student visa and insurance information

Students who are coming to New Zealand to study full time for longer than three months must obtain a Student Visa.

A Student Visa is an endorsement you get in your passport to allow you to travel to New Zealand. It shows you have permission to travel to New Zealand and may be granted a Student Permit when you arrive. The visa may be single for one journey, or multiple for more than one journey.

A Student Permit is an endorsement in your passport that allows you to study in New Zealand. It will state the expiry date of your permit and conditions of your permit. The conditions may include:

- the course of study
- the education institute
- the location of the institute in New Zealand

How to apply for a student visa

Applicants will need to supply:

- completed, signed application form
- the application fee
- passport (which must be valid until at least 3 months past the date the student plans to leave New Zealand)
- a recent passport size photograph
- evidence of financial support while in New Zealand. This may be:
- a completed Financial Undertaking for a Student form; or evidence of $NZ10,000 per year (and the provision for a ticket) Short term students (under 36 weeks) may provide evidence of financial support which is the same as a visitor to New Zealand.  
- an offer of a place at Birkenhead College
- evidence you have paid the course fees
- evidence of a guarantee of accommodation

For people studying over six months (Non-European passport holders)

completed New Zealand Immigration Service medical and X-ray certificate, a police certificate from your country of citizenship. Study Permits may be renewed in New Zealand by students who wish to continue their studies for another year.Full details of visa and permit requirements, advice on rights to employment in New Zealand when studying, and reporting requirements are available through the New Zealand Immigration Service, and can be viewed on their website at www.immigration.govt.nz

Health and travel insurance
International Students  are not entitled to publicly funded health services while in New Zealand unless they are resident or citizen of Australia; or a national of the United Kingdom in New Zealand. Full details on entitlements to publicly funded health services are available through the Ministry of Health, and can be viewed on their website at www.moh.govt.nz If you do not belong to one of these special categories you must have appropriate and current medical and travel insurance for the duration of your stay in New Zealand. Birkenhead College recommends Uni-Care Educational Travel Insurance as a good value, wide cover policy for international students and can arrange this for you.  The annual cost is $468. If you wish to arrange your own insurance, the school must see and approve the policy cover BEFORE you start school.

Accident Insurance
The Accident Insurance Corporation provides accident insurance for all New Zealand citizens, residents, and temporary visitors to New Zealand, but you may still be liable for all other medical insurance and other costs. Further information can be viewed on the ACC website at www.acc.co.nz