Evidence Requirements

This page details what types of evidence we can accept and how to provide it to us.

Providing evidence

The fastest and easiest way to send your documents to us is online using www.connect.co.nz Please remember to include your name and client number with any documents that you send us.

All documents that you send to us must be a verified copy - please do not send originals.

What is a verified copy?

A verified copy is a copy of the original document which has been signed and dated by someone who can confirm that the copy is the same as the original, each page must be witnessed and signed by someone like a:

School Principal, teacher, careers advisor or guidance counsellor
Justice of the Peace (listed in the Yellow Pages)
Registrar or officer of a tertiary education provider
StudyLink or Work and Income staff member.

The person witnessing the copy must:

view the original document
print their name and title on each page of the copy
write on each page of the copy that it is a true copy
sign and date each page of the copy.

For your security, please do not send original documents to us, we do not take responsibility for documents lost or damaged in the post and cannot guarantee the secure return of these documents to you.

Tips when submitting online:

Double check you have all the documents we asked for.
You need to tell us your email address, name and Client Number.
Any evidence of your identity must be a verified copy to be accepted by StudyLink.
Scan or take a clear photo (JPG, GIF) of all the documents – make sure that any photos are good quality and easy to read.

Connect is not a Ministry of Social Development (MSD) system. MSD is not responsible for the storage, security, disclosure, or loss of information provided to the Connect system.

Important!

Always include your name and Client Number on anything you send us.
Any evidence of your identity being submitted online must be a verified copy to be accepted by StudyLink.
We need to receive the information or documents we require by your course end date or we will not be able to process your application.

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Acceptable evidence table

The following table lists the types of evidence that may be required for your application(s) and what we can accept for each:

