Compassionate travel
If a close family member at home has died or is likely to die very soon, your insurance or your scholarship may fund your return home.
In the event of the death or imminent death of a family member where you need to return home, your International Student Officer (ISO) can help you to organise this as quickly as possible. You may be entitled to medical and travel insurance to return home, however if this is not covered, you may be entitled to one compassionate travel entitlement.
For this entitlement, family members are defined as:
- your parents
- your spouse or partner
- your children
- your siblings (brothers and sisters) and grandparents, and
- if relevant, the family member who has been your primary caregiver.
Contact your ISO for urgent assistance and advice. If there is an emergency outside of office hours, call APX directly at 0800 TRAVEL (872 835) or 09 302 9720 (after hours) and request compassionate travel.
You’ll need to provide official documentation (either a medical certificate or death certificate) before your flights are booked or once you return to New Zealand. If you can’t provide this documentation, you may have to pay back your airfares.
