Student Visa and Health Insurance in New Zealand

The requirements for New Zealand student visa are a valid passport which must be valid for 3 months starting from the first date of staying in the country, also a letter of acceptance from the respected university, which declares the duration of the course and the tuition fees if they are paid in domestic or foreign currency, in addition to English language certificate and everything related to COVID – 19 TESTS .

After paying the fees a student will be exposed to an interview at the embassy which is the last stage. In the embassy the councilor officers will address questions to conduct the application form assessment. For the first year of study, the visa cost stands at NZD 15000 dollars.

To have more information about each detail, any international student around the world can ask the New Zealand embassy located in their mother countries.

Health insurance   

The best International Health Insurance Companies are:

- PGH Global

- International Health Insurance

- ISO Insurance

- Insurance for Students

- Geo Blue

- Lewer Mark

If international students are covered with everyday medical expenses by their employers, it is good for them in saving extra costs, as students are supposed to pay160 dollars monthly for health insurance for a short - term insurance, or 235 dollars for a main medical insurance.

Non - EEA Students who study for less than six months on education programs are not included in free NHS treatment, and must look for private ones.

The Health Insurance is good to have for international students as the surgery costs about 30,000 dollars depending on factors might happen during the operation, and there are no free surgeries in New Zealand except for New Zealand residents.

The Health Care System in New Zealand is divided into: Public and Private sectors. The public sector is supported by general taxation and administered by public agencies in each New Zealand’s respected district known as "District Health Boards", which act as the key means of medical treatment in New Zealand.

International Students have to purchase a health insurance that provides them access to the public services of the healthcare system through a specific provider who enables them to contact any general practitioners.

General practitioners serve as primary care givers and are responsible for handling all non - emergency medical cases, who then make, if needed, referrals to specialists. The primary providers are the hosts in every university medical centre.

The Public Healthcare System has many drawbacks, like long awaits, in addition to non - emergency medical treatment, yet international students who like to overcome all these challenges are free to handle a number of private choices, and then are required to pay the whole cost for having any medical procedures.

If a student is eligible to be treated freely in New Zealand, They have to prove by showing their healthcare provider, for instance showing the e-visa letter; but when having no proof, they are supposed to pay.

The Ministry of Health website has lists of different kinds of proof students can show: Proof of eligibility checklist - Ministry of Health

A student can buy a comprehensive travel insurance covering the costs of the health system in New Zealand before leaving, or upon arriving in New Zealand, then students can decide which kind of health insurance cover they desire to purchase.

The websites below can be visited for more information:

 Compare health insurance providers | Life Direct

Compare health and travel insurance | Health and Travel Insurance Brokers

Compare student insurance | StudentHealth.nz

Private health insurance

The government doesn't support private healthcare of different services, so a lot of companies provide private health insurance covering expenses in a private style.

International students can decide which kind of cover they want, and the kinds of health services which are to be included in the health insurance coverage.

The private sector gives students the choice where and when to be treated during health concerns, and they have the choice to choose between a doctor, specialists or hospital.