Applying for a Student Visa to Study in New Zealand | Study with New Zealand
Deciding to embark on your international education journey may be one of the most exciting steps you take towards your future. It is a good idea to learn about the visa application process, and how to apply for a student visa, as well as the other important steps you must take before making your way to Aotearoa New Zealand.
We have put together a helpful guide to walk you through the steps you need to take before you apply for your visas, as well as the visa application itself.
There are a couple of important things you need to do before you’re ready to apply for a visa.
Find the right course for you
Take a look at the Study with New Zealand website for study options across the country, as well as more information about New Zealand in general.
You can search all available courses and programmes using our course finder tool here. Be sure to check the intake date too.
Alternatively, you can register for a Study with New Zealand account for personalised recommendations. Your preferences will be analysed by an algorithm, and you will be provided with a list of the ten most compatible education providers and course options.
These options have a level of compatibility with you, expressed as a percentage.
For tertiary students, the algorithm suggests courses. For school-level students, the algorithm suggests providers.
Apply to study.
Next, you should apply to the institution that feels like the best fit for you and ensure you meet their requirements - this might include taking an English Language test. Not all institutions require English Language Tests, so it is best to check with your chosen institution first.
You may also be asked for an academic transcript, a portfolio of your work and even your passport. Many institutions will also conduct an interview.
If your application is accepted, you will be given an offer of place. Sometimes you may be given a “conditional” offer of place, which means there are still outstanding requirements you need to meet.
Once you receive confirmation of your offer of place, you can begin to prepare your visa application.
Apply for a Fee-Paying Student Visa
This short video will guide you through preparing your student visa application to study in Aotearoa New Zealand, and give you some helpful tips to increase the chance of a successful outcome.
We will focus on how to apply for the most common student visa - the Fee-Paying Student Visa.
Keep in mind that gathering and authorising all necessary documents can take around three months so it’s wise to start early
The best place to start is to look at the first-time visa information sheet to get a good understanding of what’s needed. This information sheet is for people who have not had an international student visa approved in the past. It tells you what we need to assess your application as quickly as possible.
This information sheet helps you submit a student visa application with the information and evidence the immigration officer needs to assess your application. Following the advice in this document will help your application to be processed faster. It does not guarantee an approval.
In some cases, an Immigration Officer may request information from you as part of their assessment that is not detailed in this sheet. They are not obliged to do this. Make sure you submit all the information required to assess your international student visa application.
Things you will need before you apply:
- Demonstrating that you have enough money is essential, if you don’t do this your application will be declined. You will need to provide 3 months of recent funds history from a source that will be available to you while you study.
- You will also need to provide proof that you have paid your tuition fees in full for one year or one programme, whichever is shorter. This should be available from your chosen education provider.
- You will need to include a clear copy of the ID pages of your current passport. If you don’t have a valid passport, you will need to get one.
- You may need to provide a medical and/or police certificate, make sure you check the requirements for your country.
- You should gather any additional supporting documents which will help your application. The cover letter in particular is a good one to include as it increases your chances of success. Please make sure that any supporting documents are relevant to your application. See the first-time visa information sheet for a more detailed explanation of supporting documentation.
- Once you have gathered all your documents, get translations of any that aren’t in English and ensure everything is scanned and ready to be uploaded.
Once you’ve completed these steps, you are now ready to start your visa application!
How to apply:
- Go to online.immigration.govt.nz/student and begin the application process.
- Select your visa type.
- Upload all the relevant documents.
- And finally, pay the non-refundable application fee online.
Your application is now complete.
Application processing takes 8-10 weeks on average but applying four months in advance will mean any unforeseen delays will not impact your study.
We recommend you apply at least 3 months before you plan on travelling to New Zealand, to allow time for visa processing. If you apply later, you could miss out.
Booking your flights to Aotearoa New Zealand should be the very last step, so please wait until after your visa is approved to book.
If you need help along the way, please visit the Immigration New Zealand website. Interpreters in your language are available should you need one.
All the best with your application. We look forward to welcoming you to Aotearoa New Zealand!