The Government has expanded eligibility for work visas for partners of some students studying towards a Green List occupation.
Partners of students studying level 7 or 8 qualifications specified on the Green List, can now apply for a work visa with open conditions.
We have updated the Green List with the main Bachelor degrees and Bachelor Honours qualifications that lead to registration for certain occupations. These are occupations that have registration as a requirement instead of New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) qualifications.
This means people with student visas studying for these registration qualifications can now support their partner’s application for a Partner of a Student Work Visa.
Check the Green List appendix in the amendment circular for the eligible qualifications.
For partners who are now eligible, their dependent school-aged children can be treated as domestic students. The children can apply for a Dependent Child Student Visa so they will not have to pay tuition fees to go to school. This currently applies to anyone with a Partner of a Student Work Visa.
Accompanying dependants can now apply for a Partner of Student Work Visa with open work rights if their partner is studying in “a specified level 7 or 8 bachelor’s or bachelor’s (honours) degree that will lead directly to professional registration required for a Green List role.”
Green List roles are occupations that have been classified as being in high demand by the New Zealand government. They include positions in health care, STEM fields, and others.
The new policy offers a significant benefit to accompanying children of Green List-enrolled students as well in that: “For partners who are now eligible, their dependent school-aged children can be treated as domestic students. The children can apply for a Dependent Child Student Visa so they will not have to pay tuition fees to go to school. This currently applies to anyone with a Partner of a Student Work Visa.”
The news follows the recent announcement of New Zealand’s full-year enrolment figures for 2023. The country’s schools, universities, language institutes, and vocational institutions together hosted 69,135 international students last year, a 67% increase in total foreign enrolment over 2022.
This represents 60% of the international student base in 2019, when over 115,000 international students were enrolled.
Quality of education at Aotearoa New Zealand’s educational institutions is reflected in the latest survey by the Brazilian Educational and Language Travel Association (Belta), presented in May. The survey was conducted between March and April 2024 with students and international education agents from all regions of Brazil.
ENZ’s Bruna de Natale (center) with Belta leadership shows the latest issue of Belta’s annual magazine which features Aotearoa New Zealand. Photo: Belta.
According to the latest survey by Belta (Brazilian Educational & Language Travel Association), New Zealand ranks seventh on the list of preferred educational destinations for Brazilian students. The survey interviews 836 students and 569 international education agents along with companies who work in the international education sector in Brazil.
Respondents who chose New Zealand said their choice was based on New Zealand’s excellent positions in various international rankings for quality of life, education, civil rights protection, government transparency, and women’s safety/rights. Other factors are being able to study and work during the study programme, and New Zealand’s natural beauty and cultural attractions.
International education professionals attended the Belta survey launch event. Photo credit: Belta
According to the survey, the main objective of students participating in a study abroad program is to fulfil the dream of experiencing different countries and cultures (39.6%); the second is the interest in language studies (27.2%).
The majority (77%) of those who said they went abroad to learn a new language chose English when travelling. The quality of education is another reason cited by respondents who chose New Zealand. All universities in New Zealand are ranked among the top 2% in the world by major international indices, such as QS World Universities and THE – Times Higher Education.
Bruna de Natale, Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) Market Development Manager in Brazil, said, “The Belta survey is the most important source of consistently updated international education data in Brazil. It is very encouraging that Brazilians continue to perceive New Zealand as a safe, trusted and quality education to develop their academic and professional goals.,”.
The data from the Belta Survey 2024 reinforces the international Better Life Index, which measures variables that constitute the quality of life in countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In this survey, New Zealand is ranked as one of the best countries in the world to live in.
In 2023, the language training industry in Canada carried on recovering from the pandemic. According to a recent annual report from Languages Canada, which was created by industry research experts BONARD, enrollment in Canadian language courses, including English and French, was 112,564 last year, with 1,234,447 student weeks of instruction given.
That volume for 2023 is equivalent to 82% of pre-COVID student weeks and 75% of pre-pandemic student populations. Approximately 92% of those student weeks were devoted to learning the English language, with the remaining 4% being devoted to learning French. Of that total, just over 80% (83%) were provided by private providers, with state institutions running language programmes for the remaining 17%.
Students enrolled in English- and French-language training programmes in Canada, 2019–2023 (left); Student weeks delivered by English and French language training providers in Canada, 2019–2023 (right). Source: BONARD/Languages Canada
In 2023, in-person education accounted for about two thirds (63%) of all student weeks, with 30% of instruction being provided online (for both domestic and international students). The last six percentile of student weeks were delivered using a mixed methodology.
The bulk of students were enrolled in academic preparatory courses, pathway programmes, or general language study, as can be seen in the overview below.
Enrolments in language studies in Canada, by course type, for 2023. Source: BONARD/Languages Canada
Where do students come from?
In Canada, more than three out of every four language learners (76%) are from Asia or Latin America. Highlighting the top 10 sending markets for 2023 is the infographic that follows. In 2023, all of those top sending nations saw growth over the previous year, with the exception of Colombia, which saw a -6% fall.
Top ten sending markets for Canadian language-learning programmes, 2023. Source: BONARD/Languages Canada
Visa status and visa challenges
Numerous students who had a guest visa (designated as “eTA” or electronic travel authorization in the legend below) attended a Canadian language programme, according to the accompanying chart. However, a sizable portion also entered Canada via a study permit or temporary residency visa.
Student numbers by visa type, 2023. Source: BONARD/Languages Canada
The report adds that, “In 2023, the fastest-growing visa category was the Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). The number of students entering Canada through the TRV route increased from 8,559 in 2022 to 16,588 in 2023, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. This also caused a drop in the average course duration seen predominantly in the private sector. On the other hand, the number of students on study permits decreased from 17,191 in 2022 to 15,990 in 2023 due to issues with visa processing and refusals.”
As we have seen in other destinations this year, however, Canadian language schools report that visa issues prevented thousands more students from pursuing their studies in 2023. The report estimates that at least 2,671 students were not able to travel to Canada as planned due to processing delays for temporary resident visas, and that a further 4,479 students were not able to travel due to study permit delays.
This means that visa processing issues disrupted the travel plans for a minimum of 7,150 language students in 2023 – a number equivalent to 7% of the total enrolment for the year. Commenting in a foreword to the report, Languages Canada Executive Director Gonzalo Peralta said, “In 2019, Canada’s language programmes generated CDN$6.7 billion and 75,000 jobs, mostly derived from export revenues. In 2023, that figure decreased to CDN$5.5 billion and 62,000 jobs. This drop was not due to lack of opportunity, promotional efforts, or support from some areas of government, but was primarily due to immigration policy.”
We use cookies to improve your browsing experience on our website, to show you personalized content. By browsing our website, you consent to our use of cookies.I understand
