Examples of eligibility

Not sure whether you’d be eligible to apply for a student visa? These examples will give you an idea of the situations under sections 15 and 16 of the Immigration Act 2009 where generally you won’t be eligible to apply for a visa.

Even where you are eligible to apply, we will still thoroughly assess your application before making a decision on whether we’ll grant you a student visa.

Your situation	Would I be able to apply for a visa (provided I meet all the other requirements)?
You were released three years ago after serving a six-year prison sentence.	No
You were released 15 years ago after serving a nine-month prison sentence.	Yes, you are eligible to apply
You were released 11 years ago after serving a 12- month prison sentence.	Yes, you are eligible to apply provided you were sentenced to less than five years and you were released over 10 years ago
You were arrested, though not convicted, of drug trading.	Yes, you are eligible to apply
You have been deported from another country.	No
You have been alleged to be, or have been, involved in terrorist activities.	No
You’ve been deported from New Zealand in the past.	No
You’ve been refused entry to another country.	No

Page Last Updated: 29 Nov 2010

Examples of eligibility

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