PowerPoint Presentation

Applying for your

University of Auckland

student visa as a new

student

Te Tari ki te Ao | International Office

Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland

Types of NZ Student Visas

Documents Required for Student Visa

Application

Financial Evidence Requirements

Bona Fide Applicant

Benefits - Student visa holder

Fee-Paying Student Visa

 Up to four years of full-time study

 Students need to pay the full cost of their programme of study, whether by themselves or

with the help of family members, scholarships, or others

 Students have a foreign government loan or scholarship

 Student’s Government must have an education agreement with New Zealand and provide

a letter setting out the terms of their support, which must:

 Agree to pay education provider for tuition fees

 Agree to pay students’ living expenses

 Confirm students are of good character

 Students are outside New Zealand

 Have been accepted into an approved student exchange scheme

 Up to five years and study up to three courses consecutively on a single student visa

 For instance, students have the flexibility to follow a pathway program, progressing from

a foundation level to a bachelor's degree, or pursue academic English courses followed by

degree studies within this timeframe

Foreign Government

Supported Student Visa

Exchange Student Visa

Pathway Student Visa

1st Step

2nd Step

3rd Step

Gather Your Documents

Gather all the necessary documents related to your

identity and proof of study in New Zealand. It's

crucial to have these documents prepared and

organized before you begin your application.

Submit NZ Student Visa Online

Begin by completing the online application form,

uploading the required documents, and paying

the application fees through the official

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) website.

Wait for a Response

Following the submission of your application,

the New Zealand immigration office will stay in

contact with you. Please exercise patience and

anticipate receiving information or instructions

from the immigration officer.

Applicants must provide the following information with the

application

An unconditional offer from a New Zealand education provider

A copy of the passport

Tuition fee evidence

Proof of sufficient funds

Evidence of health and character

Supporting information

A cover letter/statement of purpose (SOP)

Evidence of English language ability

Student Visa Checklists

Student Visa Application Checklist – first-time international students

Step One

Calculate the minimum

financial requirements –

Tuition fees, living expenses,

additional expenses

Step Two

Show Proof of Funds

Step Three

Source of Funds

Step Four

Convert Currency

Currency Conversion

Step Five

Additional Funds

Step

Students must provide evidence that they have

paid the tuition fees for the first year of study.

Students can provide the following evidence.

• Letter from approved education provider showing

fees are paid or that students don’t have to pay fees

• Evidence students have a scholarship from their

education provider.

• For applications processed outside

New Zealand, evidence of payment

isn’t required until after the

application has been approved in

principle.

• If students study a single prorgamme

for more than one year, they must

provide evidence they have enough

money to pay tuition fees for the

first year of study, and also how they

will pay their tuition fees for

subsequent years.

TIPS

OPTION

TIPS

• If you study for more than 1 year, you must provide evidence you

have enough money to support yourself for your first year and show

how you will pay your living costs for the following years.

• Evidence of how you will pay for the following years must be

money you can access while you are in New Zealand such as

savings or family income.

Money held by you or on

your behalf

Evidence of a

scholarship

Documents that show your living costs have

been paid — for example, for a school

homestay where you will live with a local

family while you study

A 'Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry'

completed by New Zealander, an NZ

residence class visa holder or an NZ

organization

A completed 'Financial

Undertaking for a

Student' form.

Writing a Statement of Purpose (SOP) is an essential part of your application. This document should include:

1. An outline of your study plans

2. An idea of what you want to do once you have finished your study

3. Reasons why you chose this education provider and prorgamme

4. Academic background

5. Information about what you were doing during any gaps in your recent education or work history

6. Details of how you are paying for your study, including:

- A summary of the evidence you are providing with your application and where this money has come from. It must show

that this money is genuinely available for you to use while you are in NZ

- An explanation of how you will pay for your future years if you plan to study in NZ longer than one year – we call this a

payment plan

- If you are supported by a financial guarantor or sponsor, explain how you are related to them

Health

• You must be in good health

• You may need to have a chest x-ray, a medical examination or both as proof of your good health.

• Full fee-paying students don’t usually need to provide a medical certificate (except for PhD students)

• You will need to get a chest X-ray if you’re from, or have spent time in a country where Tuberculosis (TB) is

common.

Character

• You must be of good character

• You may need to provide police certificates as proof of your good character if you are aged 17 and over, and will

stay in New Zealand for more than 24 months (this includes any time you have already spent in New Zealand), you

must provide police certificates from:

o your country(s) of citizenship

o any country(s) you've spent more than 5 years in since turning 17.

 Provide evidence of English language ability – the same evidence that you provided to the intended education

provider

Note:

 Evidence of English language proficiency can be a very good indicator of how the student will manage the

requirements of an NZ programme that is taught in English medium.

 If your education provider waived English requirements, please explain it in your cover letter.

 Pearson Test of English (PTE) – INZ will need access to confirm your results

www.auckland.ac.nz/visa-information

When to Apply

Processing Time

Offshore - Apply for a student visa

at least 8 weeks before your

intended travel date

If you want to apply early, then

approximately four months before

intended travel, but no earlier (and

ideally not more than 4 months

ahead of intended travel).

80% of visas are processed within the times

shown below:

Visa type Wait time

Fee Paying Student Visa 10 weeks

Dependent Child Student Visa 9 weeks

MFAT-funded NZ Scholarship Student Visa 5 weeks

Exchange Student Visa 2 weeks

Student holds valid student visa with the following work rights

 Work up to 20 hours per week

 Full-Time work during summer/scheduled vacations

 Master by research and PhD students have unlimited full-time work rights during study

Partner of the student visa holder

 Partners of Master’s and PhD students are eligible for an open work visa

 Partner of students studying Level 7 or 8 qualifications that are specified on the Green List or the List of

qualifications eligible for a post-study work visa are eligible for open work visas.

 If partners of students are on an open work visa, their dependents can enrol in any school (though some schools

may have zoning requirements) and pay domestic tuition fees, but they must apply for and be granted a

‘dependent student visa’

Post-Study Work Visa

 Depending on the level of your qualification, the visa is valid for 1,2 or 3 years

 Translating supporting documents into English

 Providing English translations of supporting documents means we

can process your application faster

 Choosing the right program and institution is crucial

 Make sure your selected institution is accredited and offers programs

aligned with your academic and career goals

 Your choice will not only shape your academic journey but also play a

role in your visa application process

Email ：int-questions@auckland.ac.nz

Website: www.immigration.govt.nz

You can reach out to INZ contact centre for general

information from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm NZT, Monday

to Friday, excluding New Zealand public holidays

• Toll-free from NZ landline only: 0508 558 855

• Auckland: +64 9 914 4100

• Rest of the world: +64 9 914 4100

If you are not sure about your situation and need specific

advice, you may wish to consider talking to a licensed

immigration advisor or lawyer

In need of assistance

Online resources

• www.auckland.ac.nz/international-student-support

• www.auckland.ac.nz/visa-information

• www.immigration.govt.nz

• Student visa application checklist - new international students

• Student visa guide

• Students who are under 18 years of age at start of term

• int-questions@auckland.ac.nz

• Include your Student ID when you email us

Ngā mihi

thank you

Te Tari ki te Ao | International Office

Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland

Time for questions

and answers…