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INZ student visa update: July 2024
Visa processing update (as at 10 July 2024).
Since January 2024, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has received 24,541 student visa applications from international students outside of New Zealand. INZ have completed 20,369 of these applications, with 15,242 approved.
Recent processing times for international student visa applications are published on the INZ website and are updated by month: Visa processing times for international students
Work rights available for more partners of students
In June, the Government expanded the eligibility for work visas for partners of some students studying towards a Green List occupation.
People can now apply for a Partner of Student Work Visa, with open work rights, if their partner is studying a specified level 7 or 8 bachelor’s or bachelor’s (honours) degree that will lead directly to professional registration required for a Green List role.
This relates to Green List roles where occupational registration, rather than qualification requirements, are specified, such as nurses, doctors, and teachers.
For people granted a Partner of Student Work Visa, any school-aged dependents they have will be considered domestic students for tuition fee purposes and can apply for a Dependent Child Student Visa.
End of year student visa peak – Apply early!
The processing of international student visas is a key focus for INZ, particularly as we get closer to the end of the year.
INZ receives the highest volumes of student visa applications between October and March. Applications generally take longer to be decided during this peak period, so it is important that anyone who is wanting to come to New Zealand to study next year applies early. It is recommended students apply three months before their intended travel date to give them the best chance of having their application decided in time.
There are a few things applicants can do to make sure their application is able to be processed as quickly as possible. These include:
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Check out INZ’s student visa information sheet on the INZ website to make sure a good quality application is submitted that includes all the evidence and supporting documents we need to decide the application. INZ will not be contacting applicants to ask for more information during the peak processing period, so it is important that everything is included from the start.
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Applicants must demonstrate that they can comfortably afford to study in New Zealand. New Zealand has a thorough funds assessment and INZ looks for genuine sources of funds that are credible and can be verified. If INZ cannot verify funds or is not satisfied that any verification would be genuine, then the application will be declined.
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INZ is seeing decline rates for international student visas increasing for many markets due to the increase in applications that cannot meet immigration requirements, so make sure the requirements are fully understood before submitting an application.
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New Zealand well represented at the 2024 World Digital Education Conference
The 2024 World Digital Education Conference, attended by representatives from over 70 countries and regions as well as international organisations, aims to work with governments, the education sector, and stakeholders to jointly implement the outcomes of the United Nations Transforming Education Summit, promote education recovery post-pandemic, equitable quality education through digital education transformation, and advance the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Chinese Education Minister Huai Jinpeng provided the keynote speech at the opening ceremony. He noted the impact of technology on education and the need to prioritise education reform to keep pace with changes and harness the benefits of digital education. Minister Huai concluded by saying they look forward to the new impetus into promoting international cooperation in digital education through this conference.
New Zealand was represented by Minister of Education, Hon Erica Stanford (through a pre-recorded session); H.E. Grahame Morton, New Zealand Ambassador to People’s Republic of China; Ardi Barnard, New Zealand Consul-General to Shanghai; Dr Grant Klinkum, Chief Executive New Zealand Qualifications Authority and Education New Zealand’s China-based representatives. The strong presence at the conference contributes to New Zealand’s reputation as an education partner with an innovative approach to digital learning. New Zealand Education Minister Hon Erica Stanford gave a video address and shared New Zealand’s efforts to harness digitalisation to improve our education system and support lifelong learning.
“As an education minister with a relentless focus on the progress and achievement of all students, I see that digital tools and the well-designed use of data have enormous potential to help us drive progress and achievement,” said Minister Stanford.
Hon Erica Stanford, New Zealand’s Minister of Education delivered a pre-recorded session, sharing New Zealand’s efforts to harness digitalisation and data in education.
In his address at the Opening Ceremony, Ambassador Morton highlighted the important role of education in the New Zealand-China relationship and gave insights into New Zealand’s innovative EdTech sector.
“Digital education is at the centre of New Zealand’s EdTech sector and its developments. Three-quarters of New Zealand EdTech companies are actively looking to take their offerings to the world,” said Ambassador Morton.
Ambassador Morton addresses the audience during the Opening Ceremony of the conference.
During the Parallel Session on Governance and Digital Transformation, Dr Klinkum shared New Zealand’s experience in quality assurance, qualification recognition and assessment delivery in the digital era.
