Student Visas
International Student Visa
Tertiary Study
New Zealand’s education system is one of the best in the world. Tertiary education is delivered by universities, institutes of technology and polytechnics, private training establishments, and industry training organisations. Students must have received an offer of a place before applying for their student visa. Each education provider has its entry requirements for different courses. Immigration New Zealand will assess your likelihood of completing the proposed study. You also need to demonstrate you have sufficient financial resources to pay for your study and maintain your life in New Zealand.
School Aged Students
Students who are of school age can study in New Zealand’s primary, intermediate and high schools as international students. Schools in New Zealand welcome overseas students because they bring a variety of benefits such as extra income (school fees), culture, and diverse ethnicity to the classroom. One of the parents can also obtain a Guardian Visitor Visa with the same duration as the child’s student visa.
Domestic Student Visa
School-aged children can apply for Domestic Student Visa if their parents are holding valid New Zealand work visas. Domestic Student Visa holders do not pay school fees if they study at a state-owned school, including primary, intermediate, and high schools. However, Domestic Student Visa holders cannot study in tertiary level studies. They must apply for fee-paying international student visas.
Bona Fide Applicant
In assessing your Student Visa application, Immigration New Zealand must be satisfied that you are a bona fide applicant before a visa can be issued to you. For example, Immigration New Zealand will assess the below factors to determine whether you are a bona fide applicant:
- Do you have a genuine reason to come to New Zealand.
- You only intend to stay in New Zealand temporarily.
- How likely you are to comply with your visa conditions after you arrive.
- You will not stay in New Zealand without a valid visa.
- You can leave New Zealand at the end of your proposed stay.
Genuine Access to Funds
For fee-paying international students, Immigration New Zealand will assess whether you have sufficient funds to pay for the tuition fees. Students also need to demonstrate access to maintenance funds amounting to NZD 20,000 p.a. It is not just the amount that you own. Immigration New Zealand must also be satisfied that you have genuine access to the funds. Factors of consideration including:
- The duration of funds that remained in your accounts or sponsor’s accounts.
- The relationship between you and your financial sponsor.
- Background of the sponsor and/or how do you accumulate the funds.
Everyone’s situation is different, we strongly recommend you take advice before applying for a student visa.
For domestic students, most of the time their parents would have a job to support them. The parent is required to earn more than NZD 43,322.76 per annum to support the domestic student visa.
