Kiribati student visa

The student visa form is for anyone studying in Kiribati for more than three months in total: tertiary fee-paying students, domestic primary or secondary students, dependent children of Kiribati citizens, residents, work visa or student visa holders, and exchange students. Short courses can be covered by the visitor visa, which lists short-term study as a purpose.

The Immigration Procedure manual lists who does not need a student visa: Kiribati citizens, resident visa holders and holders of a limited visa granted for study. Work visa holders may take training authorised by their employer, any temporary visa holder may take programmes of no more than three months per 12-month period, and visitor visa holders may attend primary or secondary school once for up to three months per calendar year.

Applicants need an offer of place, or a confirmation of enrolment when returning, in an approved programme with a Kiribati provider, and must have paid tuition fees or be exempted. The offer must show the programme name and minimum completion time, the provider's confirmation that the student has the language and academic ability to succeed, the tuition fee, full-time or part-time status and the dates of scheduled vacations in one academic year.

While in Kiribati the student must keep the means to support themselves (funds held in Kiribati, a financial undertaking by an eligible third party or an approved sponsorship), keep the means to leave (a paid ticket, funds for one, an undertaking or a sponsorship), attend at the place of study endorsed on the visa, make satisfactory progress under the provider's policies and pay the fees. A student who breaches these conditions may become liable for deportation.

All applicants provide the signed form, the fee, two colour photos, the passport and any required medical and police certificates. Tertiary fee-paying students add an offer of place from a Kiribati education provider, or confirmation of enrolment when continuing the same programme, records of progress and attendance if already studying in Kiribati, and evidence of pre-purchased outward travel, funds to buy it, a sponsorship form or a financial undertaking covering it.

Students accompanied by a parent or guardian prove the relationship, domestic students prove their domestic status, children of essential skills or religious worker visa holders show that the parent can support them, and exchange students provide evidence of acceptance into an approved exchange scheme.

Complete the student visa form, contact the visa officer for the fee and payment, and send the form with photocopies of the documents to the Immigration Division. By signing, students authorise Immigration to share information about their status with their education provider.

A programme following the Kiribati academic year is covered for the academic year that has been paid; a programme shorter than a year, or one that can start at any time, can be covered until no more than one month after the paid period. There is no limit on how many programmes a foreign student may take. Changing programme, provider or study location needs a further visa or a variation of conditions, granted only if the student still meets the requirements, has not breached conditions and remains a bona fide applicant. A student visa can allow work where practical experience is a course requirement.

A parent or legal guardian accompanying a student applies for a visitor visa in the guardian category and agrees to live with the student; both may face deportation if this condition is broken.

Dependent children of work visa holders can be granted student visas without evidence of enrolment and are treated as domestic students at primary and secondary schools for the period of the parent's work visa.