Foreign Government Supported Student Visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Foreign Government Supported Student Visa
Purpose	Full-time study over three months
Stay	Up to 4 years
Cost	From NZD $850
Processing	80% within 3 weeks
Eligibility timing	Not stated in the source
Work rights	Up to 25 hours weekly
Study	Full-time approved course only
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Medical insurance	Required throughout stay
Travel facility	Until visa expires
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Family apply separately
Visa record	Conditions recorded in eVisa
Application method	Online only

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Purpose

This visa allows holders of a foreign government scholarship to study full-time in New Zealand for more than 3 months.

You may study school, tertiary or English-language courses specified on your visa.

Eligibility

You must:

• Be from a country with an education agreement with New Zealand.
• Have a letter from your home government confirming its support.
• Have an offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Show your government will pay tuition fees and living expenses.
• Be in good health and of good character.
• Genuinely intend to study in New Zealand.
• Have full medical and travel insurance.
• Have onward travel arrangements or sufficient funds.

Government support letter

Your government’s letter must confirm that it will:

• Pay your education provider for tuition fees.
• Pay your living expenses.
• Confirm you are of good character.

Required Documents

Provide:

• One acceptable photo.
• High-quality passport information-page scan.
• Government support letter.
• Offer of place or confirmation of enrolment.
• Evidence of onward travel, funds or sponsorship.
• Medical or character evidence, if required.

Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after your planned departure from New Zealand.

Offer of place

The offer must state:

• Course name and duration.
• Tuition-fee amount.
• Government payment of tuition fees.
• Whether study is full-time or part-time.
• Scheduled holidays for multi-year courses.

It must include the provider’s signed declaration that the course is appropriate and that you have the English-language and academic capability to succeed.

Health and character

Immigration New Zealand may require a chest X-ray, medical examination or both.

Police certificates are required if your total time in New Zealand will be 24 months or longer, including previous visits, or if requested. Certificates must generally be less than 6 months old when submitted.

Applicants aged 16 or younger do not need police certificates.

Work Rights

You may be permitted to:

• Work part-time up to 25 hours a week.
• Work full-time during scheduled holidays.
• Work full-time during the Christmas and New Year holiday period.

Work rights depend on your visa conditions.

You cannot:

• Be self-employed or work as an independent contractor.
• Provide commercial sexual services.
• Operate a business providing commercial sexual services.

Students under 16 are not granted work rights.

Applicants aged 16 or 17, or in Years 12 or 13, need written permission from both their parent or legal guardian and education provider to work.

Practical work experience required by your course may be completed in addition to permitted work hours.

Family Provisions

You cannot include your partner or children in your application.

They may apply separately for visas based on their relationship to you.

Conditions While in New Zealand

You must:

• Study full-time.
• Attend the approved education provider named on your visa.
• Make satisfactory course progress.
• Maintain medical insurance.
• Keep onward-travel funds or a ticket available.
• Leave New Zealand before your visa expires.

Your visa conditions are recorded in your eVisa.

Minors

If aged 17 or younger, your accommodation must meet applicable requirements. Your provider must confirm it is a signatory to the Code of Pastoral Care for International Students.

If you are under 10, you must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian unless living in an NZQA-approved school hostel.

Where accompaniment is required, the parent or guardian must live with you while you study and cannot leave New Zealand without you.

Travel

You may travel in and out of New Zealand until your visa expires, if you hold valid multiple-entry travel conditions.

If you leave New Zealand without multiple-entry travel conditions, your visa will expire.

Applicants applying from inside New Zealand will normally receive multiple-entry travel conditions.

Arrival Requirements

All travellers must complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration.

You may be refused entry permission if you:

• Are not a genuine student.
• Do not meet character requirements.
• Have changed circumstances since visa grant.
• Refuse biometric collection.
• Cannot show onward travel or required funds.

How to Apply

1. Apply online through Immigration New Zealand.
2. Upload required identity, study and government-support evidence.
3. Provide health or character documents if requested.
4. Pay the applicable fee.

Paper applications are no longer accepted for this visa.