New Zealand Student Visa Requirements for Indian Students

Student Visa Requirement in New Zealand, Process, Fees & Application

Everything you need to know about New Zealand visas 

The visa you need will depend on the type of study you want to do, and how long you want to stay in New Zealand. Having a valid passport and the right visa is key to a trouble-free entry.

While studying in New Zealand, it’s important to maintain your Fee Paying student status. This status relates to the purpose, or reason why you came to New Zealand.

To apply for a visa, you must have the following documentation ready:

• A valid passport which must be valid for at least three months after your period of stay in New Zealand
• A letter of acceptance from a New Zealand education provider which states the minimum course duration, total tuition fee and whether the tuition fee is in domestic and foreign currency. The course must be approved by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority

You may also need additional documentation such as:

• Academic preparation documents such as transcripts, diplomas, degrees or certificates
• Current application form – Student Visa Application form
• Correct visa application fee
• Tuition fee receipt showing payment to date
• Evidence that you have sufficient funds to cover your living expenses throughout the periods of your stay. You will need to show you have NZ$20,000 for a full year of study or NZ$1,667 per month. This may include:
  • Bank statements
  • Financial undertaking by a sponsor to cover accommodation and living costs.
  • A scholarship program
  • Evidence that you are leaving New Zealand after the completion of your course. This can be in the form of flight tickets, however it is optional.
  • A police certificate if you are aged 17 years or over and plan to study for more than 24 months. A police certificate is a document which is used as evidence of good character.
  • An X-ray certificate – you will need to have a chest x-ray if you are staying in New Zealand for more than six months, or if you’re a citizen of a country with a relatively high incidence of tuberculosis, or if you’ve spent more than three months in the last five years in a country with a relatively high incidence of tuberculosis
  • Full medical examination

Is getting a Study Visa to New Zealand challenging?

New Zealand has one of the most complex visa processes in the world. It is equally challenging to obtain non-tourist (e.g. student) visas for Canada, Australia and several other countries. Preparing a student visa package usually raises many questions for the applicant.

Many details need to be taken into account to increase the chances of obtaining a visa, so it is important to seek assistance from a student agent or immigration advisor at this stage of preparation. Such specialists are familiar with the requirements of visa officers and have extensive experience in successfully preparing visa cases. Careful preparation for departure to New Zealand can take from a couple of months to several years.

The visa officer evaluates the applicant according to a number of criteria, among the priority ones are ties with the home country, so to say “commitments” i.e. the reasons that motivate a person to leave New Zealand upon completion of training. The officers usually easily can identify applications for immigration purposes, which significantly reduces the chances of obtaining a visa.

The general rule is the visa case should give the impression that the applicant’s biography is as transparent and legal as possible. The applicant has commitments at home, their business is going well, and they stay in New Zealand for the short term.

Five important questions that you must answer to the visa officer when preparing your visa documents:

• why New Zealand;
• why New Zealand is your chosen study destination and why that will be of use to you in the future;
• what are your plans for the future in general (remember that the purpose of a student visa is to study only);
• your documented biography, primarily your employment history;
• your commitments anywhere outside of New Zealand.

The more logical and consistent your story is, the better chances you have to get the visa approved. That is why those who want to change the field of study, for instance, must be especially careful when preparing a visa application. In case of a sudden change of the field (from management to IT, for example), one will have to explain one’s motivation to both an educational institution and an immigration officer. Consequently, the risk of visa refusal increases significantly. In addition, most diploma programs at level 7 and above require a student to have relevant work experience and/or education in the chosen field of study.

With a change of field, the main challenge will be to provide evidence for such a change for your career (in case you are a mature applicant). Any evidence of past interest in the chosen field (e.g. through volunteering, internships, short term study) and reasons why the planned study will help in your professional growth and development can also help. The closer your chosen field of study is to your past background, the easier it is to obtain a student visa. We recommend that you do not chase demanded professions, but rather focus on your existing work experience, skills and education.

If, however, a person decides to study in a field other than his/her previous work experience or education, it is important to spend at least six months or more to acquire the necessary education and skills in the new field.

Conclusion

New Zealand is one of the safest countries to study and live in. Besides being a beautiful country with fascinating backdrops, New Zealand offers several research opportunities and an unbelievable quality of life for students from India. International students who arrive here to study will be wholeheartedly welcomed and offered all the amenities to make them feel comfortable.