What are the HELP eligibility requirements for New Zealand citizens?
If you are an eligible New Zealand Special Category Visa (SCV) holder and meet the requisite criteria, you will be able to access a HELP loan to pay your tuition fees.
To be eligible, you must:
- Be a New Zealand citizen who holds a Special Category Visa subclass 444 (SCV)
- Have first entered Australia as a dependent minor aged under 18 years
- Have been residing in Australia for the previous 10 years (and you have been present in Australia for at least eight out of those 10 years) at the time of application for the loan
- Have been residing in Australia for the past 18 months out of the last 2 years at the time of application for the loan
- Meet the other eligibility criteria for a HELP loan under the Higher Education Support Act 2003 (HESA).
If you are applying for a HELP loan, you must provide proof of your eligibility when submitting an electronic Commonwealth Assistance Form (eCAF).
The documents you must submit with your eCAF are:
- A copy of your SCV, which you can obtain from the Department of Home Affairs website
- A copy of your current passport
- Your international movement records from the Department of Home Affairs, which you can obtain by lodging a Request for International Movement Records form.
Australian Permanent Residency for New Zealand citizens
From 29 June 2023, New Zealand citizens who formerly held a Special Category Visa, currently meet the long-term residency requirements, and have transitioned to a permanent resident visa on the pathway to citizenship will have continued access to HELP loans. Students must provide documentation confirming they meet the above criteria.
If you believe you meet the above criteria, please contact Curtin Connect.
You can find further information about HELP loan eligibility on the StudyAssist website.