General Information Capital: Wellington
Largest City: Auckland
Official Language: English (95.9%), (4.2%), NZ Sign Language (0.6%)
Ethnic Groups: 78% European, 14.6% , 9.2% Asian, 6.9% Pacific People
Government: Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Area: 268,021 km2 ,
Population: 4,445,436 (Nov, 2012 estimate)
Per capita income: $27668
Currency: New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
Calling code: +64
-New Zealand is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean.
-New Zealand is a beautiful country, known for its clean green image and stunning natural scenery.
-New Zealand is situated some 1,500 km (900 mi) east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and roughly 1,000 km (600 mi) south of the Pacific Island Nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga.
-Primary and secondary schooling is compulsory for children aged 6 to 16, with the majority attending from the age of 5.
-New Zealand has an adult literacy rate of 99 percent, and over half of the population aged 15 to 29 holds a tertiary qualification.
-There are five types of government-owned tertiary institutions: universities, colleges, Polytechnics, specialist colleges, and Wananga.
- The number of Universities approx. 8, Polytechnics approx.18 & Private Education provider approx. 150
-Every year students from all over the world make New Zealand – their host country. The magnificence of beauty and serenity of the locale is the perfect panacea to the pressurized existence that most students undergo on a daily basis!
- One of the peace country with no crime rate almost.
-The New Zealand approach to education fosters self-reliance, inquisition and fresh thinking. You will find a holistic approach to education at New Zealand. This is born of the unique magic called New Zealand.
Document Checklist
OFFER LETTER
1. All Academic documents till date
2. IELTS/TOEFL Score (6.0 for the Bachelor & 6.5 for Master)
3. Passport
4. Work Experience (If any)
5. University/College Application form
(Offer letter processing time 1 to 2 weeks)
VISA DOCUMENTATION
1. Passport or travel document:
Passports must be valid for 3 months beyond intended date of departure from New Zealand. Passports should be submitted in original along with the application. In cases where the original passport cannot be submitted, applicants can submit attested copy of the complete passport.
2. Offer letter from the College/University:
3. Financial Documents:
3.1. Financial Undertaking Form/s (If more than one guarantor)
3.2. Affidavit/s of Support from Guarantors
3.3. Authorization letter/s from guarantors authorizing Immigration New Zealand to verify their financial documents on their behalf
3.4.The students should provide evidence of funds upfront for courses that encompass two academic years or less inclusive of living expenses (NZ$ 15,000 per annum). If the duration of course is longer than two academic years, students should provide a plan of payment to show that they have access to funds and have the ability to meet the rest of the course cost and living expenses. They accept the following evidence of funds:
Education loan sanction letter from a nationalized or multinational bank only
Latest bank statements for the past 6 months. It should not be more than 1 week old at the time of lodgment of the application. Please ensure that statements and not balance certificates are provided.
Fixed Deposits. In case of providing fixed deposits as evidence of funds please ensure that a copy/counterfoil of the deposit along with a letter from the bank giving the details of the deposit is provided.
Public Provident Fund Accounts/Employers Provident Fund Accounts.
Post Office Accounts.
National Saving Certificates.
Please note that the telephone numbers along with the STD codes of the place/institution where the funds shown can be verified should be provided with the financial documents.
Applicants are required to provide documentary evidence of income and source of income of their parents, even if the cost of study is being sponsored by another person.
4. Health Requirements:
Applicants, who intend to be in New Zealand for more than 6 months but less than 12 months, must undergo a TB screening X-ray unless:
i. They are pregnant; or
ii. They are under 11 years of age
The certificate should be no longer than 3 months old at the date of submission and the applicants must provide the following:
i. a fully completed Temporary Entry X-ray Certificate form, NZIS 1096; and
ii. Any associated medical reports required for the X-ray.
All applicants who intend to stay in New Zealand for a total of more than 12 months must undergo a full medical and x-ray examination.
The certificate should be no longer than 3 months old at the date of submission and the applicants must provide the following:
i. a fully completed Medical and Temporary Entry X-ray Certificate form NZIS 1007; and
ii. Any associated medical and laboratory reports
Submission of TB screening and report and/or full medical report (as applicable) is a mandatory lodgment requirement.
Note: Pregnant women and children under the age of 11 are not required to have an X-ray examination.
INZ has appointed Panel Doctors. The medical certificates must be completed by one of the panel doctors and x-ray reports should be completed by a Radiologist referred by a panel doctor. Please visit www.immigration.govt.nz for the details of the Panel Doctor in India, Nepal and Bangladesh.
5. Police Clearance Certificate:
All applicants who are above the age of 17 years and intend to stay in New Zealand for a total of more than 24 months must provide their Police Clearance Certificate. Certificates must be less than 6 months old at the time it is submission.
6. Student Visa application form and the supplementary information form
Please ensure that ALL questions on the Student Visa Application Form AND the Supplementary Information Form complete with the family details of the applicant are answered fully and in English. Both forms should be signed and dated.
7. Photograph:
Two recent passport sized photograph (must be less than 6 months old) should be affixed to the visa application form.
