Family member of someone affected by the Christchurch mosques attack

Some students who came to support their family members following the Christchurch mosques attack on 15 March 2019, may not have been living in New Zealand for 3 years when they apply for Student Loan.

The requirement to have lived and been entitled to live indefinitely in New Zealand for 3 years has been waived for these students.

This waiver only applies to study starting on or after 1 January 2024.

To qualify for the 3-year residency waiver the student must:

• have been granted a Residence Class Visa between 15 March 2019 and 31 December 2024.

and

• have a family member (affected person) who they are related to by birth, marriage, or adoption

To qualify for the residency waiver the student applying, and their family member (affected person) must have a specific relationship.

The family member (affected person) must be alive at the time the student applies for the residency waiver. The family member (affected person) does not need to be living in New Zealand.

The family member (affected person) must also meet 1 of the following criteria:

• have a Christchurch Response Visa

or

• qualified for a Christchurch Response Visa, held a Resident Visa on 15 March 2019, and currently holds a Residence Class Visa or is a New Zealand citizen

or

• would have qualified for a Christchurch Response Visa but already had a Permanent Resident Visa or New Zealand citizenship on 15 March 2019

or

• was granted New Zealand citizenship after holding a Christchurch Response Visa