A Complete Guide for New Zealand Student Visa Process

All eight of New Zealand’s universities rank in the top 3% of all universities globally, making it one of the best educational systems in the world. Because New Zealand has one of the best work conditions in the world, universities there not only help you prepare for the market but also provide job chances after you graduate. New Zealand is one of the most sought-after venues for Indian students among English-speaking nations. In general, the locals are welcoming to tourists from many nations, and they also make it easy for students to obtain visas.

Working while studying is widely encouraged in Kiwi culture, which is good for overseas students because it allows them to cover their expenses and reduces the weight of student loan debt. The courses at New Zealand’s universities are designed to aid students in acquiring life skills. Kids can interact with kids from around the world by using these life skills.

Relationship-building will be facilitated by international education, and New Zealand’s institutions are attracting some of the brightest minds in the world. The connections you developed while you were a student will always be useful in both your personal and professional lives. Let’s look at the entire application procedure for a student visa in New Zealand.

Student Visa Options For Students

There are four main types of visas available to students over the age of 18 who want to study in New Zealand. You can select a certain kind of visa depending on your requirements and whether you are eligible for that visa. There are many different kinds of visas available, such as:

Fee-Paying Student Visa

Before the visa is accepted, you must pay the full course tuition if you plan to study for longer than three months. To complete the New Zealand student visa application process, you must enroll in an institution of higher learning that has been approved. With this visa, you are allowed to enter the country and work a part-time employment for a term of four years.

Exchange Student Visa

A student may apply for this form of visa if they want to take part in exchange programs run by any organization, school to school exchanges, or tertiary exchanges while they are studying abroad. Students are permitted to work part-time employment while they are on this visa. It shouldn’t require more than 20 hours a week to work a part-time job. Due to the fact that they are regarded as domestic students, those who apply for this visa are exempt from paying tuition.

Foreign Government Supported Student Visa

This visa is available to students who receive loans or grants from a foreign government for studies lasting more than three months. The use of loans or subsidies from foreign governments to fund education must be documented by the student. There should be a formal education agreement between the lending nation and New Zealand. They can also be used to demonstrate your level of compatibility with your partner and children.

Pathway Student Visa

Students who have received offers from Pathway education providers are able to enroll in up to three courses concurrently on a single visa with a Pathway student visa. You will be able to save a lot of time and effort compared to having to apply for a separate visa for each of these courses. For this visa to be issued, applicants must be financially capable of covering their tuition. This visa does not allow entry for spouses or other dependents; if you wish to bring them along for the duration of your studies, a separate application must be made. Before filing an application for a route student visa, you must ensure that you are qualified for the second and third courses.

List of Documents for New Zealand Student Visa

Keep all the necessary paperwork organized and accessible in a separate folder if you’re applying for a student visa to New Zealand. To the best of your knowledge, you must attest that each document is accurate and error-free. It is best to have all the paperwork prepared because there isn’t much time left and any delay brought on by a denied visa application will have an immediate negative influence on the studies. Now let’s look at the pile of paperwork required to grant a “Fee Paying Student Visa”.

1. 1. • A valid passport whose validity must be for at least three months after the completion of studies in New Zealand.
      • The letter of acceptance from a recognised educational institution in New Zealand.
      • The letter of acceptance or any other document substantiating all the details related to the minimum course duration, the tuition fee for the entire course, and other relevant details.
      • The university or the institution must be approved by the New Zealand qualification authority.
      • An offer of a place from a university in New Zealand that is recognised by the New Zealand qualification authority.
      • The evidence of having the financial capability of buying a return air ticket.
      • Passport-size photographs.
      • The application fees for the student visa.
      • Academic documents like transcripts, degree certificates, diplomas or any other document specified by the university.
      • A police certificate for visa applicants aged 17 or more, and the stay duration exceeds 24 months. It helps the authorities in assessing the character of the visa applicants.
      • A complete medical certificate issued by a registered practitioner in India.
      • The chest X-Ray certificate for students coming from countries with high cases of tuberculosis.

Documents Related to Funds for Studying in New Zealand

There are two categories of countries: those that demand money transfers to educational institutions before issuing student visas and those that do not. Included in the elite group of countries is New Zealand.

1. 1. • Evidence that substantiates the financial capability of students to afford the cost of living at the time of stay.
      • Students have to show that they can afford to spend a minimum of 15000 NZD per annum on the cost of living.
      • Documents related to scholarships or any other financial assistance that the student visa applicant might have received.
      • Bank statements.
      • The undertaking of a financial sponsor to cover the cost of living and accommodation during the period of study.

Although this list is not exhaustive, students are required to submit a number of documents. The personnel at the consulate or embassy may occasionally ask you to provide more paperwork. Before submitting your documents, double-check them carefully to avoid having your visa application rejected.

New Zealand Student Visa Processing Time

There is no predetermined period of time for the New Zealand student visa application process; instead, it frequently varies from case to case. However, it takes three months on average to get a visa. The time it takes to process a visa varies depending on a number of factors. We will go into great depth about each matter that might affect how quickly visas are processed.

The visa processing time varies from one education provider to another:

1. 1. • Universities: The universities in New Zealand usually take around 65 days to complete the process from their end. The exact duration might vary a bit but in most cases, the process is completed within 65-70 days.
      • Private Training Establishments: The PTEs take more than 70 days to finish the process from their end. The exact duration might vary a bit.
      • Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics: The ITPs are the fastest when it comes to processing the requests for visa applications. The entire process gets finished in just a little over 49 days.

The application process is said to be completed when the student visa application is either rejected or approved.

New Zealand Student Visa Process

The New Zealand immigration website is where students must go to begin the relatively straightforward visa application procedure. The detailed visa application form must be filled out online, and scanned copies of all necessary documentation must be uploaded. The files must be uploaded in PDF format and must not exceed the specified size. In accordance with the specifications listed on the immigration website, the photograph’s size should also be modified. 120 days before the program’s start date, the process should be initiated. The date on which the visa application fee was paid is used as the application date.

New Zealand Student Visa Fee

The student visa fee depends on the mode of application submission whether the student is applying online or offline. The fees for online and offline modes vary, and offline mode is a bit more costly than the online mode.