Immigration - New Zealand

New Zealand Student Visa

**IMPORTANT** As of August 10, 2020, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has suspended applications for temporary visas from outside New Zealand until at least May 2021 due to COVID-19. Visas for study abroad students and visitors to New Zealand are not available at this time. OIE will update the instructions below as we receive updates.

Overview

All students studying in New Zealand are responsible for securing the appropriate student visa. While the OIE can provide a general understanding of the process outlined here, it's the student's responsibility to follow the New Zealand Government's immigration requirements and any guidance provided by your program. The OIE does not have any influence on this process. Please be in contact with your program directly to understand what specific support they may offer with the visa application.

 

US Citizens: In order to participate in a study abroad program in New Zealand, you must apply online for a Fee Paying Student Visa through Immigration New Zealand (INZ) after you've been accepted by your New Zealand university. The student visa allows you to stay in New Zealand for the duration of your academic program and possibly for a few weeks after your program ends. You must depart New Zealand before your student visa expires. 

 

Non-US Citizens: Please consult the INZ website to verify application requirements and fees. You're urged to start researching this process as soon as possible to plan accordingly. Citizens of the following countries may be required to submit additional application requirements to INZ: China, Hong Kong, Macau, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. Furthermore, please speak with a DU ISSS Advisor to ensure you have the necessary paperwork to go abroad and return to DU.

 

When to Apply

New Zealand immigration suggests that you wait up to FOUR MONTHS ahead of your intended travel date before you apply for a student visa. Once you're within the four months time frame and you've received all the required documentation, we recommend that you apply for a Fee Paying Student Visa immediately and no less than EIGHT WEEKS prior to your intended travel date. Current processing times are subject to change.

Issuance of a student visa is dependent upon the satisfactory health and character clearance conducted by the New Zealand Government. If your application needs to be revised, it may take up to 4 weeks to finalize the process; therefore, delaying your student visa application to the last moment could interfere with your travel plans.
 

How to Apply

First, review the First-Time Student Visa Application Checklist. Access the application by visiting the Apply for A Visa page. If you're unable to apply online, see the Immigration New Zealand (INZ) website for the paper Student Visa Application Form (INZ 1012) and information on how to submit your paper application.

Next, create a RealMe login. DO NOT use a Gmail email address! Doing so will cause troubles with the verification process. Passwords must be 7‐12 characters and must include at least one of each: uppercase letter, lowercase letter, number, and symbol. Make sure your password, security questions, and PIN are easy for you to remember.

After successfully creating your RealMe account, continue your Fee Paying Student Visa Application online.
 
Below are some hints to help you complete this application fully:
  • You should select “Study” as the reason for the visa and “less than 6 months” as the length of study.
  • “Certificate of Proficiency” is the qualification you'll be studying.
  • You're eligible to apply for your student visa online.

You must provide the following documents with your application:
  1. An offer of place from a New Zealand education provider
    • Offer of Place: This letter, issued by the university, states that you'll be attending a study abroad program there, that you have guaranteed accommodation, and that DU will pay your program fees.
       
  2. Copy of the identity pages of your current passport
    • Valid Passport: Your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond your departure date from New Zealand. If your passport will expire before that time, please renew your passport immediately!
       
  3. Evidence of funds to cover the tuition fees
    • Letter of Support from the Office of International Education: This letter, addressed to the New Zealand Embassy, verifies that you are a full-time DU student, that you've been authorized to participate in this study abroad program, and that the University of Denver will cover the program fees. The OIE will upload this letter into your DU Passport account before your program's pre-departure orientation.
       
  4. Evidence of sufficient funds to live on while in New Zealand  
    • Review INZ's First-Time Student Visa Application Checklist for guidance on this requirement.
    • NZD$1,250 per month (approx. USD$735/month) if your program of study is less than 36 weeks
    • NZD$15,000 per year (approx. USD$8,830/year) if your program of study is more than 36 weeks
    • The funds account must be in your name. If not, then whomever is supporting you must complete the INZ1014 "Financial Undertaking for a Student" Form, and you must upload that form into your visa application along with proof of the account holder's identity (passport, identity certificate, etc.).
       
