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Anyone regardless of age or educational background can apply to study in New Zealand.
All mainland PRC nationals must apply for student visas if they want to study for a course longer than three months, unless they currently hold a student visa and/or permit, or residence visa and/or permit. You need to apply for a visitor visa if the duration of the course is less than three months.
You can collect (or ask to be sent to you) a free application form from any of the Immigration New Zealand branches in China. Alternatively you can download the application form from our website. Please note that all PRC nationals need to provide a supplementary application form in addition to the student visa application form.
Please check the China Branch Student Visa Checklist and China Branch Returning Student Visa Checklist.
Yes. To ensure quick processing, we recommend that you include original documents (eg qualification certificate, bank slips, bank books etc.) with your application when it is lodged. Your original documents are safe with us and will be returned to you when your application is finalised.
We suggest that you lodge your visa application at least two months prior to your course commencement date. We decide most student visa applications within one month. However, students need an additional month to transfer their tuition fees and undertake the necessary medical checks etc.
The Beijing branch is responsible for processing visas for all provinces in the Peoples Republic of China and Mongolia, except the following provinces:
It is up to you whether you use an agent or not. You are under no obligation to do so. We process each application equally and fairly on its own merit, regardless if an agent is involved or not. Please provide your contact details if you choose to lodge the application yourself.
You can mail the completed documents to the processing branch or you can come directly to the branch to lodge your application at the counter. You will receive an acknowledgement letter from us once your application is accepted.
Yes. The current student visa application fee is RMB 760 or USD 110. Please note you will need to pay an additional USD 10, for the bank fee, if you make a USD payment.
We recommend that you check the checklist or contact us for payment details as the payment method and amount is slightly different at each of the three PRC branches.
Generally there are four steps in a student visa application. First, the application will be checked by a lodgement officer, your application will be returned if significant documents (ie ID document, offer of place, financial evidence etc.) are missing. Then a visa officer will assess all the information provided, to determine if you are a genuine student and have sufficient funds etc. During this stage, your documents will be verified and you may be contacted for additional information. After assessment, the visa officer will make a decision on your visa application, which you will be advised of in writing – this is the third step. Finally, if approved in principle (AIP), your student visa will be issued after you complete all of the AIP requirements, eg transfer of tuition fee to New Zealand, medical checks and so on.
There are five types of student visa – full fee paying; full scholarship; fee scholarship; exchange student, and vocational trainee. In addition to this, people holding a limited purpose visa-study can also pursue studies in New Zealand. Most students go to New Zealand as full fee paying students.
A visa application can be declined if a client fails to prove him/herself as a genuine student and/or has insufficient funds to support themselves. Applicants that provide false or misleading information may be declined on character grounds. Applicants that do not meet the health requirements may also be refused entry.
The student visa decline rate for PRC students is about 28 percent for the 2006/2007 year. You can check our statistics page for updated information.
Your application will be processed on its own merits following the New Zealand Student Policy. However, please note that we require you to declare your decline history on the application form. Please be aware that deliberately withholding this information is a character issue which normally results in a decision to decline.
Yes you can – there is no time restriction on resubmitting a new application. However, if there is no further new information or significant changes in your circumstances, the previous decision is unlikely to change.
As explained above, you can lodge a new application at any time. However, you will need to explain any special reasons why you believe you should be granted a character waiver, otherwise the decision remains. The assessment of a character waiver usually includes an evaluation of the significance of the false, misleading or forged information provided, or information withheld, and whether the applicant is able to supply a reasonable and credible explanation or other evidence indicating that in supplying or withholding such information they did not intend to deceive Immigration New Zealand.
No, there is no English requirement to apply for a student visa. You can apply for a student visa to study English in New Zealand. On the other hand, we welcome students with a satisfactory level of English to study in a tertiary course in New Zealand. Students that are directly enrolled in degree level courses will be fast tracked, which means their student visa applications will be decided within 14 working days.
Usually a student visa is granted for the period that the student has paid the course fees and maintenance funds for (up to a maximum of four years).
More specifically: if the course is based on the New Zealand academic year, visas may be issued till the 31st of March for tertiary students and the 28th of February for primary and secondary students. If the course lasts for less than one year, or can begin at any time during the year, the visa may be issued to expire no more than one month after the period for which the student has paid.
You can work 20 hours per week if you are one of the following students.
In addition, the right to work full-time in the Christmas holiday period will be available to any student enrolled in a course of 12 months or longer duration.
If you wish to work in New Zealand, you need to apply for a work visa/permit. Please be advised that any student, regardless of institution type, who successfully completes a course in New Zealand resulting in a qualification that would get points under the Skilled Migrant Residence Category would be eligible to apply for a six-month open work permit.
Your family can apply for a visitor visa to visit you while you are studying in New Zealand. However, please understand that they must meet the visitor visa policy requirements – that they genuinely intend a temporary stay in New Zealand for a lawful purpose.
In addition, if you are one of the following students, open work permits are available to your partner:
To qualify to be a skilled migrant, you need to have good health, good character, a reasonable standard of English and be no older than 55 years of age. You will also need to meet the threshold of 100 points to register an Express of Interest (EOI) in applying for residence in New Zealand.
Points are gained for skilled employment in New Zealand, work experience, qualification and age. Bonus points are available for employment, work experience and qualifications in identified areas of growth or absolute skill shortage areas. Bonus points are also available for employment outside Auckland and for recognised New Zealand qualifications gained in New Zealand. Your partner’s employment and qualifications and your close family support in New Zealand can also gain bonus points. For more detailed information on skilled migration to New Zealand, visit the work stream.
In summary, students who have completed recognised qualifications in New Zealand have the following advantages when applying to be a skilled migrant when compared with other students.
Please refer to our contact details below.
Please see www.newzealandeducated.com/china if you want to know more about New Zealand education. This website is operated by Education New Zealand and contains information about:
