New Zealand immigration relaxes rules for young students

New Zealand, 29th July: New Zealand immigration rules are being changed in order to allow more children into the country to pursue studies here.

The new rules for New Zealand immigration have been introduced with effect from 27th July 2010 onwards.

Hence, as per the changed New Zealand immigration policy, it will become possible for children aged five years to visit and study in New Zealand for a maximum period of up to three months every year. This would be possible through New Zealand visitor permit by New Zealand immigration.

In addition, the new rules of New Zealand immigration will also enable young students having temporary New Zealand permits to pursue multiple courses in place of a single study course.

Students in Years 1-13 will be permitted to study for three months period in a single calendar year( in non-consecutive school terms).

Moreover, such students having visitor permits will be allowed to come to New Zealand without being accompanied by their legal guardians or parents, revealed Nigel Bickle, head of New Zealand immigration department.

However, 5-year-old children are not allowed to be enrolled without their parents under the rules of Ministry of Education, although New Zealand immigration policies permit such children to pursue studies here.

Rules also ask the schools to seek a letter of consent from either the parents or the legal guardian of the visitor in which permission is given for the visit(to the young student/child) and to the arrangements if he is not accompanied by a legal guardian or a parent.

Even those aged below 10 years are not allowed to get enrolled in schools even though as a group of students.

Rules also require students aged below 13 years to stay with their parent or a legal guardian while pursuing studies in New Zealand, Joss Debreceny, an official spokesperson of Ministry of Education stated.

However, group of students having permission of either their parents or guardian coming to New Zealand in a properly organized and short visit is allowed under the new rules.

The new rules are being welcomed as a positive step likely to benefit the education industry of the country. This will result in increasing the number of young students aged below 13 years and hailing from South Korea to study in New Zealand. South Korea happens to be the largest supplier of students aged below 14 years to New Zealand.