Evidence type	Acceptable evidence
Bank account	Any of the following: - A pre-printed deposit slip which includes the full bank account number (bank, branch, account number and suffix) and the account holder's name. - A bank statement which includes the full bank account number (bank, branch, account number and suffix) and the account holder's name. - A letter from the bank which includes the full bank account number (bank, branch, account number and suffix) and the account holder's name. This must be signed and stamped by the bank. - An internet printout which includes the full bank account number (bank, branch, account number and suffix) and the account holder's name and the web address along the top or bottom of the page. This does not need to be signed and stamped by the bank unless all of the above is not provided on the printout. - ATM printout must show the bank logo and the full bank account number (bank, branch, account number and suffix) and the account holder's full name. - Hand-written bank account evidence as long as it includes the full bank account number (bank, branch, account number and suffix) and the account holder's name. This must be signed and stamped by the bank.
Dependent child(ren)	Birth Certificate (for each child) Note: Birth Certificates must include both the Mothers' and Fathers' name (if known).
Completing Year 13, NCEA Level 3 with 42 or more credits, Bursary	Any of the following: Completing Year 13: Statement from your school confirming that you have completed Year 13. NCEA: Proof that you have attained 42 NCEA credits at Level 3 or higher. Equivalent qualifications: An assessment from New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) as verification that you have gained a qualification which is equivalent to at least 42 NCEA credits at level 3 or higher (such as an overseas qualification or other qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework. Equivalent Academic Entry Requirements: Proof that you have been accepted into a full-time tertiary course that has Academic Entry Requirements equivalent to or greater than 42 credits at Level 3 or higher (evidence must also show the name of your course). Home schooling: If you were home schooled and you do not meet any of the above criteria, you must have obtained 42 credits at level 4 or above on the National Qualifications Framework. We need to see your National Qualifications Framework results. Overseas students: Equivalent overseas exam results may be accepted.
Passing over half of the last full-time course you received a Student Allowance for	Proof of your previous academic results. This could be: - Your examination results. - A completed Statement of Satisfactory Progress form - we send this form to you to have it completed by your education provider. To request another Statement of Satisfactory progress form, please contact us. Please have your client number handy.
Passing at least half of your overall EFTS for any study ending in 2009 or later for Student Loans	Proof of your previous academic results. This could be: Your examination results - The results will have to show the programme name, period of study and EFTS you have passed A completed Statement of Satisfactory progress form - we send this form to you to have it completed by your Education Provider/s If you require another Statement of Satisfactory progress form, you can print this from mail online or photocopy the one we have sent you. Please contact us if you no longer have a copy of this form. Please have your client number handy.
Academic records/grades for your last year of study	Your final results. Note: If you are providing your results from an internet source, we need to clearly see your name, the Education provider's name and your student ID number (this information must match what we have in our system). Your results do not need to be verified if there is a web address printed at the top or bottom of the page.
Inland Revenue number	Either of the following: - Your Inland Revenue card. - A notice or statement from Inland Revenue containing your Inland Revenue number and your name. -An Inland Revenue online statement printout with your Inland Revenue number, your name and the web address along the top or bottom of the page (these do not need to be verified by Inland Revenue).
Name change	Any of the following: - Marriage certificate - Adoption papers - Deed Poll papers
Parents income (current or last financial year	This is any income your parent(s) receive for the tax year that you are studying in, including any overseas income that they don't pay New Zealand tax on. Acceptable evidence includes: - Full set of financial statements for any business, partnership, company or trust entities your parents are a part of. Note: This cannot be an estimate. - A letter or contract of employment from their employer stating their annual income for the last or current tax year - Payslips for the last tax year. These can show either: the last four consecutive weeks of income from that previous tax year or the final payslip in that tax year with the Year To Date figure. - Payslips for current income. Preferably we need to sight four weeks of income (they don't need to be consecutive). If we have enough information to determine an accurate yearly income amount we can accept these and will not request any further payslips. - A declaration in writing from your parent(s) of their estimated weekly income from self employment, less business expenses. - Letters from any other organisation they receive(d) taxable income from. Special circumstances: If your parents annual income hasn't changed since the last complete tax year, or they are unable to provide evidence of their current income We need: - A Summary of Earnings from Inland Revenue, or - A Personal Tax Summary from Inland Revenue. If one parent receives nil (zero) taxable income No income evidence is required from that parent unless the parents are seperated. If both parents receive nil (zero) taxable income We need to see proof of their nil income. This could be: - Their latest Summary of Earnings from Inland Revenue - A Personal Tax Summary from Inland Revenue - A statement or letter from Inland Revenue verifying the nil income - A signed accountant's statement - A statement advising how they have been supporting themselves financially.
Permanent Residency or NZ Citizenship	Any of the following: - New Zealand Passport (we need to see the page that has your photo and personal details on it). - Passport with a residence class visa under the Immigration Act 2009 (including residence permits granted under the Immigration Act 1987). We need to see the page that has your photo and personal details on it AND the page(s) with your residence class visa. - Certificate of New Zealand Citizenship. - A letter from Immigration New Zealand. - An Indefinite Returning Residence Visa Note: A Work Permit will not be accepted as proof of Residency.
Refugee status in New Zealand	If you are a Mandate Refugee - in New Zealand under the Refugee Quota system: - Confirmation that you have been granted Refugee Status in New Zealand. If you are a Convention Refugee - applied for refugee status under other criteria: - Refugee application form is required.
Market rent Evidence is required if you are not living with your parent(s) but are living in the home of a parent or in a home maintained by your parent(s).	If you are paying market rent: - A statement from one of your parents declaring you are responsible for the payment of what is considered the full market rent for the portion of the house you occupy (your parents must not be contributing to these payments). If you are responsible for the payment of all the outgoings for the home: - Proof of the household outgoing payments with your name on the accounts or receipts. These outgoings might include mortgage, rates, house insurance (excluding contents), and essential repairs and maintenance. Expenses such as telephone, electricity or gas are not considered to be outgoings.
Witness Statement Note: Only required in some circumstances. Check for Assessment Outcome(s) under Application Details.	A statement is required to support your application. This can be from your doctor, counsellor, or someone else of standing in the community, (such as your school principal, Minister, Kaumatua) who is familiar with your circumstances and can confirm your family situation. This statement can be in the form of a letter, or the supporting statement included with your application.
Personal income	Any of the following: - A letter from your employer confirming the amount that has been declared. - A weekly payslip confirming the amount that has been declared. - A payslip from the internet that has been verified by your employer. - Overseas Pension/Benefit certificate(s). - A letter from an overseas Government showing Pension/Benefit amounts.
Identity and age	Any of the following: - Birth Certificate. - Passport (we need to see the page that has your photo and personal details on it). - Certificate of Citizenship. - Certificate of Registration. - Certificate of Naturalisation. - Certificate of Identity.
Partner/Spouse: - Address - Identity and age - Income - Residency	Address: Your Partner/Spouse's address details may be able to be provided in MyStudyLink - via the Personal Details service. If your Partner/Spouse is also a student, they will need to change their address information using their own MyStudyLink login or call us on 0800 88 99 00 to provide this information. Identity and age: Any of the following: - Birth Certificate. - Passport (we need to see the page that has their photo and personal details on it). - Certificate of New Zealand Citizenship. - Certificate of Registration. - Certificate of Naturalisation. - Certificate of Identity. Income: Any of the following: - A letter from your Partner/Spouse's employer confirming the amount that has been declared. - A weekly payslip for your Partner/Spouse confirming the amount that has been declared. - Overseas Pension/Benefit certificate(s) for your Partner/Spouse. - A letter from an overseas Government showing your Partner/Spouse's Pension/Benefit amounts. Residency: Any of the following: - New Zealand Passport (we need to see the page with their photo and personal details on it). - Passport with a residence class visa under the Immigration Act 2009 (including resident permits granted under the Immigration Act 1987). We need to see the page your photo and personal details on it AND the page(s) with your residence class visa. - Certificate of New Zealand Citizenship. - A letter from Immigration New Zealand. - An Indefinite Returning Residence Visa. Note: A Residency Visa or Work Permit will not be accepted as proof of Residency.

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