New Zealand has introduced a new Pathway Student Visa, valid for up to five years, which the government says will make the country more competitive in attracting and retaining international students.
The new pathway route - unveiled by Tertiary Education Minister, Steven Joyce, and Immigration Minister, Michael Woodhouse will be implemented from December 7 for an initial pilot period of 18 months.
It will allow international students to undertake a pathway of up to three consecutive programmes of study with selected education providers. A pathway can be offered by one single provider or in partnership with other selected education providers.
Work rights will be offered from the beginning of the pathway visa, providing that the initial programme of study would quality for work rights under existing immigration rules.
"The industry and government believe that Pathway Student Visas will help retain more international students and make New Zealand more competitive with countries such as Australia which already offer pathway programmes," said Minister Joyce.
"The international education industry is already worth NZ$2.85 billion (US$1.86 billion) in foreign exchange each year, and Pathway Student Visas are an important initiative that will help us in our goal to double the value of international education in New Zealand by 2025."
Minister Woodhouse said the visa would lead to efficiency gains for Immigration New Zealand (INZ) as students will not need to apply for as many visas.
He added, "There are safeguards in place, including requirements for providers to have a 90 percent global student visa approval rate for entry into the pilot and entering into a formal agreement between themselves to manage pastoral care and education progress.
Qualifying institutions participating in the pilot scheme will be published on the INZ website.
"The 18-month period will enable INZ to evaluate outcomes of the pathway student visa pilot programme, such as transition rates from the first to the second programme of study and how well the arrangements between providers are working."
The Pathway Student Visa is the latest in a range of measures to streamline New Zealand's immigration system and attract more international students; an 'apply on behalf' online visa application system for agents was unveiled earlier in the year, and INZ has also been operating a pilot scheme to allow highly trusted providers to nominate students for fast-tracking.
The new pathway route - unveiled by Tertiary Education Minister, Steven Joyce, and Immigration Minister, Michael Woodhouse will be implemented from December 7 for an initial pilot period of 18 months.
It will allow international students to undertake a pathway of up to three consecutive programmes of study with selected education providers. A pathway can be offered by one single provider or in partnership with other selected education providers.
Work rights will be offered from the beginning of the pathway visa, providing that the initial programme of study would quality for work rights under existing immigration rules.
"The industry and government believe that Pathway Student Visas will help retain more international students and make New Zealand more competitive with countries such as Australia which already offer pathway programmes," said Minister Joyce.
"The international education industry is already worth NZ$2.85 billion (US$1.86 billion) in foreign exchange each year, and Pathway Student Visas are an important initiative that will help us in our goal to double the value of international education in New Zealand by 2025."
Minister Woodhouse said the visa would lead to efficiency gains for Immigration New Zealand (INZ) as students will not need to apply for as many visas.
He added, "There are safeguards in place, including requirements for providers to have a 90 percent global student visa approval rate for entry into the pilot and entering into a formal agreement between themselves to manage pastoral care and education progress.
Qualifying institutions participating in the pilot scheme will be published on the INZ website.
"The 18-month period will enable INZ to evaluate outcomes of the pathway student visa pilot programme, such as transition rates from the first to the second programme of study and how well the arrangements between providers are working."
The Pathway Student Visa is the latest in a range of measures to streamline New Zealand's immigration system and attract more international students; an 'apply on behalf' online visa application system for agents was unveiled earlier in the year, and INZ has also been operating a pilot scheme to allow highly trusted providers to nominate students for fast-tracking.
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