Foreign government-supported students

At a glance

A foreign government-supported student receives funding from their home country government to study in New Zealand. They must meet the general student visa requirements under U3.1 and provide a letter from the foreign government that sets out the sponsorship terms, undertakes to pay tuition fees directly to the education provider and pay the student's living expenses, and confirms the student's good character. [U12] They are exempt from having to provide evidence of paying their tuition fees. [U12]

In addition, the country providing the support must have an education agreement with New Zealand. [U12.1]

Definition

A foreign government-supported student is defined as a student who receives funding from their home country government to support their study in New Zealand. [U12] The instruction covers:

1. The student must meet the general student requirements under U3.1. [U12]
2. The student is exempt from providing evidence of paying tuition fees. [U12]
3. The student must provide a letter from the foreign government that:
   • sets out the terms of the student's sponsorship and undertakes to pay the tuition fees directly to the education provider and pay the student's living expenses; and
   • states that the student is of good character. [U12]
4. The country providing the undertaking must have an education agreement with New Zealand (effective 26 November 2012). [U12.1]

The instruction is effective from 2 December 2013. [U12]

Application in decisions

When a student visa application is lodged on the basis of foreign government support, immigration officers must:

• be satisfied that the applicant meets the general student requirements under U3.1 (such as an offer of place, sufficient funds for maintenance, health and character requirements, and outward travel arrangements); [U12]
• sight the original letter from the foreign government that contains both the sponsorship undertaking and the good character statement; [U12]
• waive the requirement to provide evidence of tuition fee payment, as the government undertakes to pay fees directly to the provider; [U12]
• be satisfied that the country providing the support has an education agreement with New Zealand. [U12.1]

The foreign government letter acts as a combined financial guarantee and character reference, and it is central to the assessment of whether the applicant qualifies as a foreign government-supported student rather than a standard fee-paying foreign student. [U12]

Interpretation & edge cases

• The term "foreign government" is not defined in U12; any national government whose letter satisfies the requirements will qualify. [U12]
• The student must still satisfy all other temporary entry and student visa requirements, including bona fides, health, and character under E5, A4, and A5. The good character statement in the government letter supports but does not replace the character checks required by immigration instructions. [U12]
• The exemption from providing evidence of paying tuition fees does not remove the obligation to ensure that fees are paid; it merely substitutes the government undertaking as acceptable evidence. If the government fails to pay, the education provider may seek payment from the student, but visa conditions are not affected provided the undertaking was genuine at the time of application. [U12]
• The requirement for a letter stating the student is of good character is unique to this category; other student categories do not require a character statement from a sponsor. [U12]
• The instruction was effective from 2 December 2013, and there have been no subsequent amendments noted in the current manual. [U12]
• The requirement that the country providing support have an education agreement with New Zealand took effect from 26 November 2012. Prior to that date, applicants from countries without such an agreement could not be recognised under this category. [U12.1]

Citations

• U12 — Foreign government-supported students
• U12.1 — Country providing support must have an education agreement with New Zealand