Visa Options for Studying in New Zealand – Students Visa

The beautiful country, New Zealand has now been considered as the land of opportunities by skilled workers and students alike. Many professionals decide to migrate to New Zealand because of its several job opportunities and a peaceful culture.

New Zealand also manages to attract many students from across the world to allow them pursue education from a New Zealand university.

New Zealand has been ranked as the world’s second most peaceful countries. If you are an interested student, willing to study in New Zealand, this article will solve all your doubts. In this article, you will learn about the education system, course, fees and visa options for international students in New Zealand.

Study Options in New Zealand

You can  take up a bachelor’s degree, a certificate course, diploma, Doctoral degree, English language, Graduate, Master’s degree, MBA, Foundation and Postgraduate program in a University in New Zealand.

There are also many interesting study areas which you can choose according to your educational relevancy or interest. Technology, agriculture, Engineering, Business and Management and Digital Design are some popular programs that students often opt for.

Places to Study in New Zealand

As an international student of New Zealand, you can study in Universities, Institute of Technology and Polytechnics (ITP), Private Training Establishments (PTEs), English language Program Providers and Schools

Visa options for International Students

If you want to pursue a full-time course in New Zealand, you will need a student Visa with you while moving to the country.

Depending on your visa condition, you may be able to work full-time over the holidays.

In order to be eligible for the New Zealand Student Visa, you will need to meet the following eligibility:

• You must have an offer from the university or any other recognized educational provider. The offer states that you are welcomed to the university as a student and can avail education from there.
• You will need to present evidence that you have enough funds to pay your tuition fees. Generally, this fee is much higher for international students than that for New Zealand citizens.
• You must have your valid passport and passport size photograph.
• You will need to present a proof of funds of at least $15,000 per year which ensures that you will cover up your expenses while living in New Zealand.
• You will need to show a copy of your air ticket to home and enough proof of funds that you may buy one if necessary.
• You will need to provide a guarantee of your accommodation if you are below the age of 18.
• Present your Visa application fee.
• You may also be asked to provide medical and police clearance.

Pathway Student Visa

If you want to take up multiple courses in New Zealand, you may want to choose the Pathway Student Visa option. As a Pathway Student Visa holder, you can take up to three consecutive courses for up to five years with one or more education providers.

With the Pathway Student Visa, you can study up to 3 courses, one after the other, on a single student visa. You can also work part-time up to 20 hours per week while studying and full-time when in holidays.

Things to Note about the Pathway Student Visa

In the Pathway Students Visa, you cannot include your dependent partner or children. However, they can apply for their own visas with your relation. The Pathway student visa is enough to complete your educational plans in New Zealand.

Eligibility Criteria for Pathway Student Visa

Like all other Visa options, you will need to meet certain criteria to be eligible for the pathway Student Visa. These eligibility criteria are:

• Identity: You must provide a valid identification proof of yourself. This includes two photographs and a copy of your passport certificate.
• Health: You must be in sound health and prove this to the New Zealand government by providing your medical clearance certificate.
• Character: A police clearance certificate to prove that you have never had any criminal records earlier in your country of origin.
• The Offer Letter: you must show your offer letter given to you from the institution that you apply for education.
• Funds: You must provide proof of your fund that ensures that you can sustain in New Zealand and take care of your expenses.

Pathway Student Visa Conditions

You need to have an entry permit from the New Zealand government in order to visit the country.

You may be refused to enter the country if:

• You do not meet the set character requirements.
• Your circumstances changed since you were granted the visa.
• You refuse from letting your photographs be taken or provide with fingerprint and iris scan when requested by the authorities.
• Unable to provide proof of funds.

Travelling

If you want to travel in and out of New Zealand on multiple bases, you must have multiple entry travel conditions to return to New Zealand.

Funds

You must show enough funds proving that you can support yourself while living in New Zealand.

Medical and Travel Insurance

You must maintain your medical and travel insurance while travelling to New Zealand. The New Zealand government will not be responsible for your medical and travel insurance expenses.

Work

As a Pathway student visa holder, you can work up to 20 hours per week in New Zealand and full-time during holidays.

Expiry of Pathway Students Visa

Generally, the visa expiry dates are printed on the Visa label, or included in a visa letter

Post Study Work visa

Students generally apply for the post-study work experience after they have completed their education and now want to take up some practical experience related to their professional field.

With post-study work visa, you can work for any employer for up to one year. You can also apply for two years of post-study work visa (employer-assisted) if you have a full time work in the same area as of your qualification.

