New Zealand Student Visa - Requirements, Application Process, Fees

The international student count in New Zealand is close to 50,000 annually out of a total number of applications crossing 150,000 it can be said that studying in New Zealand for international students is a good choice. In comparison to Aug 2022, the student visa has gone up by 98% up to March 2023 which indicates that New Zealand is a preferred study destination. Since a handful number of international students are offered admission, consequently they apply for a study visa as well. Students who get an offer letter and accept it are eligible for applying for a student visa. The NZ student visa application processing time varies between 8-10 weeks or it can longer depend upon the number of applications received for one particular academic session. Check: New Zealand Student Visa Processing Time

Applications for student visas can be applied in 4 different ways - online, offline, through an immigration advisor or at a visa centre. The status of applications can be checked online at RealMe or NZeTA if applied online, while offline applications can be tracked through the immigration advisors and visa centre application filings are tracked through VAC. International students are advised to apply for the visa as soon as they confirm their spot in a New Zealand University for admission. More details are as follows about New Zealand student visa requirements.

Latest Updates for New Zealand Student Visa:

June 2023: As per the data released for March 2023, New Zealand recorded a whopping 98% student visa approvals that too only for international students. This is the highest number since August 2022 after the Borders opened since the COVID-19 pandemic. The numbers are said to increase in the upcoming session of admissions.

December 5, 2022: New Zealand has speeded up its student visa application assessments since more than 12,000 international students have applied for a student visa up to November 19 after the borders of New Zealand opened on July 31 this year. Approximately 7,731 student visa applications have been accepted to date. All these student visa decisions for 95% of the applications were made in just eight weeks. 

April 12, 2022: Student and work visa holders in New Zealand can travel back from April 12, 2022, onwards. Students who have valid study visas can travel to New Zealand. And under certain circumstances, if the student visa does not coincide with the current scenario, the student must apply for a fresh visa. The originally granted study visa to students will be applicable if changes in course or institution are not made.

Feb 4, 2022: New Zealand decides to open its borders after 2 years because of the COVID-19 pandemic, inviting its citizens who were abroad, international students, travellers and skilled workers. 

New Zealand Student Visa Details

Students going to New Zealand to study for more than three months would require to apply for a New Zealand Student Visa. A student visa allows applicants to study full-time in New Zealand for a stipulated period of time. Check International Student Guide for New Zealand. A student visa may have conditions you must meet – for example, it may include (not limited to):

• The name of the program you are allowed to study
• The name of the educational provider
• The New Zealand location of the provider, and
• The requirement to hold acceptable insurance

Also Read:

Qualifications for Student Visa in New Zealand

In order to travel to New Zealand with a student visa, an international student must fulfil the following criteria:

• Applicant must have confirmed their offer letter for a course registered under the Ministry of Education of New Zealand or NZQA.
• It is mandatory for the applicants to show proof of INR 8,00,000 approx for a year in order to stay in New Zealand for study.
• An applicant must maintain NZD 1250 per month in order to survive in New Zealand.
• A ticket not to New Zealand but elsewhere to prove that the applicant actually has enough expenses to study and stay in New Zealand.

Read: Financial Documents Required for Study Abroad Applications

Cost of New Zealand Student Visa Application

New Zealand Visa Cost: Students who are submitting their Student Visa Application online are required to pay a base Visa fee of NZD 375 which is INR 19,200 (approximately).

Candidates who are applying for their Student Visa online from New Delhi are required to pay NZD 430 which is INR 22,000 (approximately) as the receiving centre fees (New Delhi).

Those applying for a student visa in New Zealand on paper (offline mode) should note that the immigration costs would be INR 22,600, in addition to this students are required to pay a receiving Centre fee of INR 1,520. Applicants are still required to check the official website before applying for the exact amount charged. New Zealand student visas for Indians would cost around INR 24,000 for an offline application.

