Top Reasons for New Zealand Student Visa Rejection

New Zealand rejected nearly 40% of total Indian student visa applications in 2023. The number was 28% in the year 2022. If you are one of those students then explore possible reasons behind NZ study visa application rejection and try to avoid them. Insufficient funds, weak academic profile and incomplete application forms are the most common reasons for rejections of student visas.

New Zealand is one of those countries where a significant amount of Indian students are studying. According to the official data by MEA India, 7,300 Indian students are in New Zealand. It is expected that this number will increase in the upcoming number. Every year thousands of Indian students apply for New Zealand student visas but many of them face rejection.

There are multiple reasons behind New Zealand Student Visa Rejection such as incomplete application, insufficient funds, and non-proficiency in the English language. Students who are planning to apply for it, should take these reasons into consideration to avoid rejection for their visa. In this article, we have covered New Zealand student visa rejection reasons, so you can prepare for it.

Reasons for Student Visa Rejection in New Zealand

There are numerous reasons as to why a student visa may be rejected by the New Zealand Government starting from furnishing relevant documents to providing evidence to ensure the credibility of the information provided. Following is a list of reasons which may result in the rejection of a student visa in New Zealand:

Non-Fulfilment of English Proficiency Requirements

Students are required to provide their English language proficiency test scores and university offer letters for the student visa. Candidates should be careful to see the university requirements and visa requirements and apply for their student visa. IELTS and TOEFL are common English language tests that candidates can opt for. After successfully applying for the student visa a lot of times the candidate may be denied the student visa due to reasons that are notified to them.

Most universities abroad also require students to provide proof of their English proficiency by appearing for one of the many competitive examinations available. They include IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE. Candidates are required to check the English language proficiency requirement of their university and apply for the same. Authorities verifying your student visa application are very particular about your English language skills. Since the maximum of the communication, be it in the university or at the country level are done in English it is important that the student is comfortable with English.

Insufficient Funds for Study or Stay in New Zealand

If applicants are unable to provide evidence for their expenses, this may also prove to be a mjor reason for student visa rejection by New Zealand authorities. In order to avoid such gaps, applicants must submit their bank statements not more than 6 months old, the applicants can also give details of the guaranter - an immediate family member only. In case of a new bank account, applicants can also submit:

• Education loan sanction letter from a recognised financial institution.
• Stock transaction reports, or
• Sale of property agreements.

Not Up to The Mark Visa Interview

Candidates should not fret as every country has in its discretionary powers to either reject or grant visas. Candidates whose visa applications have been rejected should only take this as a hurdle and not the end of their application. As a visa is refused does not mean the candidate cannot apply again. He should see where his faults lie with his visa application and apply again after the window period established by the New Zealand visa authorities. However, we are going to elucidate some of the common mistakes that are often the reason for a candidate's student visa being rejected and how to avoid them.

Need more tips related to Visa Applications?

Check out: Interview Tips for Student Visa

Inadequate Documents Attached in the Application

As mentioned earlier during the student visa application process students are required to submit a number of documents.  Candidates should thoroughly check the official website of the New Zealand student visa page for all the documents the students are required to submit. Candidates should strictly provide all the documents mentioned and in order. Students should be careful not to submit fraudulent documents as this would lead to the cancellation of their application.

Untrue Intentions of Studying in New Zealand

Through the visa application process and the visa, interview candidates should be able to prove to the authorities that their sole purpose of entering the country is to study and be a rule-abiding person who would only be an asset to the country. 

Criminal Background

In case it is found that the student applying for a student visa in New Zealand has a criminal background, he/she may be rejected for their student visa. The applicant may be liable to get blacklisted in future if not chosen to reveal these bits of information also. Thus, it is always better to reveal the trial details and elaborate upon the offence committed so that the authorities are aware of it beforehand. The criminal offences could include:

• Convicted of an offence and were sentenced to imprisonment for 5 years or more.
• Convicted in the last 10 years of an offence and sentenced for imprisonment 1 year or above.
• In case the applicant is prohibited from entering New Zealand, or
• If he/she is removed, excluded or deported from any country, which includes New Zealand.

Hence, a student visa may not be granted by New Zealand if the applicant intends to commit an offence in New Zealand which may result in imprisonment for being:

• A risk to New Zealand's security or
• A threat to public order or
• A risk to the public interest.

One of the major reasons for candidates to choose New Zealand is its favourable post-study period. This period allows students on a student visa to find employment and convert their student visa to an employment visa. This is a very lucrative advantage and is favoured by all. However, if the student visa issuing authority is under the impression that the candidate will not be able to fit into their workspace, provide international-level work ethics and is not professionally sound in English the student visa is automatically denied as the candidate would not get maximum ROI out of it. 

The country has over the years witnessed a lot of students who travel to the country on a student visa and overstay their welcome. They exceed their stay period illegally and are often up to no good. This reflects a bad image of the new students who are entering the process. The repercussion includes the visa issuing authorities and the system as a whole has become much more stringent.

If your Visa application has been rejected once, you might want to refer: What to do if your student Visa gets rejected?

For help with university applications or any other query related to study abroad, students can contact our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors. The comments section below allows candidates to contact us as well.