“We would like to continue working with our international colleagues to ensure that we provide credible education for learners and that life-long learning and global mobility is supported by digital education and reflects the needs of increasingly digital societies,” said Dr Klinkum.
During the conference, organisers held the inaugural launch ceremony of the World Digital Education Alliance (WDEA). Universities New Zealand, on behalf of the University sector, joined the Alliance. The first batch of members is by invitation and as of 30 January 2024, 104 agencies from 41 countries joined the alliance ranging from schools to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, training centres, colleges and universities as well as research institutions and enterprises. The initiative aims to fulfil the UN SDG 4, build a mechanism for international cooperation and exchange in digital education, form synergy to promote global educational development, and create a new environment for smart education.
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New Zealand highlights global education links at major Indian conference
As the International Academic Partner, ENZ helped showcase New Zealand as a trusted education partner and destination. The event brought together education leaders, policymakers, and experts to discuss the future of learning, skills, and global collaboration.
Jugnu Roy (pictured centre) representing ENZ at the SEPC roundtable on Global Academic Mobility.
ENZ’s Director of Engagement for India and East Asia, Jugnu Roy, joined panel discussions and roundtables on global academic mobility and faculty exchange. These sessions were a chance to share New Zealand’s approach to student-focused, future-ready education and explore new opportunities for partnerships with India.
Director of Engagement for India and East Asia, Jugnu Roy, said India is a key strategic partner for New Zealand’s international education sector, and that continued engagement is essential to strengthening that relationship.
“Participating in forums like this allows us to engage deeply on shared goals and support India’s ambitions through meaningful academic cooperation,” she said.
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Around the world in five
Australia
Scott Morrison prepares to let in over 200,000 students and skilled workers
Japan
Travel ban lifted but students could be a long time coming
United States
68% increase in new first-time international enrolments across the United States
Global
Agent views of Australia/New Zealand drop as United Kingdom, Canada and United States benefit
United Arab Emirates
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NauMai NZ has a brand-new look
We are excited to share that NauMai NZ, ENZ’s student experience digital platform, has undergone a refresh and has a new look and feel, bringing it in line with the wider ENZ brand family. Check out its new look here.
NauMai NZ provides clear, timely information and advice about the things that international students want and need to know - arriving in New Zealand, study and education, health and wellbeing, New Zealand and Māori culture, exploring New Zealand, making friends, safety, money, work, and much more. It links to expert resources where appropriate and is designed to complement information provided by education providers.
NauMai NZ was launched four years ago and since then has had one million page views.
Student Experience Manager, Ross Crosson says the aims and objectives of NauMai NZ have not changed.
“NauMai NZ is still about providing trusted, accurate information to support student wellbeing, bridge the gap between expectation and reality, enable social connection, and improve student experience outcomes. The revamp is about being responsive to the needs of a wider range of students who are studying with New Zealand, not just in New Zealand” he adds.
Alongside the new look, new content has been added including,
- Life on campus (orientation, clubs, student associations)
- How to maximise your experience (goal setting and support options)
- Road safety
- Outdoor safety (including water safety, hiking and tramping, hunting/mahika kai)
- Online study for offshore students
- Global Pathways
“Just as we have over the past four years, we will continue to add new content to NauMai NZ to meet student need and expectation. The site is always evolving and feedback is welcome” Ross says.
Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Ross, ross.crosson@enz.govt.nz.
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Student Ambassadors build global citizenship skills
Since it was set up in 2021, the programme has involved around 85 secondary and 50 tertiary students in six participating regions – Northland, Auckland, Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty, Hawkes Bay, Whanganui and Wellington. Northland acted as national coordinator.
“International students can sometimes find it difficult to connect with locals, make friends or venture outside their campus,” says Sahinde Pala, GM Sector Services at Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ).
“Language and cultural barriers, hesitation to meet new people, lack of knowledge of opportunities off campus, or budget constraints – many factors can play a part. The emergence of Covid-19 and lockdowns made it even more important to address these challenges, and so we worked with a range of people, including regional partners and Welcoming Communities, to develop the student ambassador programme.”
