Applying for a long-term study visa to New Zealand is slightly different from obtaining a guest visa. For instance, you might be required to undergo a chest x-ray and a medical examination to confirm your health status, though fully-funded students generally don't need to provide a medical certificate.
Moreover, you might also need to submit police certificates demonstrating lack of your criminal record from your country of permanent residence.
If you're 17 years or older and plan to stay in New Zealand for more than 24 months, including time already spent there, police certificates from your country (or countries) of citizenship and any country where you've lived for over 5 years since achieving 17 are required.
To obtain a long-term student or an educational visa to New Zealand, you must provide an original admission confirmation. This confirmation should include details such as:
- The name and duration of your course.
- Verification that your education will be funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
- Whether your study will be full-time, part-time, or distance learning.
- If your course lasts more than an academic year, the confirmation should state all planned vacation dates.
- For those under 18 years old, confirmation that your accommodation complies with the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students.
Your confirmation should also indicate that you have the necessary English language proficiency and academic skills to succeed in the course.
If you're enrolled in multiple courses or a course lasting for more than one year, you must provide confirmation of sufficient funds for the first year of study and a plan to finance subsequent years.
Confirmation may regard as:
- A letter from your accredited educational institution stating that payment has been made, or that you're exempt from payment.
Like a guest visa, your student visa application should include a statement agreeing to registering insurance. The insurance policy should cover the entire period of your stay, from arrival to departure. You can either get this insurance through your educational institution or independently, but your institution can guide you on what the policy should cover.
Proving your financial solvency to live in New Zealand involves showing confirmation that you have 15,000 New Zealand dollars for a full year of study, or 1,250 New Zealand dollars per month during your stay. You might also need to confirm payment of living expenses, such as if you'll be staying with a local family during your study.
If your study period exceeds a year, confirmation of sufficient funds for the first year and plans for subsequent years are necessary. The confirmation for future years should be funds you can access while in New Zealand, like savings or family income.
The consular fee accounts for 330 dollars, and 90 percent of applications are processed within three months in the low season, whether it's a study or tourism visa to New Zealand.
