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  • INZ student visa update: August 2024

    Post Study Work Visa – cross crediting study from post graduate diploma to masters 

    Provided eligibility is met, most level 8 post graduate diplomas will be eligible for a one year post study work visa (PSWV) with masters graduates eligible for a three year post study work visa. 

    In order to be eligible for a PSWV, post graduate diploma (level 8) and masters qualifications (level 9) require a minimum of 30 weeks full time study in the specific programme/qualification being presented for a PSWV. 

    Students must have held a student visa for that programme/qualification and apply for their PSWV within three months of the expiry date of the student visa for qualification they are presenting to INZ.

    Recently some students completed post graduate diplomas (PG dip) and cross credited directly into a taught masters. In these cases, the students did not undertake full time study in the masters for a minimum of 30 weeks full time in New Zealand, due to the cross credited PG Dip.

    This resulted in issues for the graduates when they applied for their PSWV. INZ is working directly with affected students and exploring options for them. However, it is important for agents and education providers to understand the PSWV rules.

    Eligibility for Post Study Work Visas following study at level 8 and 9 are: 

    • a minimum of 30 weeks full time study in that specific qualification, 
    • hold/held a student visa for that specific qualification, and
    • apply for their post study work visa within three months of the student visa expiry for that specific qualification.

    Although the initial coursework of a masters might be similar to, or the same as a post graduate diploma, the two programmes have different entry criteria and are recognised as separate qualifications. For students who want to cross credit their PG Dip to a masters and undertake some extra study in order to gain a three year PSWV for that masters, the student would need to have studied the masters itself full time for at least 30 weeks. 

    Note: Study weeks include exam preparation time, but exclude holiday periods and time spent repeating failed components.

    We will continue to engage with the education sector to ensure they are aware of the requirements for a post study work visa. If you have questions about this article and are an agent or student, please talk to your education provider in the first instance.

    Student visa peak – apply three months before intended travel

    The processing of international student visas is a key focus for INZ, particularly as we get closer to the end of the year.

    We are now coming into the period in which INZ receives the highest volumes of applications.

    As soon as they have all the documents they need to apply for their visa, students should submit their application three months before their intended travel date to give them the best chance of having their application decided in time. They can apply earlier than three months if they wish, as long as they have all the required information and documents.

    Our visa processing times are published on the INZ website and updated monthly: Visa processing times for international students

    New fees and levies for visas come into effect from 1 October 2024

    Earlier this month, the Government announced that the cost of applying for all visas will increase on 1 October 2024. 

    Until now, the immigration system has been heavily subsidised by taxpayers.

    The new fees have been set at a rate to recover the costs of assessing and processing each visa type and more accurately reflect the total service surrounding the immigration system.

    Student visa fees increase from $375 to $750. The post study work visa fee increases from $700 to $1670.

    Student visa fees differ depending on where the student applies from so be sure to check the new fees and levies here.

    It is also important to note that New Zealand does have agreements with some countries where student visa fees are waived, and these remain. You can find information here.

    INZ is receiving questions from the education sector on whether students can apply for visas now at the lower fee, and upload documents later once they are ready. 

    Applications received before 1 October 2024 will be charged the current fee, however if the applications are not ready for assessment because they are missing documents then this will result in delays or disappointment for the student. 

    INZ will not be contacting applicants if documents are missing from the application and, if the missing information is key to the assessment, then the applications may be declined.

    Please make sure you are advising students to submit their visa application when it is complete and ready for assessment. For more information, please see the student visa information sheets here - Student visa information | Immigration New Zealand

     

     

  • February update from Immigration New Zealand

    Update on Student visa processing*  

    Since New Zealand’s international borders reopened in August 2022, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has received 25,471 student visa applications from international students outside of New Zealand. We have decided 17,601 of these applications, with more than half of our decisions made in under four weeks. 

    *Figures current as at 10pm on 30 January 2023.  

    We have updated our reporting 

    INZ is improving the way we publicly report on processing times for different visa categories. We now publish the processing times for applications decided in the previous month, instead of the previous three months.  

    The website illustrates the median number of days, along with the actual number of days it takes to process 90% of applications. These new metrics give a good indication of what customers can expect, regardless of the complexity of their application.  

    Check out our updated processing times here: How long it takes to process a visa application | Immigration New Zealand 

    Apply for visas at least 8 weeks ahead of intended travel date 

    New Zealand is in the middle of our student processing peak period. You can apply up to three or four months ahead of intended travel if you wish, however please ensure that applications are applied for at a minimum of 8 weeks ahead of intended travel date.  

    INZ generally processes applications in date order and the course start date is also taken into consideration.  

    We appreciate that students are keen to have their travel bookings confirmed given the cost of flights and flight route limitations, however INZ recommends that students do not confirm travel bookings until a visa has been granted. If students still wish to book travel ahead of a visa decision, we recommend that they explore flexi travel dates or refundable tickets.  

