How to get a student visa for New Zealand
The applicants must comply with the general rules and conditions of schooling to get the New Zealand study permit. New Zealand schools are compulsory for children 6 to 16. New Zealand has both primary and high schools. The children will study at the age of 5 to 12 in elementary schools and 13 to 17 in high schools.
Tuition at private schools varies depending on the services they provide each year but averages 20,000 New Zealand dollars a year.
Required documents for the student visa in New Zealand at schools:
- School admission letter
- A written guarantee or a person designated as your guardian and custodian in New Zealand
- Proof of financial viability for living in New Zealand
- Certificate of no criminal background that shows your personality health
Topics reviewed in this article:
How to get a student visa for New Zealand and undergraduate study
To get a New Zealand study permit at the undergraduate level, an applicant must submit a 12-year diploma, including a diploma and pre-university degree, besides an IELTS English language certificate with a minimum score of 6.
Undergraduate courses at New Zealand universities will take three to four years, depending on the applicant’s study field. The undergraduate students can work 10 hours a week and pay most of their tuition fees with a weekly income.
Required documents for the student visa in New Zealand at the undergraduate level:
- Identity documents
- Diplomas and transcripts
- Personal statement or cover letter
- Study resume
- A suitable language certificate
- Proof of financial viability
How to get a student visa for New Zealand and postgraduate study
International students must obtain admission from New Zealand universities to receive a New Zealand Master’s Degree Visa. This program usually takes two years. The first year is for study and the second year is for the project and research. The school year is from February to November, and the applicants must apply for a New Zealand study permit before the semester start.
The applicants must have a bachelor’s degree to apply for a New Zealand student visa. Interestingly, the applicants can continue their studies in the same field as their bachelor’s degree with a New Zealand study permit. Also, if they are seeking training in professional skills, they can pursue other unrelated areas. The applicants need language proficiency and a language certificate of IELTS 6.5. The New Zealand universities accept other language qualifications such as TOEFEL and PTE.
Required documents for the student visa in New Zealand at the postgraduate level:
- Academic transcripts certified by the previous university
- Motivation letter or personal statement
- A suitable language certificate
- The university may arrange an interview with you via Skype or telephone
How to get a student visa for New Zealand and doctoral studies
You can apply for a temporary doctoral residency with a New Zealand study permit. New Zealand universities offer many research opportunities for doctorate studies and obtaining a New Zealand student visa. There are only eight universities in New Zealand that offer doctoral studies. The doctoral program takes three to four years. The school year is from February to November.
The doctoral students must research a subject and finally graduate with a dissertation, which is the central and essential part of doctorate studies. They must have a supervisor to study for a doctorate and obtain a New Zealand student visa.
Required documents for the student visa in New Zealand student at the doctoral degree:
- A strong proposal or research that shows the originality, value, and practicality of your idea
- A leading researcher or faculty member must accept your research proposal
- Send an email to your chosen university and professors (your email should be attractive enough for your chosen professor)
- Solid personal statement or motivation letter
- Provide a suitable language certificate
- You may be invited for an interview (via Webchat or video conference), which is a good sign that the university is willing to discuss your project further.
The required language certificate for admission to this course is at least IELTS 7, which may vary depending on your university and study field. However, New Zealand universities accept other language certificates, such as TOEFL and PTE. If you have the above conditions, you can apply for a New Zealand Student Visa for a Ph.D.
How to get a student visa for New Zealand and Scholarship
The applicants for a New Zealand study permit can get scholarships in various stages. International students may have many opportunities to continue their studies and benefit from scholarships. There are several types of New Zealand scholarships and New Zealand student visas through scholarships:
- New Zealand Scholarship for people who are in the Pacific region
- New Zealand Scholarship for specific countries
- ASAAN Scholarship
- Scholarships of the Commonwealth of Independent States
If you want to obtain a New Zealand student visa with a scholarship, you must email your documents to the university. If your educational and scientific resume is acceptable, you can obtain a New Zealand scholarship and student visa by choosing a supervisor. Scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate courses will be awarded to the applicants with high marks. However, the applicants can apply for a scholarship from the beginning of the doctoral program by choosing a supervisor and a solid academic resume.
How to get a student visa for New Zealand, tuition, and living expenses
Knowing the cost of studying and living in New Zealand is one of the most critical issues for a New Zealand student visa. Its official currency is the New Zealand dollar. Tuition at New Zealand universities is much higher than in European countries. Undergraduate tuition can cost between 22,000 and 32,000 New Zealand dollars, and postgraduate and doctoral tuition can cost around 26,000 to 37,000 New Zealand dollars. This cost will increase in programs such as medicine, engineering, or veterinary sciences. For example, dentistry and medicine are the most expensive study fields in New Zealand, costing about 75,000 New Zealand dollars a year.
