How to get a student visa in New Zealand

 

There is a difference between getting a student visa in New Zealand and a student permit in New Zealand; however, you may need both if your intention is to come to study in New Zealand as an International full-time student.

 

The student visa is the document you need to travel beyond the New Zealand border, while the student permit is the document that allows you to study full time in New Zealand for a limited period of time.

 

 

When you arrive in New Zealand an immigration officer will check that you meet all the requirements to be granted a permit to study in New Zealand. A student permit may have conditions you must meet-for example, it may name:

• The course you are allowed to study
• The educational institute
• The location of the institute in New Zealand.

 

The first step to travel to New Zealand as an international student is to apply for a student visa. This article will provide you with a general guide on how to go about applying.

 

In brief, the first step is to download and complete the Student Visa/Permit Application (INZ 1012) PDF application form from your country’s New Zealand Immigration Office, and send it off along with the payment fee and all the documentation that is relevant to your situation as applicant.

 

Once received, they will check that you have received an offer from an educational institution in New Zealand, by asking you to provide the admission letter from the university in New Zealand, stating that you have been admitted onto one of their courses.

 

They will also want to check that you satisfy the criminal and health prerequisites and that you have sufficient funds to support yourself financially for the duration of your course (typically this is about NZ$10,000 per year).

 

You may also be asked to provide proof that you intend to leave the country upon completion of your course. This may happen during a face-to-face interview, so it is advisable that you are prepared for this, in case they call you: have some documents ready with you. Think of the reasons you have to return home after your studies: whether it is a house you own, your immediate family waiting for you to come back or a stable job offer and then have a think about how you can document these reasons.

 

The final step is to show that you hold a passport, which will be valid at least three months beyond the visa’s supposed expiry date.

 

Health requirements

 

Depending on how long you will be staying in New Zealand there are two possible medical certificates that you may need: if the length of your stay is between six months and one year, you need a Temporary Entry X-ray Certificate (INZ 1096), while if you’re planning to study for a period longer than one year, then you need a Medical and Chest X-ray Certificate (INZ 1007)