  5. Medical and travel insurance 
    • Offer of Place: Attach your offer of place which states that you'll have StudentSafe Insurance provided by your NZ university.
       
  6. Evidence of outward travel
    • Flight Itinerary: Upload a pdf copy of the flight itinerary you received from your travel agent.
       
  7. Academic transcript
    • DU Transcript: Upload the scanned copy of your transcript located in DU Passport.
       
  8. Passport-style photograph of yourself
    • Follow the application's instructions on what type of photo is acceptable.
       
In rare cases, INZ may request these documents separately:
  1. Medical Examination or Chest X-Ray: These may be requested to show you are in good health depending on your medical history and countries you have traveled to in the past. See Who Needs An X-Ray or Medical Examination for more information.
  2. Criminal Background Check: This may be requested to show you're of good character. See Who Needs to Provide Police Certificates for more information.
     

Visa Fee for Cherrington Global Scholars (CGS)

If you're a Cherrington Global Scholar, your visa fee will be covered by DU as a CGS benefit. The total cost will vary based on your citizenship and application submission method. Please follow these instructions:
 
  1. Pay out-of-pocket and submit a CGS Immigration Reimbursement Request. Remember to attach your Tax Invoice/Receipt to the request. Your visa reimbursement will be applied to your DU account as a statement credit, excluding any payment surcharges. Please see the CGS page in the latest Study Abroad Handbook for more details.
     
  2. If you experience any problems with this process, please contact your OIE Advisor. 
     

Student Visa Application Inquiries

If you have an inquiry about the status of your student visa, please contact the Immigration Contact Centre located in New Zealand at ICCGeneralEmailEnquiries@mbie.govt.nz or +64 9 914 4100. Please be aware that this is an international call, and surcharges will apply. The Immigration Contact Centre is available from 6:00am Monday to midnight on Saturday (New Zealand Time).
 

Arrival Inspections & Biosecurity Procedures

According to the US Department of State, a Customs Officer at the New Zealand Port of Entry may examine your electronic items such as mobile phones, iPads, Android tablets, hard drives, laptops, and digital cameras. The Officer may ask for your password or ask you to enter it. Fines of up to NZD $5,000 may be enforced for failure to comply. Passwords are not kept, nor is personal data altered.

New Zealand also has very strict biosecurity procedures to prevent the introduction of harmful pests and diseases. All biosecurity-risk goods must be declared or disposed of in marked amnesty bins at air and sea ports. Your luggage may also be screened upon entry. If you don't declare goods considered to be a biosecurity risk, such as honey, fresh fruit, seeds, and plants, you can receive an instant fine of NZD $400.
 

Tourists (non-students) in New Zealand

Tourists traveling to or transiting through New Zealand – such as family or friends – who are not studying at a New Zealand university may be required to apply for a visa well in advance of their trip to New Zealand.
 

US Citizens: As of October 1, 2019 all US citizens who are traveling to or transitioning through New Zealand under the visa waiver program are required to have a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA). It can take up to 72 hours to process an NZeTA, and it's valid for multiple visits for up to two years. If your NZeTA application is denied, you'll need to apply for a tourism visa.
 

Non-US Citizens: Please consult the Immigration New Zealand website for specific tourist or transit visa requirements.


By electronically signing below, I understand that it is my responsibility to secure a New Zealand Student Visa in order to study abroad in New Zealand. Additionally, I understand the information above is provided by the University of Denver in order to serve as a general guide to assist students. However, it is ultimately my responsibility, as the visa applicant, to follow the New Zealand Government's protocol (even if different from above guidelines) in order to secure the proper visa and that DU does not hold any authority for this process. This information was reviewed on February 15, 2021.