March 1, 2024

Student visa to New Zealand

Student visa to New Zealand
by
Deni Isic

International students coming to New Zealand have the opportunity to experience a wide variety of outdoor activities without compromising the possibility of high-rise building, on one condition. You need a student visa if your studies last more than 3 months.

Fortunately, it's easier than you think, especially with this guide that you already started reading. Good job. By investing a few minutes in reading it to the end, you will be more than ready to get going with the visa process.

To be eligible for a student visa in New Zealand, you must be admitted to a university or institution and you must meet a number of requirements. You must be an actual student with sufficient background and language skills.

In short, if your studies last a minimum of 3 months in New Zealand, you must apply for a student visa. If you are in New Zealand for less than 3 months, you can simply departure on a  NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority). The convenience of a New Zealand student visa is that it can be applied for online. To apply, it is important to know that:  

  • You must document that you have a financial basis to be able to pay your tuition fee and cost of living in NZ (NZD $ 15,000)
  • You must have received the acceptance letter from the university in New Zealand
  • The visa fee is $ 330 and can be paid by credit card
  • You must enclose your passport with the application
  • A copy of your plane ticket home, or proof that you have enough money to buy a home ticket.

To ensure that you get your passport back, the embassy recommends that you send the passport through a credible postal or courier service. The treatment time is approx. two weeks. The process of being approved to move to New Zealand as a student is time consuming. It is therefore a good idea to be out well in advance when applying for the student visa allowing you to study in New Zealand.

Below are the questions that will determine whether you will be issued a student visa or not:

What are “genuine intentions”?

This is a person who intends to come to New Zealand to temporarily study and then travel back to the home country after graduating. To meet this requirement, you must prove that you have a real interest in completing the degree, have sufficient language skills to pass the programme and at the same time have the right educational background to participate in the desired field of studies.

You must also have the financials in place. In addition, you must intend to comply with the rules of the visa. There are several factors to consider when specifying this:

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  • What country do you live in? Is there anything that keeps you from traveling back?

  • Will education in New Zealand really benefit you in the future?

  • Other factors in your life that have an impact.

 

What is "good character"?

In general, it will be that you are not a criminal and haven't spend time in prison. If you have been in jail, you may be denied a visa because of this. In some cases you will be asked to show a criminal record.

What is "good physical health"?

You must be healthy. You may be required to undergo a health examination and have X-rays taken. If you come across this, it should be done by an approved doctor. However, this is most often the case in countries where Tuberculosis diagnoses are frequent. Also, a student visa does not include health insurance. All students must purchase health insurance in advance from the date they land in New Zealand. A health insurance can often be purchased through the university or from a private insurance company of your own choice.

 

May I work when I have a student visa?

Yes, you may work alongside your studies. With a student visa, you can work up to 20 hours a week and full-time during the holidays. This is if you are studying full-time and if the programme is longer than 12 months.

During the holidays you may work full time. Part-time work can be a great way to pay for rent and earn you some extra cash. However, be aware that you can only start working when you have a tax card and a bank account at a New Zealand bank. Please note that you are not allowed to work before your studies start, even if you arrive before the start of studies.

Can I study part-time and work full-time?

No, you have to study full time to get a student visa. If you want to study less than full time, you will need a different visa, then a Working Holiday visa is a better solution in this case.

What kind of institution and programme should I attend?

It can be any institution as long as it is approved by the New Zealand authorities for foreign students.

I have no admission certificate (CoE), can I still apply?

No, you must have a Confirmation of Enrollment (CoE) certificate before you can apply. Applying for a visa is one of the last steps in the process of getting to New Zealand and studying. You must first apply and be admitted to a university or educational institution in New Zealand. Only when you have received the Confirmation of Enrollment from the university, you can apply for a visa.

How much does a student visa for New Zealand cost?

The online application for a student visa costs 330 New Zealand Dollars. It is worth mentioning that you may be used to converting from US Dollars, which is equivalent to approx. 235 USD.

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