Preparing to Go to New Zealand
Visa Information
In order to study in New Zealand you must obtain a student visa. The Online Visa Kit includes most of the materials you will need to apply. Please read the following information in its entirety very carefully before beginning the application process; any errors will delay the visa application process.
How to Apply for a New Zealand Student Visa
Step 1:
If you do not already have a passport, you should apply for one immediately. Refer to the U.S. Department of State website (http://travel.state.gov/passport) for instructions on how to apply for a passport.
Step 2: Gather all the materials you will need to apply. Please review the Online Visa Kit as part of these instructions. Here is a checklist of all the materials you will need to complete your visa application:
- Passport *
- Passport-Sized Photograph
- Blank Visa Application
- Sample Visa Application (found in the Online Visa Kit)
- Application Cover Letter (found in the Online Visa Kit)
- Arcadia Confirmation of Enrollment Letter (sent to you by mail along with your Arcadia University Acceptance Letter)
- Acceptance Letter from New Zealand University (this will be sent to you by email)
- Copy of Round-Trip Flight Itinerary
- Federal Express Traceable Return Envelope
*Your passport must be valid three months beyond the intended date of departure from New Zealand.
Step 3: Download an application from the following New Zealand immigration website Click on ‘Student Visa/Permit Application’. This must be fully completed, signed, and dated by you in ink. Refer to the sample application located in the Online Visa Kit as a guide to fill out your application. You should also review the Student Visa/Permit Guides located at the link above. If you are unsure of an answer, call your program manager and ask for advice. Do not guess on any question.
All non-US citizens will need to contact the New Zealand Embassy to find out whether you need to complete a different version of this form. Please contact your program manager for information on how to contact the New Zealand Embassy.
Step 4: Fill out the visa application cover letter located in the online visa kit.
Step 5: Make copies of your completed visa application, cover letter, Arcadia University confirmation of enrollment letter, New Zealand university acceptance letter, and flight itinerary for your records.
The Arcadia University Confirmation of Enrollment letter is necessary for your visa application. It indicates that Arcadia University is responsible for paying your tuition and accommodation fees to your New Zealand University. Because you have this letter, you do not have to fill out a Financial Undertaking for a Student form or provide personal finance information.
Step 6: Combine the above documents along with your passport, a recent passport-sized photograph with your name printed on the back, and a pre-paid Federal Express return envelope to post from the appropriate visa processing center. It is strongly recommended that you mail the completed application via Federal Express to the appropriate New Zealand visa processing center (addresses included below). While other courier services such as UPS and DHL can be used, Federal Express is the only service that delivers twice a day. Additionally, all other services will charge the New Zealand Embassy a fee to pick up your visa when it is ready for delivery. Using FedEx will expedite your visa application.
Your application can be traced by Federal Express in the event that your visa and passport are lost in the mail provided you remember to copy down the tracking numbers of both the application and return envelopes. (The New Zealand Embassy is NOT responsible for any documents or passports lost in transit).
Helpful hint: To further ensure a timely return on your students visa, you can also write your departure date on the outside of the FedEx envelope. Visas are processed in order of departure date, not in the order the applications are received. This will help the visa officers process your visa in a timely manner.
Most US Passport holders should mail their visa application to the Washington DC office.
New Zealand Embassy
37 Observatory Circle NW
Washington, D.C. 20008
US Passport holders residing in the following western states will need to send their visa applications to the New Zealand Consulate-General in Santa Monica, CA: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
New Zealand Consulate-General
2425 Olympic Blvd., Suite 600E
Santa Monica, CA 90404
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Important Visa Notes
Please read these important notes before completing your New Zealand student visa application.
- You must send your actual passport to the New Zealand Embassy so that your visa can be physically attached to the inside of the passport.
- There is no fee for United States passport holders. If you do not hold a US passport, please call the New Zealand Embassy for directions on how to obtain a visa. Please be advised that the New Zealand Government reserves the right to alter this fee at any time.
- It is advisable that you allow at least 2-3 weeks for visa processing.
- Do not over-pack your application with multiple envelopes, extra documents, etc. This slows the processing time.
- Do not send an incomplete application. The New Zealand Embassy staff will not match up documents that arrive separately.
- Students studying in New Zealand for more than six months may also need to provide a completed Temporary Entry X-ray Certificate (1096) to show you have been screened for tuberculosis (TB).
- Students studying for only one semester do not need to provide any medical documentation unless they have spent a combined total of three months or more in the five years prior to applying, in a country identified as a high risk TB country. Those students will need to provide a completed Temporary Entry X-ray Certificate (1096) to show that they have been screened for tuberculosis (TB). Countries that the New Zealand Immigration Services have identified as low risk can be found at http://glossary.immigration.govt.nz/LowTBRiskCountry.htm
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If you have any questions regarding the visa process, email your program manager or call 1-866-927-2234.
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