The living expenses in New Zealand depend on your living place. Larger cities in New Zealand cost more than smaller ones. The major New Zealand student cities where you can apply for a New Zealand Student Visa are:
- Auckland
- Hamilton
- Wellington
- Knowledge
- Christchurch
Your living expenses can be between 15,000 and 27,000 New Zealand dollars in a year, and your monthly income is around 1,250 New Zealand dollars. So the cost of studying and living in New Zealand is not very affordable.
How to get a student visa for New Zealand and student work
One of the issues for international New Zealand students is student work while studying. New Zealand allows students to work while study. The applicants with a New Zealand student visa can work part-time for about 20 hours a week and full-time during the holidays if their course lasts at least two years. There are also many jobs on campus.
Try to choose a job related to your study field at the university, by which you will gain valuable experience and prepare to enter the job market. The students can work while studying with New Zealand student visas, but they cannot renew their work permits if their work interferes with their studies.
How to get a student visa for New Zealand and a companion visa
Full-time international students can enter New Zealand with a student visa. The companions can enter this country if they meet its required conditions, which include:
- The companion must be at least 18 years old or have a guardian’s license for your companion
- If you are married, you must provide evidence of your relationship during the last 12 months before you apply. If it is less than 12 months, you must provide proof of a stable and ongoing relationship
- Close relatives cannot obtain a companion visa
- Health certificate
- Personality health certificate
If your partner meets these conditions, you can apply for a companion visa at the same time or after applying for a New Zealand student visa. Your spouse, who can enter New Zealand as a companion, can apply for a full-time work visa if you have a New Zealand student visa at one of the undergraduate, postgraduate, or doctoral levels. The required documents for the student visa in New Zealand and a companion visa are as follows:
- Complete the companion visa application form
- New passport photo
- Marriage certificate
- Acceptance letter of the spouse from the university or institution
- A receipt for paying the spouse’s study expenses
- Proof of financial viability
- Valid passport
- Personality health certificate
- Accommodation in New Zealand during the period of study
How to get a student visa for New Zealand and top universities
One of the reasons international students apply for a New Zealand student visa is its university ranking. Studying in New Zealand is attractive for international students because of its beautiful area. New Zealand does not have many universities because it is a small country. New Zealand has eight universities and 16 institutes of technology and polytechnics. You can study in New Zealand on a student visa.
New Zealand’s top universities are:
- University of Auckland
- University of Otago
- Victoria Wellington University
- University of Canterbury
- Auckland University of Technology
How to get a student visa for New Zealand and required documents for the students in New Zealand
The applicants must present the required documents for the students in New Zealand to the embassy to obtain a New Zealand study permit. If you intend to study in New Zealand for more than three months, you must obtain a New Zealand study permit, with which you can reside in New Zealand while study.
The required documents for the student visa in New Zealand:
- Valid passport
- Student application form
- The university tuition payment receipt
- Accommodation in New Zealand
- A letter of no educational abandonment
- Health insurance
- Personality health certificate
- Two photos
- Copies of diplomas or other educational certificates
- Appropriate language score
- Proof of financial viability
The interviewer might need additional documents during the personal interview. The average time it takes for a New Zealand Parliament High Commission to process a New Zealand student visa is between 8 and 12 weeks, depending on the individual’s background. Therefore, students must apply for a New Zealand student visa at least three months before their course start.
How to get a student visa for New Zealand and employment after graduation
A New Zealand student visa allows you to stay for up to three years after graduation and obtain a work visa if eligible. The applicants can get a work visa after graduation for a year, two years, or three years, depending on their study duration. If your job lacks workforce and skills, it’s a positive point for you. On the other hand, if you are a student with a job offer related to your studies, you may be eligible for a New Zealand work visa for a maximum of two years. You can apply for a work visa by submitting your job offer and educational certificates. In other words, international students can find work after graduation in New Zealand.
How to get a student visa for New Zealand, residence, and citizenship after graduation
A New Zealand student visa allows you to stay in this country temporarily during your studies, depending on your study type. You can extend your residency in New Zealand after completing your studies by finding a suitable job and converting your New Zealand student visa into a work visa. After obtaining a work visa, you can apply for permanent residence in New Zealand under the Skilled Immigrants Group. There are many opportunities for skilled and expert people from all over the world. Therefore, with this almost strict view, you must have the necessary conditions, skills, and expertise to receive permanent residency after five years of residence and then New Zealand citizenship.
If you have entered New Zealand with a student visa, you can renew your New Zealand student visa for your postgraduate studies. Thus, you can obtain your temporary residence and apply for permanent residence in New Zealand. So a New Zealand study permit can eventually lead to residency and citizenship after graduation.
Required documents for the student visa in New Zealand and citizenship:
- Present and explain your intention for citizenship
- You must have resided in New Zealand for five years
- Your English language skills should be sufficient
- A clean criminal background
- Prove your personality health
- You must understand the responsibilities and privileges of New Zealand citizenship.
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!