Check: Cost of Studying in New Zealand for International Students

New Zealand Student Visa Documents Required

Candidates looking to apply for their New Zealand Student Visa must have the following documents as part of their visa application process: 

• Valid passport – Your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond your period of stay in New Zealand
• Completed Student Visa Application Form (INZ 1012)
• Application fee payment receipt (fee as mentioned above)
• An offer of a place – You need to have an offer of a place from a New Zealand institute/university. The forms are usually issued after the tuition fees have been received
• Letter from your current institution confirming your status as a study abroad student
• Health insurance receipt
• You may be required to show Health and Character certificates, to prove that your intention of staying in New Zealand is genuine
• Two passport-sized photographs

*Note: Additional documentation may be required. During the personal interview, additional documents may be requested by the interviewer. These may be documents to prove evidence of academic or financial status.

• Transcripts, diplomas, degrees, or certificates from schools you attended
• Scores from tests that your college required, such as TOEFL, GRE, or GMAT scores
• How you will pay for all educational, living and travel costs

Related Reads:

• Affected by COVID-19? What international students studying in New Zealand should know
• Permanent Residency in New Zealand after study

How to apply for a New Zealand Student Visa online?

Candidates should note that the preferred mode of submitting their New Zealand Visa Application is via online method. The online method is not only less time-consuming but also less expensive as compared to post. Here is how to complete your application online using NZ Immigration Online.

Gather your documents as mentioned above and scan and prepare all your main and supporting documents in PDF format. Ensure you have scanned and attached a photo of yourself. Candidates are instructed to visit the official website for photograph specifications required by the embassy.

NZ Student Visa Dependents

In most cases, the spouse and dependent children of a student will be granted a visitor visa for the same duration as their partner or parents' stay. Spouses of the student on a Work Visa can work full-time in NZ. However, the dependents of students on visitor visas have no work rights. Read: Student's Spouse Visa for New Zealand  

You must be in a genuine and stable relationship with your partner and you must hold a New Zealand student visa to study for:

• A level seven (or higher) qualification on the New Zealand Qualification Framework in an area of absolute skill shortage as specified in the Long Term Skill Shortage List, or
• A postgraduate qualification

Additional Information

As an international student, you must complete your course within the minimum course duration listed on your acceptance letter. If you do not yet have a job offer, you may apply for a Post-study work visa. Visas granted are valid for up to 12 months and allow you to work in a temporary job while you look for a job in your field.

You can work part-time for up to 20 hours per week if your program of study meets one of these criteria:

• It is at least two years in duration.
• It leads to a New Zealand qualification that qualifies for points towards an application for a Skilled Migrant visa.
• It is a tertiary institution, and the main purpose is to develop English language skills – you must also have an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) overall band score of 5.0 or above in the general or academic modules.

You may work full-time during all vacations if you are enrolled in a full-time program of study of at least one academic year’s duration. If your full-time program of study has a duration of at least eight months, and is a minimum of two semesters, but is less than 120 credits, you can work full-time over the Christmas and New Year holiday period.

If you are enrolled in a Master's by research or doctoral degree program awarded by a New Zealand tertiary institution, there are no restrictions on the hours you can work. 

Read: Popular Job Sectors in New Zealand

Where to Apply for a student visa in New Zealand offline?

Provided below is the contact information of various New Zealand High Commissions located across the country.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ), New Delhi Centre
Telephone: 91 11 4259 6300
Fax: 91 11 4761 2990
Email: nzisnewdelhi@dol.govt.nz

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

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

Related Reads:

Know more about student visas for study abroad and student visa for prominent international study destinations:

New Zealand Study Visa Processing Time

On average a student visa application is processed within 30-90 days in New Zealand for international students. The following data is based on the timeline of three months starting from August 31, 2022, and the time taken to assess and process study visas in New Zealand: 

The application is considered complete if the student visa application in New Zealand is either accepted or declined. Above-given data may change depending upon the data updation on the official website.

Scholarships for Studying in New Zealand

Arranging finances for studying in New Zealand is a great concern for international students. However, the government of New Zealand and various universities are offering a number of scholarships that students can avail of and gain knowledge. We have listed out the top scholarships that students can apply to study in New Zealand. Other Scholarships include:

• CCSE Graduate Scholarship
• BrokerFish International student scholarship
• Central Sector Scheme of National Overseas Scholarship for SC etc. candidates
• Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship