New Zealand Study Visa Processing Time:- If you want to elevate your career graph and make the best in your field then moving to a developed country for higher studies is the best choice. Most International students choose the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, or other European countries for studying abroad.
The issue with choosing these popular countries is that they are expensive. The tuition fees along with the living expenses and other miscellaneous costs are often unbearable for many international students. This issue is solved by some European countries and countries like New Zealand.
The nation of New Zealand offers high-quality education at comparatively low expense. After deciding that you have to study in New Zealand, the first step is to get admission to your selected course. However, this is not it. You have to go through the tedious visa process.
In this blog, we will discuss some New Zealand study visa application process, the documents required, application fees, and one of the most asked questions which is New Zealand study visa processing time.
New Zealand Study Visa Types
You might be aware of study visas of different countries but the New Zealand study visas are very different. There are 4 types of study visas here. All the visas have their specific reason.
You need to identify for yourself which one suits you the most. You should be aware of all the visa types as the New Zealand study visa processing time may differ according to the visa you are applying for.
Fee-paying Student Visa
This is the first type of student study visa in New Zealand. This is for students who want to study in New Zealand for a longer duration. With this visa, you can study for 4 years. The benefit of studying in New Zealand is that the government allows you to work part-time. By having this visa too you will be allowed to work part-time.
Exchange Student Visa
This is similar to the above-mentioned type but has only one difference. To be eligible for this visa, you should be part of a student exchange program that has been approved by the government. This visa also allows you to study for 4 years and work part-time.
Foreign Government-Supported Study Visa
Many countries give scholarships and loans to their students who want to study abroad. If your country has such a program and your government will bear all your costs in the form of a loan or a scholarship then you are eligible for this visa.
Pathway Student Visa
This is one of the most interesting visa types. The pathway study visa allows you to study in New Zealand for 5 years in 3 consecutive courses. This means that by the end of 5 years, you should have completed 3 courses.
Supporting Documents got a New Zealand Study Visa
New Zealand study visa processing time is usually fixed but some applications may take more than the usual time. To avoid these kinds of delays you must make sure that you have applied correctly. This includes submitting all the supporting documents. These documents are required along with your application. The documents required are as below:
- Application Form: The first document you need is the application form for your type of visa. You should always download the application from the official website of the government of New Zealand. Once you fill out the form, recheck it correctly. Any mistake in the details will lead to rejection and may also lead to a delay in your New Zealand study visa processing time.
- Passport: You will of course need a valid passport to obtain a study visa. This passport needs to be a valid one. A valid passport has been issued in the last 10 years.
- Passport-sized Photos: You will need 2 passport-sized photos.These pictures should be current and show your face clearly. If possible keep the background of your photos white.
- Letter of Acceptance: Before applying for a study visa you need to have a letter of enrollment/acceptance from a recognized university in New Zealand. This letter should clearly state your details as well as the course details.
- Academic Transcripts: You will also need to submit all your academic transcripts. This means your mark sheets and other awards and certificates that you may have. This helps the visa office to check whether you are capable to complete the course you have chosen.
- Proof of Paid Fees: To be enrolled in the program in which you have been accepted, you will have to pay the fees. Once you pay the fees, you will receive a receipt which you have to submit to the visa office.
- Proof of Sufficient Funds: This is also one of the most asked questions after New Zealand visa processing time. The minimum amount that you should have to study in New Zealand for one year is NZ$ 15,000. To prove this you can show your bank statements or any scholarship certificate that is covering your entire cost.
- Proof of Accommodation: You will need a place to stay in New Zealand during your studies. You should have this place before you submit the visa application. For showing the proof you can show the agreement between you and the owner of the place stating that you will be allowed to stay in that property for the duration of your studies.
- Police Clearance Certificate: This is the document that you can acquire from your nearest police station. This document states that you have no criminal record and are a decent citizen.
- Health insurance: A valid health insurance that will cover your entire medical cost in case of an emergency in New Zealand is required too. This health insurance can be valid in New Zealand or it can be a global health insurance.
- Complete Health Examination Report: A medical examination report that states that you are fit and have no complications is also to be submitted. You may also need to submit the X-ray report which shows that you have no Tuberculosis.
Read Also: Canada Study Visa Processing Time
What is the New Zealand Study Visa Processing Time?
Now that you have all the information regarding the supporting documents, let us come to the most asked questions about study visa processing time. The processing time for a student visa in New Zealand is usually 20 days if you have applied online.
If you have applied offline then it may take 5-6 weeks. This time may exceed 3 months at most. You may face a delay in processing time because you have not submitted one of the required documents, or the visa office needs more time to verify your documents. Below is a table that shows the average time taken for processing:
| Educational instituiton | 50% of visas approved within | 75% of visas approved within | 90% of visas approved within |
| Private training establishments (PTE) | 25 days | 45 days | 70 days |
| Institutes of Technology and Polytechnic (ITPs) | 30 days | 50 days | 60 days |
| Schools | 10 days | 15 days | 28 days |
| Universities | 15 days | 30 days | 50 days |
Cost of New Zealand Study Visa
The cost of the New Zealand study visa depends on whether you are applying online or offline. If you are applying online then the cost for processing your visa application is NZ$ 375 which is approximately equal to INR 19,200.
If you are applying offline then you will have to pay INR 22,600 and in addition to this cost, you also have to pay a receiving center fee of INR 1,520.
We recommend you visit the official website to know the exact cost as it may change. Based on your mode of application (online or offline) the New Zealand study visa processing time may differ.
What is the Validity of a New Zealand Study Visa?
The validity of the study visa is of one year. However, depending on your visa type you may extend this period, but each year you will have to renew this validity The renewal of your study visa depends solely on your academic performance in the academic year.
Who Can Come Along with the Student Visa Holder?
If you hold a student visa then your spouse will be allowed to stay with you with a visitors visa. This visa will also be valid for the duration of your study visa. Your spouse can work full-time during their stay. You can also bring your dependents but they will not be allowed to work during your stay. The New Zealand study visa processing time may be affected if your spouse is also coming with you. This happens because the visa office then has to verify some more documents like your marriage license.
Conclusion
The New Zealand study visa is becoming more and more popular due to the high acceptance rate compared to other English-speaking counties. The nation of New Zealand is facing a shortage in multiple skill-based jobs and is thus eager to host international students that can study and work for the nation.
High-quality education and beautiful landscapes provide the best environment for study. The study visa for New Zealand required you to submit multiple supporting documents in addition to the application form. We have included all the supporting documents in this blog. We have also included a table containing the average New Zealand study visa processing time for different institutions. We hope this was helpful. All the best for your visa application and stay tuned with Course Mentor.
FAQs
Is It Difficult to Get a New Zealand Student Visa?
Getting a student visa for New Zealand is neither too hard nor impossible. The process is hard to understand and will take time to carry out. During the process, though, candidates have to cover a few different points.
Why is New Zealand Student Visa Taking So Long?
There are also a number of other things that can change how long it takes to process a student visa application. These include the number and availability of staff, the amount of expertise needed to evaluate each application, the way resources are moved around, and the difficulty of each case.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Student Visa for New Zealand 2023?
How long a New Zealand Student Visa application takes depends on what kind of application it is. The time it takes to get a New Zealand student visa is about 30 business days, excluding weekends and holidays. New Zealand takes an average of 18 weekdays to handle student visa applications.
