Feb 05, 2025
A country with a world-class education system, amazing teaching facilities and high-quality research, New Zealand offers an unmatched study-abroad experience. With all the Universities ranked in the world’s top 3%, students have the best options to choose from. Over the years, more and more students are opting to study in New Zealand because of the work experience, skills, and opportunities it provides. Thus, making it one of the leading study destinations.
If you too are an aspirant who is willing to study in New Zealand, then you must know that there is a student visa requirement for international students. In this article, we will discuss everything about New Zealand student visas. So, read till the end to understand the entire process.
Let’s begin by discussing how many types of visas are there for students and which one should you apply for.
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Depending on the course duration and other requirements, New Zealand classifies student visas into 3 types. They include:
Now, that you have an idea about the student visa types, going forward let’s have a glance at the application fees.
Applying for a New Zealand student visa comes with its set of expenses, the latest application fee for each visa type is mentioned below.
Apart from these standard fees, you might have to bear some additional charges for document translation if they are not in English.
Now that you have all the basics in check, it’s time to have an idea about the student visa processing timeline. We have jotted down their duration in the next section.
Timeline is everything when you have to apply for a student visa. Any delay in the application will result in missing the start of your course. We are certain that you don’t want to experience this, so keep reading to get an idea of the processing duration.
The processing time in New Zealand depends on the type of education provider, they are:
As an international student who wishes to pursue a bachelor’s or master's in New Zealand in a single course, then the ideal choice of visa for you is the fee-paying visa. Read on to find out if you are ticking all the required prerequisites to get started.
Before you can apply for the visa you need to make sure that you are eligible for it. The standard eligibility requirements include:
Once you have qualified for all the points mentioned above, you can start collecting the mandatory documents.
The necessary documents that you will need when applying for a study visa for higher education in New Zealand are given below.
Some Additional Documents you might need:
After you have all these documents ready, you can start with your visa application by following the simple application process given below.
The final step of the process after checking your eligibility and making sure you have all the documents is to apply for a visa to study in New Zealand. You can apply for the NZ visa either online or through a printed form. Whichever medium you choose to apply from, make sure you do so at least 2 months before your course commencement date.
Submit all the necessary documents to Immigration New Zealand (INZ) at the time of application. This will ensure a smooth processing of your application and will result in getting a quicker decision. If you are applying online, you will have to scan and upload all the appropriate documents.
You will have to pay an immigration cost and student centre fee depending on the kind of submission you make online or on paper. The fees will also vary depending on the city you are applying from. You can check the cost on the official Government website of New Zealand.
Once the application is submitted you will have to wait for approximately a month for your application to be processed by INZ. After your visa has been approved, an e-visa will be sent. You must keep a printed copy as well as save the visa on your mobile so you can show it at the border upon your arrival.
Now you are all set for your higher education abroad in New Zealand, you can take a flight to your destination before your course starts.
If there are still any doubts in your mind regarding the student visa process or any other query about studying abroad in New Zealand, you can contact our Experts at KC Overseas Education. Be it your admission to any of the top Universities in New Zealand or your student visa process, team KC is by your side each time.
Connect with us today and get end-to-end assistance for your study abroad process!
It is not compulsory to show funds if ITRs are available. However, international students are allowed to show if funds are 3 months old with proper sources.
In addition to tuition fees, you must show proof of funds covering NZD 20,000 per year for living costs. Explore options like sponsorship or scholarships if personal funds fall short.
Only Chest X-ray is required when it comes to New Zealand student visa medicals.
Certain student visa categories allow family members to travel to New Zealand. As per the recent changes, spouses of international students pursuing qualifications that lead to a Green List occupation may apply for a work visa. This is only for partners of students studying Level 7 or 8 Bachelor’s Qualifications. Additionally, their children can enrol in schools as domestic students.
Yes, but you will need approval from Immigration New Zealand (INZ). The new course must meet visa conditions, and additional documentation may be required.
If you need to extend your study duration, you will have to apply for a visa extension, providing evidence like an updated offer of place and funds for the additional time.