Visa Procedure

You will need

A written offer of a place, which notifies you that you have been accepted by  an educational institution in New Zealand to study there.    

EITHER  -  A receipt for payment of course fees (You are not required to produce the receipt before your application has been approved in principle)   
OR - Evidence that you are exempt from course fees. For e.g. A New Zealand Government Scholarship.

A complete and signed ‘Application for Student Visa’ form, with a passport-size photograph.   You will be required to pay a non-refundable student visa application fee.

A guarantee of accommodation - a written assurance from an educational institution or other person that suitable residential accommodation is available to you in New Zealand.

Your passport or certificate of identity, which must be valid for the period of time for which you are applying to study.

Evidence that funds are available for your maintenance throughout your stay. One of the four is acceptable as evidence. If you intend studying in New Zealand for more than 24 months, you will need :

a) Completed New Zealand Immigration service medical and chest X-ray certificates

b) Character clearances, which must be two original character references (if under 17 years of age), or a local police clearance (if you are 17 and over). You will be advised of the procedure for obtaining these by the New Zealand government office.  

All these documents are essential before a student visa is issued. When the overseas New Zealand government office is satisfied that your application is complete and in order, you will be issued a student visa.

You should contact ECDC to find out
How to make your application, and what your document requirements will be. Generally, an international student is issued with a multiple entry visa for the duration of their study course in New Zealand. This allows you to travel backwards and forwards to New Zealand within the period for which it has been granted. Members of your immediate family (spouse and unmarried dependent children under 18 years of age) may accompany you to New Zealand and will be considered in the same visa class as yourself. If you wish to extend your stay in New Zealand for further study you will need to lodge an application for a further visa.