    Student visa checklists 

    The student visa checklist is key to submitting a complete student visa application that has the information we need to make a decision. We update the visa checklists regularly, so be sure to use the web link rather than download the checklist. The first time international students visa checklist was last updated in December 2022. 

  • Thirty groups awarded PM's Scholarships for Asia and Latin America

    The successful groups were announced by Education Minister Chris Hipkins today, and mark the outcome of the first round of the scholarships since they were paused due to COVID-19.

    Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) congratulates all the successful recipients, who include a marae, non-profit organisation TupuToa, six of New Zealand's eight universities, Te Pūkenga, and a number of private training establishments.

    A full list of recipients is available here.

    Chris Hipkins also announced that the scholarships will open for individual applications this month. Applications will be open from 18 July - 31 August 2022. More information, including how to apply, is available here.

    About the scholarships

    The Prime Minister's Scholarships for Asia and Latin America are funded by the New Zealand Government and administered by Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao.

    Since 2013, the scholarships have supported more than 2,400 New Zealanders on learning experiences in Asia and Latin America.

     

  • Strengthening education links in US

    The trip included speaking at the world’s largest annual international education conference (NAFSA), as well as interviews with international education media including Chronicle of Higher Education, PIE News, and Times Higher Education. Chris Hipkins also met with US government officials and education professionals from various organisations and institutions.    

    The trip began with an open forum discussion with New Zealand education representatives. Chris Hipkins responded to questions relating to the challenges New Zealand faces as it reopens and rebuilds its international education sector. He then met with Jared Polis, Governor of Colorado. Their discussion touched on commonalities between New Zealand and the State of Colorado and compared approaches to education reform and improving education outcomes for students, particularly those from marginalised backgrounds. They also discussed the importance of research collaboration, particularly as it relates to STEM subjects and the global climate crisis. The meeting ended with agreement that deeper relationships between institutions in Colorado and New Zealand would be beneficial.  

    Speaking at the opening plenary at NAFSA, Chris Hipkins emphasised that New Zealand is once again ready to welcome international students. NAFSA leadership invited the Minister to a private reception after the plenary where they shared their enthusiasm for New Zealand reconnecting with the world. During his day at the Denver Convention Center, the Minister also took a tour of the conference exhibit hall, chatting with both New Zealand and international educators.   

    “It was wonderful for the Minister to get this chance to engage with our education providers and get a broader look at the international education field,” says Lisa Futschek, ENZ’s General Manager International. “It was great for him to see how well-regarded New Zealand’s education system is in the global international education ecosystem.”  

    Guests enjoying the New Zealand reception at NAFSA

    Chris Hipkins then met with Deputy Assistant Secretaries of the US State Department’s Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. He reaffirmed New Zealand’s strong partnership with the US and the international education sector’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through our continued partnership with ECA around the Fulbright and Gilman scholarships, which enable students of limited financial means to study abroad.  

    “The Minister received a very warm welcome from our colleagues at the State Department who were excited to hear our borders are opening,” says Education Counsellor to the US and ENZ’s Regional Director to the Americas, Middle East and Europe, Amy Rutherford. “It’s great to have such a strong relationship with a government’s education agency committed to the same values that we are.”  

    A variety of organisations involved with the delivery of international education in the US also met with Chris Hipkins for a roundtable discussion. This covered the unique opportunities for New Zealand in the international education sector and what sets us apart from other countries and their education systems.   

    (l to r) Education Minister Chris Hipkins, Kahle Charles, Assistant Superintendent of Assessment, Curriculum and Instruction, St Vrain Valley School District and Scott Cardwell, Co-founder and CEO, ImmerseMe. Mr Charles is signing the agreement between St Vrain and ImmerseMe.

    On the final day of his visit, Chris Hipkins headed to Xero’s Denver headquarters to participate in a roundtable discussion with several principals and school superintendents in surrounding Denver school districts, as well as the New Zealand edtech company ImmerseMe and representatives from JillE Literacy. The conversation touched on the changing face of early childhood and school education due to COVID. Panellists were interested in the approaches and policies being implemented in New Zealand and all were agreed that we would benefit from working together and learning from each other to improve education outcomes. At the end of the roundtable, the Minister witnessed the signing of a seven-year partnership agreement between ImmerseMe and St. Vrain Valley School District, and the gifting of GlobalEd’s JillE Literacy books to roundtable participants.  

    The Minister’s involvement, along with the launch of the I AM NEW global marketing campaign, certainly helped lift New Zealand’s profile at NAFSA. There was a lot of interest inNew Zealand’s announcement of reconnecting with the world, and the eight universities and Te Pūkenga were kept busy meeting with partners each day of the conference.   

    The trip strengthened our connections with the international education community, including with US study abroad professionals recruiting students to study in New Zealand. As study abroad applications begin to open for January 2023 study, thanks to the Minister’s visit to NAFSA, the international education community will be well aware that New Zealand is ready to host students and can provide a unique and high-quality education experience.   

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