Proposing an Approved Student Exchange Scheme

At a glance

Any person or organisation may submit a formal proposal to the Ministry of Education (MoE) to establish an approved student exchange scheme. The MoE assesses the proposal, and its approval is subject to the consent of Immigration New Zealand. [E11.50]

How it works

The MoE determines whether a student exchange scheme should be established and, before approving a scheme, must obtain INZ's approval. Once approved, the MoE sets the conditions under which the scheme must operate. This process ensures that the scheme meets New Zealand's educational and immigration requirements. [E11.50]

Steps

1. Prepare a proposal — the proposing person or organisation develops a formal proposal for the scheme.
2. Submit the application to MoE — depending on the educational level, the proposal is sent to one of the following addresses [E11.50]:
   • Tertiary Level Exchange Approval
     International Division
     Ministry of Education
     PO Box 1666
     Wellington
   • Primary and Secondary School Level Exchange Approval
     National Operations
     Ministry of Education
     PO Box 1666
     Wellington
3. MoE assesses the proposal — the Ministry evaluates whether the proposal meets its criteria. [E11.50]
4. INZ approval — before the MoE can approve the scheme, it must obtain the approval of Immigration New Zealand. [E11.50]
5. Conditions set — if the scheme is approved, the MoE sets the conditions under which it must operate. [E11.50]

Interpretation & edge cases

• The MoE has sole responsibility for determining whether a student exchange scheme should be established; there is no application directly to INZ. [E11.50]
• Proposals are assessed against MoE criteria, which are not publicly detailed in immigration instructions. Applicants should contact the MoE for current requirements. [E11.50]
• INZ's approval is a prerequisite for the scheme's establishment, but the final decision to approve and the conditions of operation rest with the MoE. [E11.50]

Citations

• E11.50 — Making a proposal to establish an approved student exchange scheme