The programme has developed differently in each region, but with the same shared goals. Another common factor has been the training provided for student ambassadors – the opportunity to complete a New Zealand Global Competence certificate, training in social media, and specially tailored training provided by ISANA NZ.
“Student ambassadors are bridgebuilders and leaders, who create opportunities for students from different cultures to form relationships and learn about each other,” Ms Pala says.
“The ambassadors themselves also gain from the programme, by developing their understanding of cultural differences and learning new skills and strategies that are valued by employers. And regional communities benefit when international students feel valued and connected – they are more likely to remain in the area or recommend it to others.”
The ISANA NZ Student Ambassador Training explores intercultural concepts in an interactive and engaging format that can be run online or in-person. Participants are then able to apply their learning to develop activities and events that help students to connect with the wider community. Debrief sessions towards the close of a programme cycle support students to reflect on what they have learned from being a student ambassador.
“I enjoyed learning about how communication works between different cultures, going over cultural values and how some are visible and invisible and learning top tips to help me improve as an ambassador” – student feedback.
“Our Northland student ambassadors joined the ISANA workshop as a group of excited students interested in global citizenship and finished as a tight knit group of inter-cultural leaders in the school community. They learnt to work together, giving everyone a chance to contribute and respecting each other’s perspectives. The communication and planning skills honed in the workshop, enabled them to run a large-scale ‘Matariki Kai Festival’ event, introducing a range of food from cultures across the school to the students.” – Jo Lees, National Ambassador Coordinator and Project Manager at Study Northland.
Other activities sparked by the programme in different parts of New Zealand have included a Kiwi Cooking Class, an Auckland Weekly video series, international languages week events and Matariki events organised and run by the ambassadors, diplomatic events attended by ambassadors from other countries and an International Students Issues Panel Discussion.
One of the student ambassadors was recently profiled by ENZ: Michael Ren – Award-winning app designer eyes a future in tech | Education New Zealand (enz.govt.nz)
Several regions have indicated they hope to continue their student ambassador programme beyond 2022: Northland, Tauranga and Hawke’s Bay.
“This student ambassador training is much needed, not only for the international education sector but also across wider communities in New Zealand. In fact, I think everyone could benefit from this training if they have not received similar training before in intercultural communications and leadership,” says Wenhua Yang, Regional Manager at Learning Hawkes Bay.
To learn more about the ISANA NZ Student Ambassador Training, please contact: caroline.stevenson@isana.nz
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Around the world in five
United Kingdom
International education leaders in the UK have expressed concerns about new proposals to place a levy on the income that institutions earn from international student fees.
Global
A new global survey makes it clear that the more restrictive visa policies that have been introduced in leading destinations over the last 18 months continue to have a profound impact on international student mobility.
India
New research reveals that career advancement is the primary motivation for Indian students choosing to study abroad.
Europe
In the wake of Trump’s moves, the EU is hoping to offer a political safe haven for US scientists and academics.
Australia
Following the recent federal election in Australia, the makeup of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s new ministry is beginning to take shape.
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Ōtautahi Christchurch announced as host city for ICEF ANZA 2024
ICEF ANZA gives education providers from Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia the opportunity to meet with top international student recruitment agents from around the world who have a focus on these two study destinations.
Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao’s International Event Manager, Janine Huxford said that these conferences are such important events in our sector to bring everyone together and share industry insights, attend workshops and network with our international education peers from all over the world.
“We’re delighted that Ōtautahi Christchurch has been announced as the host city for the next ICEF ANZA conference in 2024. This is such a fantastic opportunity to shine a light on our new city and Aotearoa New Zealand as a study destination with world-class study options and unique travel and living abroad experiences", she added.
This in-person event will run from 22 – 24 April 2024 at the Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre. You can register your interest for the event here: ICEF ANZA - education event focused on Australia and New Zealand
We look forward to seeing you there!
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Successful New Zealand – India Education Connect Initiative held in India
New Zealand – India Education Connect took place from 8 to 14 February, involving a high-level sector delegation made up of Vice Chancellors, Deputy Vice Chancellors, International Directors, academic heads, and regional recruitment staff from all eight New Zealand universities.