Things to know about the Post Study Work visa

The duration of a post-study work visa is 12 months. With this visa, you can work for any employer and work in almost any job in New Zealand. You can apply for this visa only once. You cannot include your dependent partner or children with this visa. However, they can file their own visa with your relation.

Eligibility Criteria for Post Study Work visa

Like all other Visa options, you will need to meet certain criteria to be eligible for the Post Study Work Visa. These eligibility criteria are:

• Identity: You must provide a valid identification proof of yourself. This includes two photographs and a copy of your passport certificate.
• Health: You must be in sound health and to testify this you need to provide your medical clearance certificate.
• Character: A police clearance certificate to prove that you have never had any criminal records earlier in your country of origin.
• Funds: You must provide proof of your fund that ensures that you can sustain in New Zealand and take care of your expenses.
• New Zealand Education: You must have completed an accepted qualification in New Zealand.
• Work Visa Application: You must apply for the work visa within 3 months after the students’ visa expires or 6 months if you were granted a visa to complete your doctorate.

Pathway Post Study Work Visa Conditions

You need to have an entry permit from the New Zealand government in order to visit the country.

You may be refused to enter the country if:

• You do not meet the set character requirements.
• Your circumstances changed since you were granted the visa.
• You refuse from letting your photographs be taken or provide with fingerprint and iris scan if asked for them.
• Unable to provide proof of funds.

Study

You can study up to 3 months in the 12-month period.

Travelling

If you want to travel in and out of New Zealand on multiple bases, you must have multiple entry travel conditions to return to New Zealand.

Funds

You must show enough funds proving that you can support yourself while living in New Zealand.

Medical and Travel Insurance

You must maintain your medical and travel insurance while travelling to New Zealand. The New Zealand government will not be responsible for your medical and travel insurance expenses.

Work

As a post-study work visa holder, you can work in almost any job for any employer in New Zealand.

Expiry of Pathway Students Visa

Generally, the visa expiry dates are printed on the Visa label, or included in a visa letter. You must leave New Zealand before your Visa expires.

Cost of Study for International Students in New Zealand

The cost of studying in New Zealand for international students is pretty high and there are different fee structures for different courses.

• Fees for arts or social sciences range from NZ$20,000 a year.
• Courses in science and engineering can cost from NZ$25,000 per year.
• Dentistry and medicine tend to be the most expensive degrees – NZ$75,000 per year.

Unfortunately, there are few scholarships available for international students studying in New Zealand, and those that are on offer are for PhD students.

Limitations of Students Visa

• Students can work in New Zealand while on study permit for only 40 hours per fortnight
• There are no medical and social benefits. You will need to avail an overseas health cover
• After completing the course, the government offers work permit but only for one or two years according to the pursued course
• Individuals on the study permit or work permit cannot apply directly for the citizenship
• Pay scale is not as high as that of permanent residence status holders.
• Some educational programs especially run for New Zealand citizens and permanent residence status holders only
• Cannot avail any loan from the New Zealand government
• Individuals are to pay international student tuition fee which is very high as compared to New Zealand citizens or permanent residence status holders
• Individuals on study permit can bring their dependent with them but the dependent cannot work but only study 20 hours per week
• Individuals will have to secure an IELTS overall band score of 5.5, 46 in TOEFL and 42 in PTE-Academic

Other Visa Option

If you are an experienced worker, who pursued an occupation for one or two years that is relevant to your education, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residence. Permanent residence is the most sought entry to New Zealand by many skilled workers and eligible students.

You are required to meet the permanent residence criteria in order to be eligible for a permanent residence status holder. After being a permanent residence status holder, you are given all the rights that a normal New Zealand citizen enjoys. This includes exemption of international students’ fee from your tuition fee. This is one of the best Visa options for studying in New Zealand

Benefits of Permanent Residency

• As a permanent residence status holder, you can study in New Zealand without limitation as that of in a study permit visa.
• You are entitled to all medical and social benefits except for voting rights until you choose to apply for New Zealand citizenship.
• After completing your course, you can choose your work location. You can hunt jobs for yourself and work and live for an indefinite period in New Zealand.
• After completing 3 years of stay in New Zealand, you can easily apply for New Zealand citizenship.
• Since you are already skilled and hold experience in your profession, you will be earning anywhere between NZD8,000-NZD12,000 as your monthly income.
• As a permanent resident, you can participate or take up any educational programs run by the New Zealand government.
• You can request a loan from a New Zealand bank at 0% interest.
• You do not have to pay for any international student fee for the course you pursue. You will be paying the regular tuition fee as that of a New Zealand citizen.
• As a permanent resident, you can bring your spouse and children along with you. Moreover, if your spouse meets the eligibility criteria, she or he can also work in New Zealand on a full-time basis.