As of January 2004 Medical and Travel Insurance is compulsory for all international students planning to come to New Zealand for study. This is stated under section 7.4 of the Ministry of Education's Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students (2003). Section 7.4 reads:
When enrolling international students, signatories must ensure that international students have appropriate and current medical and travel insurance for the duration of their planned period of study.
Where the student and/or Agent has prearranged insurance for the student, verification of the policy will be undertaken prior to enrolment.
- As part of the verification process, SIT shall ensure that:
The insurance company is a reputable and established company with substantial experience in the Travel Insurance business, and has a credit rating no lower than A from Standard and Poors, or B+ from A M Best.
- The Insurer is able to provide emergency 24-hour, 7 day per week cover.
- Students have a "certificate of currency" and policy wording from the Insurance company stating that the student has purchased the cover for the duration of the planned period of study. The certificate and policy working must also detail medical sums insured, repatriation benefits etc.
Where a student is not in possession of an appropriate and current medical and travel insurance policy SIT undertakes to:
- Advise the student of the medical and travel insurance requirement.
- Provide the student with a default policy which meets the requirements of the Code of Practice Guidelines. The cost of the insurance will be met by the student.
- The minimum cost of travel and medical insurance in New Zealand is $417 per year. (Please note this figure could change) Insurance Calculator
Below are links to 2 insurers SIT would recommend to students who need to take out Medical and travel insurance.
Uni-Care Educational Travel Insurance Service Uni-Care Educational Travel Insurance Service
Southern Cross Healthcare
Eligibility for New Zealand Health and Disability Services
Most International students and visitors are not entitled to the publicly funded services when in New Zealand. Should you receive medical treatment during your stay, you may be liable to pay the full cost on receiving treatment. Details of these entitlements are available at the Ministry of Health website at http://www.moh.govt.nz in the Quick Guide Table.
The New Zealand Government requires that international student have appropriate and current medical and travel insurance from the time of leaving home to travel to New Zealand and your return.
SIT will require evidence of suitable medical and travel insurance before you are permitted to begin studies. Not all insurance companies are considered to provide safe or acceptable cover while in New Zealand. Should you consider using a company that has not been recommended by SIT please discuss this with SIT. This will prevent you having to purchase further insurance on your arrival in New Zealand.
Uni-care and some Southern Cross Policies are seen as acceptable by SIT.
SIT will not accept responsibility for the purchasing of insurance policies that are not seen as acceptable under the New Zealand Ministry of Educations Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students. SIT is a signatory of the Code of Practice.
Code of Practice requirements for Medical and Travel Insurance
The Code of Practice requirements for Medical and travel insurance are that the policy will:
- Commence the minute the student leaves home for the airport to New Zealand
- Apply while in transit
- Apply while the student is in New Zealand
- Cover the student for any holidays back to there home country during the period of study
- Sums insured are very high, covering from NZ$600,000 to unlimited cover. Sums insure of NZ$1,000,000 are recommended
- Medical benefits generally range from general practitioner visits and prescriptions through to major hospitalisation, optical and emergency dental cover
- It is preferable that no excess is applied to claims as this would deter students seeking treatment
- Emergency evacuation / repatriation cover the costs of getting students home. Covering-
- Evacuation with medical professionals
- Should the students family living overseas become
seriously ill or die the policy will fly the student home and then back to New Zealand to complete their studies
- If an international student become seriously ill or dies the policy should cover the parent's expenses on the first available flight. Day to day accommodation and reasonable living costs should be met as should the cost of the flight home
- Insurance should cover personal effects. Limits should be realistic to represent the actual value of particular items
- Cover liability to cover accidental damage to an educational provider or homestay
- Cover lost fees
- Be covered by a reputable and established company with a credit rating no lower than A from Standard and Poors, or B+ from A M Best. SIT only deals with companies that have the highest rating of AAA, the highest credit rating.
If you choose to use an insurer of an overseas company, SIT request that the student provide policy details in English in advance of leaving home. SIT will then establish if the policy is seen as acceptable.
Visas
For any course 13 weeks or longer, you will need a Student Visa. For any course 12 weeks or less you can study on a Visitors Visa.
Contact your nearest New Zealand Embassy or High Commission for information and application forms.
Alternatively click here to go directly to the Immigration Department website where you will find the necessary information.
Airport Pickup
A member of our staff will pick you up at Invercargill Airport on your arrival and take you to your accommodation. This service is free of charge.
Please advise us of your arrival details as soon as possible. You can e-mail the International Student Advisor at overseas@sit.ac.nz or fax +64 3 2181609