8. Visa Application Fees
For applicants applying from outside India :
The current student visa fee in US dollars is US$225. The fee must be paid by bank draft in US dollars only drawn on any bank in “USA” and made payable to the “Immigration New Zealand”.
Due to currency fluctuations, fees are subject to change without extensive notice.
9. Covering letter
Please give the background of the student covering the evidence of funds and the student’s English Language ability. In addition please provide a statement of purpose which should contain reasons as to why the student is applying, what he/she wishes to do and how the course would help him/her in the future. This statement of purpose should be hand-written by the student himself/herself.
10. Educational certificates (with translations if required)
All educational certificates and the transcripts should be provided which includes:
Class 10 & Class 12
Graduation Certificate
Post Graduate Certificate
Other courses and Diplomas
Please note that if you intend to pursue aviation or marine courses in New Zealand, then evidence of your related qualification and/or work experience should be provided.
11. English language requirement
Evidence of English language ability can be a very good indicator of how the student will manage the requirements of a New Zealand course that is taught in English medium. They strongly recommend that IELTS certificate is provided with the student visa application.
New Zealand Education Providers will have their own English language requirements for an offer of place depending on the course you enroll in.
If an IELTS result is available, it is considered as conclusive evidence of student’s English language ability and considered against the course entry requirement. We have to be satisfied that the student meets the entry requirement for the course they enroll in.
They do not consider TOEFL results in isolation as conclusive evidence of English Language ability, as they are unable to be readily verifiable. They strongly recommend that if a student is to undertake a test they should undertake the IELTS test so that their level of English is clearly measured against the course requirement.
12. Evidence of Employment:
(The company addresses and phone number must be included on the letter)
13. Application Received in Principle:
Once all the requirements have been met, you will be advised in writing that your application has been approved in principle. You will be given a month to submit the following:
Only fee receipts (normally for 1 year) issued by the New Zealand Education Institute will be accepted. This fee receipt should be e-mailed to inzmumbai@dol.govt.nz
Any other requirement which needs to be fulfilled at that stage for the visa to be issued.
New Zealand embassy will require 5 working days after the receipt of all final documents to issue your visa. The visa would not be issued any earlier than 3 weeks prior to course commencement.
Note: All passports are returned by registered mail or courier, unless other arrangements are made by the applicant.
14. Validity of the Student Visa:
Please note that if the course duration in New Zealand is more than 1 year, the student visas will only be issued for 1st year of study. You will have to apply for and meet the requirements for a further student visa in New Zealand. However, if the course duration is less than 1 year or 1 year, then the student visas will be issued for the duration of the course.
15. Bona fides:
As well as meeting all mandatory requirements for lodging your application for a temporary entry visa, you will need to demonstrate that you are ‘bona fide’ and that you intend a genuine temporary stay in New Zealand for a lawful purpose.
In determining whether you are a bona fide applicant, the information that the immigration officer will consider is included but not limited to:
-any evidence of genuine intent and lawful purpose submitted by you; and
-your ability to leave or be deported from New Zealand to your country of citizenship; and
-any relevant information held about previous applications, including but not limited to:
-whether you have previously overstayed;
-whether you have previously breach visa conditions;
-whether you have dependants who are unlawfully in New Zealand; and
-your personal circumstances, including but not limited to:
the strength of any family ties in your home country and New Zealand;
-the nature of any personal, financial, employment or other commitments in your home country and New Zealand;
-Any circumstances that may discourage you from returning to your home country when any visa expires.
AFTER THE APPLICATION IS SUBMITTED
1. Processing time:
All student visa applications are currently being processed at INZ Mumbai and being allocated to an Immigration officer for assessment within one week of being received by INZ. Total processing time should be 8-10 weeks depending on the level of investigation and verification required.
If the application does not include the required documents that are given in this check-list, it is likely that the application will be processed under the “Other student visa applications” category.
2. Positive Profile students:
“Positive Profile” criteria have been revised and clarified following changes to Immigration Instructions announced in June 2011. To meet positive profile applications must demonstrate that they meet the following combination of factors listed below:
Good academic record – over 60% aggregate in year 10 and 12 and over 50% aggregate in subsequent tertiary qualification; not failed in any examinations;
IELTS score of at least 6.0, or evidence of having met English language entry requirements for the course of study in NZ, whichever is higher;
Student’s immediate family’s verifiable evidence of funds to meet the educational and living expenses in NZ – including paper trail to explain any recent high value deposits in accounts; or
Evidence to demonstrate that they are opting for the Funds Transfer Scheme
No more than two immediate family members as financial guarantors;
Verifiable Evidence of regular source of sufficient income of financial guarantors;
Intended course of study relevant to qualifications and/or work experience and shows education progression;
Meet health & character requirements.
If an application does not meet the above mentioned criteria, it does not mean that the application will not be approved. It simply means that the application will take longer to finalize.
All positive profile applications should be submitted with original passport/travel document.
3. Interviews and/or further information
Please note that you may be required to attend telephonic interview, an interview at their Office or to provide further information to enable them to make a decision. You will be informed of this when the application is allocated to an immigration officer. An immigration officer may contact you for an interview.