand accept study gap while applying for a student visa?
A. If an international student qualifies for admission to New Zealand university along with his/her study gap, then the student can apply for a visa to New Zealand. During the interview, the students can show credible information about what he/she has been doing in the aforementioned gap years in terms of work experience, studies and skill set, etc.
Q: Is New Zealand good for Indian students?
With a good educational system, excellent quality of life, and a number of research opportunities, New Zealand offers a lot to international students. Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand has a 39 percent population of overseas citizens, making it a culturally diverse city. Moreover, the post-study work visa in New Zealand can offer up to three years of stay back. As per Stats New Zealand, its unemployment rate is 3.4 percent. Students enrolled in a course of 12 months or more can also work part-time in New Zealand for up to 20 hours a week during the semester and holidays.
Q: Which course is better, Master in Management or Master in Project Management at the University of Auckland, New Zealand?
The University of Auckland offers the best UG and PG programs for international students at an affordable tuition fees. Auckland Unversity Master in Project Management is slightly better than the Master in Management because of its tuition fees for first year. Mentioned below is the tuition fees for first-year for international students:
| Program | First Year Tuition Fees |
|---|---|
| Master in Project Management | INR 25.11 L |
| Master in Management | INR 26.11 L |
Q: How much funds are needed for a New Zealand study visa?
International students need to show sufficient funds for getting a New Zealand student visa. Students need to show NZ$ 20,000 for a full year of study or NZ$ 1,250 per month for getting a New Zealand study visa.
Cost of New Zealand Student Visa Application
- New Zealand Visa Cost: Students who are submitting their Student Visa Application online are required to pay a base Visa fee of NZD 375 which is INR 19,200 (approximately).
- Candidates who are applying for their Student Visa online from New Delhi are required to pay NZD 430 which is INR 22,000 (approximately) as the receiving centre fees.
- Those applying for a student visa in New Zealand on paper (offline mode) should note that the immigration costs would be INR 22,600, in addition to this students are required to pay a receiving Centre fee of INR 1,520.
Q: What is the cost of studying in New Zealand?
The tuition fees that a student would need to pay will depend on the type of qualification and the university they are looking at to pursue their education. While courses such as humanities, education, and arts are likely to cost less pursuing subjects such as medicine and engineering costs on the higher side.
The below table sheds light on the tuition fee charged level-wise in New Zealand from international students applying to their universities:
Study Program Level | Annual Costs in NZD |
|---|---|
Diploma or Certificate courses | NZD 23,000 - NZD 47,000 |
English Language courses | NZD 350 (per week) |
Undergraduate degree | NZD 22,000 - NZD 32,000 |
Master's degree | NZD 26,000 - NZD 37,000 |
Doctoral degree | NZD 6,500 - NZD 9,000 |
Q: Is living in New Zealand expensive?
The cost of living does not includes only the tuition fee but also other expenses like textbooks, NON-tuition fee, accommodation cost and other personal expenses. The moment a student lands in New Zealand, they need to pay $35 international visitor and tourism conservation levy. The living cost can vary as per the accommodation option, location and personal spending habits.
In addition to your tuition and insurance fees, you will need between $20,000 and $25,000 per year ($380–480 per week) for accommodation/rent, food expenses, transportation costs, phone bills, internet usage and entertainment.
Q: Is New Zealand good for international students to study?
New Zealand is one of the top destinations for international students going abroad for higher education. All of eight universities in New Zealand are ranked among the top 3% universities in the world. New Zealand education sets up students with a globally recognised qualification and real-world skills. Each year thousands of students from India apply for various universities in the New Zealand. As per Govt. of India, there are more than 2,500 Indian students that went to study in 2022 in various universities in New Zealand.
Q: How do I get a study visa for New Zealand?
Each year, thousands of students from all over the world come to New Zealand to pursue higher education. International students can apply for a study visa to the New Zealand in 4 different ways; Online, offline, through an immigration advisor or at a visa center. An overseas student may have to furnish the following:
- Name of the course you are allowed to study;
- Name of education provider;
- Must hold an acceptable insurance;
- Valid passport;
- Completed student visa application form; and
- 2 passport sized photographs.
Q: How much does it cost to get a study visa in New Zealand?
After submitting their student visa application, international students are required to pay a base visa fee of NZD 375 (INR 18 K). However, candidates who are applying for their student visa online from New Delhi as their receiving center are required to pay NZD 430 (INR 20.6 K) as a visa application fee. International students, including Indian students are advised to check the official immigration website of New Zealand to know the current and exact visa application fees.
Conversion Rate: 1 NZD = INR 48.13
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Hell Priyanka. to know about the latest on University admission during the time of Covid, visit: https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/future-of-study-abroad-countries-consider-re-opening-to-international-students-amid-covid-19-crisis-articlepage-2537
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Hello Ashish. There is obviously a lot of uncertainty looming over international travel for next year. While most universities are promoting students to do a semester or two at home via the remote method and then travel to the country once travel restrictions are lifted. you can get more updates he
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