Unless otherwise specified in student instructions, an applicant for a student visa must provide evidence that they have an offer of a place, from a New Zealand education provider, in a full-time course that meets foreign student requirements (U5). 

The offer of place letter must be signed and dated by the representative of the provider and contain the following information:

Provider details

• Name of education provider
• Address
• Phone, fax number, and email address

Student details

• Full name of student (underline family name) and current address

Course/programme details

• Length of course/programme (if longer than one year, state the minimum completion time)
• Date programme starts 
• Year of study (Primary and Secondary schools): eg year 5
• Year of study (Tertiary): eg first
• Type of study (Tertiary)
  • Full-time (at least 20 contact hours per week if at a PTE or three papers or equivalent per semester at a university or polytechnic)
  • Part-time

Note: student visas are not granted for distance/correspondence study unless the student is physically required to be on campus for an exam/practical etc

Fee payment details

• Foreign student fee, or
• Domestic student fee, or
• New Zealand Aid Programme funding or other scholarship
• Fee amount for the complete course (if applicable): $__________
• Fee amount paid:$_______ for:
  • the complete course; or 
  • the term/semester, until (date).

Note: for applications processed outside New Zealand, evidence of payment is not required until after the application has been approved in principle. (U3.10)

Accommodation details for under 18 year olds

Fee-paying foreign students who are under the age of 18 must provide, with their student visa application, a statement from their education provider confirming that the student’s accommodation complies with the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Student. For example:

 

Name of education provider ensures that the accommodation provisions for <name of student> are met in accordance with the Code of Practice.

Clauses 6.1 and 7.1 of the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students declaration

All education providers are required to include the following declaration in their ‘Offer of Place’ letters to international students:

As required by the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students Name of education provider declares that:

• an assessment of name of student has been undertaken (if required as detailed in clause 6.1) to ensure that they are able to participate effectively in the course, and
  the course offered meets this prospective student’s proficiencies and career intentions (clause 7.1).

Date                                                  signed 
 

For more information about what these sections require, see the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students. There is a document for both the tertiary and school sector to download.