Led by Lisa Futschek, ENZ’s General Manager International, the delegation visited Bengaluru, Chennai, New Delhi, and Ahmedabad. During the visit, ENZ signed two Education Cooperation Arrangements (ECAs) and one Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with the Higher Education Department, Government of Karnataka; Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA); and Gujarat International Finance Tech City (GIFT City) respectively. The ECAs and MoU provide a high-level umbrella arrangement for New Zealand universities to explore potential collaborations with each of the partners.
The New Zealand delegation with IIM Ahmedabad officials on 14 February.
New Zealand universities delegation with Hon Dr. M C Sudhakar, Minister, Karnataka Higher Education Minister and officials of Karnataka Higher Education Council, Bengaluru on 8 February
Ms Futschek acknowledged the special relationship India and New Zealand have, noting that this year marks the 72nd anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
“India consistently holds the position of the second-largest international student market for New Zealand. The dynamic growth in the education partnerships between our two countries is attributed to strategic investments by universities, marked by heightened levels of internationalisation and strengthened commitments through the establishment of in-country representatives/offices by all eight.
“There is certainly much to be said for having power in numbers. Engaging as a group is a very good way to leverage connections with key government and private stakeholders that would otherwise be difficult on an individual institution basis,” said Ms Futschek.
The delegation visit to the New Zealand Centre at IIT Delhi (IITD) was one of the highlights of the programme as it facilitated discussions on resource mobilisation for long-term sustainability of the centre. The New Zealand Centre at IITD was established in February 2020 as a focal point for joint academic activity between New Zealand's eight universities and IITD. The centre is a research-focused hub that fosters collaborative, sustainable, self-supporting research programmes in areas of shared national interest such as climate change, disaster management, urban planning, and the environment. The first big engagement at the New Zealand Centre included 10 joint research projects between NZ universities and IITD academics in 2022. Subsequently, a fellowship programme with a joint funding of NZ$ 100,000 was announced in 2023, and as part of this programme four New Zealand Fellows will be spending time working with IITD in 2023/24 and two IITD Fellows with New Zealand universities.
Ms Futschek noted that the New Zealand Centre at IITD is a great example of how the cohesion between our eight universities and IITD has led to a flagship project growing in scale and sustainably.
“This success has all happened while building our reputation for quality education and a commitment to bilateral relations between our two countries,” added Ms Futschek.
The networking reception organised by ENZ in Delhi during the ENZ Connect series, was attended by a group of 24 students from University of Auckland, University of Waikato, Massey University and Victoria University of Wellington, who were in India as part of the PMSA India immersion programme. They not only engaged with the ‘friends of NZ’ attendee, but also performed a Bollywood dance they had learnt during their six weeks in India, much to the delight of the audience.
Other activities conducted during the week included a media roundtable, led by H.E. Ambassador David Pine at the New Zealand High Commission in New Delhi. The roundtable reached over 984 million people with a PR value of over NZD 624,000, further increasing the brand awareness of New Zealand’s world class education across India.
Media Roundtable at New Zealand High Commission in New Dehi, led by NZ High Commissioner to India, HE Mr David Pine, Lisa Futschek, GM International, ENZ and Brett Berquist, Assistant Vice-Chancellor Engagement University of Canterbury.
New Zealand universities also had a strong presence at QS India summit 2024, which coincided with the New Zealand – India Education Connect, helping delegates reflect their interest and achieve visibility in the Indian B2B space. ENZ was invited by QS to be a strategic partner at this summit.
The delegation at the QS India Summit 2024.
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Have your say on immigration policy settings and international students under Year 9
Immigration policy settings
The Productivity Commission is inquiring into immigration policy settings, and submissions close on 24 December 2021.
The New Zealand Government has asked the Commission to undertake an inquiry into what immigration policy settings would best facilitate New Zealand’s long-term economic growth and promote the wellbeing of New Zealanders.
To have your say, go to productivity.govt.nz/inquiries/immigration-settings
Future of international students under year 9
The Ministry of Education has opened consultation on the future of the enrolment of international fee-paying students under Year 9, and submissions close on 11 March 2022.
The proposed policy change affects international students at the primary and intermediate levels and would require the amendment of the Education and Training Act 2020. To have your say, go to consultation.education.govt.nz/international-education/intlenrolunderyear9
Keep up with public consultations affecting the international education sector.
