Students coming to New Zealand for their studies are advised to apply for the visa at least three months ahead of time in order to avoid the visa application peak.
According to a press release issued by New Zealand Immigration, the official government website, the processing of student visas is prioritized at this period of the year, but the excessive number of applications can hold the process back, VisaGuide.World reports.
The processing of student visas is a priority for us, particularly as we get closer to the end-of-the-year peak. We are getting ready for the summer processing peak, which begins in October each year. Applications 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 in early 2025 applies early.
Between October and February, candidates for Student Visa file most of their applications, leading to a busy period.
Visa Processing for University Applicants Can Take Up to 5 Weeks
The authorities have revealed the processing time for all types of education providers. According to this information, visa applicants for universities can wait up to five weeks to have their request processed.
For education providers such as Te Pukenga, the processing time is seven weeks, while for PTEs, applicants may wait up to six weeks to receive a decision on their visa application. Schools have the shortest waiting time – four weeks.
However, a disclaimer on the website states that most visas are processed within these times, but some visas could take even longer. Thus, applying ahead of time is highly recommended.
We recommend that you apply at least three months before you intend to travel to New Zealand. This is due to it being difficult to predict the volume of applications we will receive from students intending to study in 2025.
Parent Resident Visa Processing Time Is Currently the Longest, Set at 9 Months
Visa processing time varies depending on the type of visa, with resident visas taking the longest to be approved. Here are the waiting times for each resident visa:
- Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa can take up to five months.
- A Straight to Residence Visa can be processed within four months.
- Work to Residence Visa can take up to five months.
- Permanent Resident Visa can be processed in one week.
For a Visitor Visa, the waiting period can be between 72 hours; for NZ Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) and Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa (12 weeks).