More than 4/5 Vietnamese people get New Zealand student visa, higher than world average

INZ statistics show that the student visa approval rate of Vietnamese people is higher than the world average.

Do not use AI in student visa applications

At the seminar on student visas within the framework of the New Zealand Education Fair held last weekend, Mr. Mark Andrew, representative of Immigration New Zealand (INZ), said that from October 2023 to the same period in 2024, the acceptance rate of student visas for international students globally was 75%, while the rate for Vietnamese students was higher, at 84%. However, he still advised Vietnamese candidates to apply for student visas online at least 3 months before enrolling because the processing time may be longer.

Specifically, the processing time for student visa applications lasts 4.8 weeks for high school and up to 5.6 weeks for university. During peak periods from October to February of the following year or from June to August, the processing time is even longer.

Mr. Andrew also said that the total student visa application fee increased from October 1, including the student visa fee and the international tourism and conservation fee (IVL). In which, the student visa fee increased 1.9 times, from 395 NZD to 750 NZD (11.3 million VND). The IVL fee increased 2.9 times, from 35 NZD to 100 NZD (1.5 million VND). In addition, the post-study work visa (PSW) fee increased 2.4 times, from 700 NZD to 1,670 NZD (25.2 million VND).

Regarding visa applications, Mr. Andrew emphasized the role of the cover letter. This is a factor that helps the candidate's application to be processed faster and shows that you really want to study in New Zealand. "In the cover letter, you need to clearly state the reason for wanting to study in New Zealand and your future plans. We also value honesty, so you cannot use AI to write it," said Mr. Andrew.

Applicants for a student visa also need to prove that they have enough money to cover the first year's tuition fees, along with the amount of 17,000 NZD (260 million VND). To increase credibility, Mr. Andrew suggests that applicants submit the most recent 3-month statements, evidence of being granted a scholarship... Applicants can even provide immigration officers with their family's financial plan for studying abroad.

Parents and students listen to advice from New Zealand school representatives

With a student visa, high school and university students can work up to 20 hours a week during school and full-time during vacations, but students need permission from their parents and school. Meanwhile, graduate students are not limited in the amount of time they can work during their studies.

Students who wish to work in New Zealand after graduation can apply for a PSW visa. This visa allows international students to stay in New Zealand for at least 30 weeks. The visa is valid for 3 years for candidates studying a master's or doctoral program. For candidates studying a bachelor's or postgraduate program, the visa is valid for the same duration as the program.

Government scholarships simplified

At the event, a representative of the New Zealand Education Agency (ENZ) said that the New Zealand Government Scholarship Program (NZSS) for secondary schools will continue to be implemented in 2025, and applications are expected to be accepted from January 9 to March 16. The application criteria remain unchanged from last year. Applicants only need to achieve an average score of 8 or higher, have an English certificate equivalent to IELTS 5.0, and a 90-second application video.

Although the criteria have not changed, ENZ representatives said that English requirements will be more flexible. “Candidates who do not have a certificate are allowed to request a New Zealand school to arrange an interview or an equivalent test to confirm their English proficiency. In addition, in the application video, candidates need to present in English to demonstrate their language ability,” said ENZ representatives.

In addition, the online application form has also been simplified compared to last year. Instead of declaring all the information required by the school, applicants only need to provide the following information: contact information of parents and students with passport; transcripts of the 2023-2024 school year and of semester 1 of the 2024-2025 school year; English certificate; application video; choice of school and accommodation in New Zealand; approval letter from parents. After being granted a scholarship, applicants continue to update information according to the school's announcement.

This year's New Zealand Education Fair attracted hundreds of parents and learners.

As for the full postgraduate scholarship from the New Zealand government (Manaaki), Ms. Hoa Pham, development program manager of the New Zealand Embassy, ​​said that in addition to fields such as disaster management, renewable energy, and state administration, candidates can choose the latest priority field, which is semiconductor technology. According to Ms. Hoa Pham, the Manaaki scholarship also prioritizes candidates with continuous learning progress since the highest degree; candidates in difficult areas according to the program's list.

Ms. Hoa Pham said that New Zealand highly values ​​honesty. “For example, candidates do not need to submit a labor contract to prove the number of years of experience in the application. This is a humane policy, but if the admissions board discovers that the information is inaccurate, the candidate will be the one who suffers,” Ms. Hoa Pham shared.

Ms. Hoa Pham added that this year, the Manaaki scholarship program grants 25 scholarships to Vietnamese candidates. Candidates can apply from February 2025 and receive results in September after going through a screening process, completing a thinking test and an online interview.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hon-4-5-nguoi-viet-dau-visa-du-hoc-new-zealand-cao-hon-trung-binh-the-gioi-185241020173314194.htm