Meeting the criteria

• 1 acceptable photo if you apply online, or 2 photos if you use a paper application form.
• your passport or certificate of identity.

Acceptable photos

If you submit a paper application, provide your original passport or a certified copy.  We can usually process your application faster if you provide your original passport.

If you apply online, you must upload a copy of your passport when you apply. We will let you know if you need to send your passport after you've applied.

Sending your passport for online applications

You may need to have a chest x-ray, a medical examination or both as proof of your good health.

When you need an x-ray or medical examination

You may need to provide police certificates as proof of your good character.

If you are aged 17 and over, and will stay in New Zealand for more than 24 months (this includes any time you have already spent in New Zealand), you must provide police certificates from:

• your country(s) of citizenship
• any country(s) you've spent more than 5 years in since turning 17.

You do not need to provide police certificates if:

• you have provided them to us with an earlier visa application, and they were issued in the previous 36 months, or
• you are under 20 years of age and have held a student visa (or consecutive student visas) on and since the date you turned 17 and are applying for a further student visa.

Good character

Police certificates

When we decide if your intentions are genuine (bona fide), we consider all the information:

• you provide to support your application
• we have about your personal circumstances, and
• any previous applications.

Genuine intentions to visit, study or work in NZ

Evidence that you are a genuine visitor

Your offer of place – or if you are a returning student, your confirmation of enrolment – must include:

• the name of your course and how long the course is for
• confirmation that your tuition fees will be paid by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
• whether your study will be full-time, part-time or as a distance learning or correspondence student
• if your course is for more than one academic year, the dates of all of the course’s scheduled holidays
• if you’re under 18, confirmation that your accommodation complies with the ‘Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students’.

Offers of place must also include your approved education provider’s signed declaration that they’ve assessed and are satisfied that:

• the programme offered is appropriate for your expectations
• you have the English language ability and academic capability to succeed

Education (Pastoral Care of International Students) Code of Practice 2016

Evidence can include any one of the following:

• Letter from your approved education provider showing fees are paid or that you don’t have to pay fees
• Evidence that your home country government loan has been applied for, and confirmation from the education provider they expect to receive the fees
• Evidence you’ve applied for a home country government loan and confirmation that you’re enrolling in a bachelor degree programme or higher at a Private Training Establishment (PTE)
• Evidence you have a scholarship from your education provider.

• You must declare in your visa application that you agree to arrange and hold insurance.
• Your insurance policy must cover you from the date that you arrive in New Zealand until the day you leave.
• Your insurance policy must cover all of the following:
  • travel (this includes travel to and from New Zealand, within New Zealand, and outside New Zealand if travelling as part of the course)
  • medical care in New Zealand, including diagnosis, prescription, surgery, and hospitalisation
  • the transportation out of New Zealand as a result of serious illness or injury, including cover of travel costs incurred by family members assisting the student
  • death (including cover of the travel costs of family members to and from New Zealand, costs of repatriation, and funeral expenses).

If you already have a Student Visa and you’re applying for another Student Visa, you must provide photocopied evidence of your previous student performance, progress and attendance. This can include:

• academic transcripts
• a letter from your approved education provider
• attendance records.

Evidence can include:

• proof that you have NZ $15,000 for a full year of study or NZ $1,250 per month that you’ll be in New Zealand
• documents that show your living costs have been paid
• a 'Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry' completed by an acceptable sponsor
• a completed 'Financial Undertaking for a Student' form.

Acceptable sponsors
Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry (INZ 1025) PDF 283KB
Financial Undertaking for a Student (INZ 1014) PDF 257KB

Evidence can include:

• your travel ticket
• proof you have enough money to buy a ticket out of New Zealand, in addition to the funds you have to live on
• a 'Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry' completed by an acceptable sponsor.

Acceptable sponsors
Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry (INZ 1025) PDF 283KB

If you must be accompanied, you must provide proof that your parent or legal guardian cares for you in your home country and has the legal right to provide care for you.

Evidence your parent or legal guardian cares for you in your home country can include:

• your parent or guardian’s passport, or residence document showing that you’ve been living with them in your home country
• documents that show they’ve paid for your education
• educational records or documents that show they’re responsible for your education

Evidence your parent or legal guardian has the legal right to provide care for you can include:

• your birth certificate or adoption papers (if they are your parent)
• court documents (if they are a court-appointed guardian)
• relevant legal documents if they are a testamentary guardian (i.e. they were named as guardian in your parents’ will, and your parents are deceased).

You must have permission to work up to 20 hours a week and/or full-time in the summer holidays from each of the following:

• your parents or legal guardian
• your approved education provider.

If you’re allowed to work full-time in the holidays, proof:

• of the holidays scheduled by your approved education provider, as shown in your offer of place document
• that your course value is 120 credits – this information may be on your fee receipt or invoice, or other correspondence provided by your approved education provider.

Evidence can include either of the following:

• a letter from your approved education provider
• a course outline that shows the practical component requirement, as shown in your offer of place document.