New Zealand Student Visa: A Complete Guide

If you plan to study in New Zealand for more than six months, then five types of visas are available. The table below provides required details of all types of visas offered by NZ:

Note- The New Zealand student visa cost includes the application fee and visa handling fee. The visa handling fee for Indian students is 14 NZD or 747 INR.

Students who want to study in New Zealand for more than three months need to apply for a New Zealand student visa. So, when you apply for a visa, you must fulfil some conditions. The required details are as follows:

• Name of the course

• Name of the institute

• Application acceptance letter

• Required Insurance

If you need a New Zealand Student Visa, some criteria need to be fulfilled.

• You must have an offer letter from a particular university for a course registered under the Ministry of Education of New Zealand.

• You need to show proof of funds and require approximately NZD 20,000 to stay in the country for a year.

• You must maintain NZD 1250 per month in your bank account.

• A ticket or proof of funds that you have money to repurchase a ticket home.

If you are a student aspiring to pursue higher education in New Zealand, you must pay a base visa fee of NZD 375. Students applying for New Zealand student visa application online have to pay NZD 430 as receiving centre fees.

Students applying for Student visa application on paper must pay immigration fees of INR 22,600 and additional centre fees of INR 1,520. However, you should always check the official website for the exact amount. Offline New Zealand student visa application would cost around INR 24,000.

In order to apply for a New Zealand student visa, the list of documents required are:

• Offer letter from a New Zealand university, and the tuition fee is paid.

• A passport valid for at least three months from your stay in New Zealand.

• Documents to give the proof of funds, i.e., bank statements, proof and source of income, etc.

• Passport size photographs

• Application fee payment receipt

• Valid medical and Police clearance certificate

• English Proficiency test scores

• Medical and travel insurance

The online mode of applying for a New Zealand visa application is the most popular, convenient, and less expensive than the offline method. Here is the procedure to complete an online application using the official NZ Immigration website.

• Collect all the required documents

• Scan and prepare all your documents in PDF format

• Do not forget to attach a photo of yourself

• You can visit the official immigration website to know the exact specifications of a passport-size photograph required by the embassy.

Note- The time required to process a New Zealand student visa is approximately 63 days. So, applying for a visa at least three months before the semester begins is advised.

The dependents include the spouse, and the dependent children will be availed of a visa for the same duration as their partner. The visa granted to the spouses allows them to work full-time in New Zealand. However, the dependent children are not allowed to work.

So, to acquire a New Zealand student visa, you need to have a legal and stable relationship with your spouse.

• A master's degree

• A level seven (or higher) degree in Long-term skill shortage list

As an international student, the course must be completed within the minimum duration mentioned on the acceptance letter. Even if you do not have a job offer, you can still apply for a post-study work visa. The visa granted is valid for up to 12 months, which allows you to work temporarily until you find a permanent job.

If your study program meets one of the following criteria, you can work part-time (20- hours a week).

• If your program qualifies for points towards an application for a skilled migrant visa.

• The course is at least two years

• It is a tertiary institution, and your purpose is to develop English language skills, so your IELTS band score must be 5 or above.

Note-  If you are enrolled in a program related to research or a doctoral degree program awarded by an NZ tertiary institute. Then there are no bars to the work hours. You can work for as long as you want. 

The contact information of various New Zealand High Commissions nationwide is mentioned below.

1. Immigration New Zealand (INZ), New Delhi Centre

             Telephone: 91 11 4259 6300

              Fax: 91 11 4761 2990

              Email: nzisnewdelhi@dol.govt.nz

2. 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

3. 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

The time duration to process the visa varies on different factors. However, the average time reported to process the New Zealand student visa is:

• 50% of applications- within 13 days

• 75% of applications- within 24 days

• 90% of applications- within 46 days

Note- According to the data, the time to process a visa is around two to seven weeks. The above data may change depending on the information updated on the official website.  

In summary, to obtain a New Zealand student visa, you need to be clear with your goals and have sufficient funds to support your stay and travel in the country.  New Zealand offers five types of visas: fee-paying student visa, Vocational trainee student visa, Foreign government-supported student visa, pathway student visa and exchange student visa. Moreover, International students can apply for the NZ visa as soon as they receive an acceptance letter from one of the renowned universities in New Zealand.

Above in this blog, we have covered everything about the New Zealand student visa. If you look forward to studying in New Zealand or seeking more information, contact our expert counselors at Meridean Overseas Education Consultants (MOEC). You can also take free online counseling through our website. Our expert counselors will provide you with the best support and guidance you need for admission and visa. In addition, they will help you shortlist the universities according to your profile. For more information or any queries, contact application02@meridean.org or 1800-1230-00011.

Q. Which New Zealand visas are available for dependents?

Ans: Visas based on relationships are granted to the student's dependents or relatives. The following relationship-based visas are accepted in New Zealand for dependents of holders of international student visas:

• Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa

• Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa

• Dependent Child Student Visa

• Adoption Visitor Visa

• Culturally Arranged Marriage Visitor Visa

• Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa

• Child of a New Zealander Visitor Visa

• Dependent Child Resident Visa

• Adoption Pre-citizenship Visitor Visa

Q. What is a visa for skilled migrants?

Ans: To remain and work in New Zealand indefinitely, an individual must apply for a skilled migrant visa if they intend to stay longer.

Q. How does one apply for a New Zealand student visa?

Ans: To apply for a student visa in New Zealand, you have four options:

• Apply online

• Fill out a paper application.

• Apply via an immigration counsellor

• Apply at a centre for visa applications.