New Zealand Fee Paying Student Visa

Students offered a place by an approved education provider who can meet their tuition, living-cost and other visa requirements.

• Course offer

  Have an offer of place from an approved education provider, or confirmation of enrolment if returning to study. An applicant outside New Zealand may apply with a conditional offer but must provide an unconditional offer before the visa can be approved.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 5 minutes agoSource

• Provider assessment

  The offer must include the provider’s signed declaration that the course is appropriate to your expectations and that you have the English language ability and academic capability to pass it. The provider must be a signatory to the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021. The visa page does not specify an English test score; test results are not mandatory.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 5 minutes agoSource

• Tuition funding

  Unless exempt, have enough money to pay tuition fees and show that you have paid for one course or one year of study, whichever is shorter. If applying outside New Zealand, you may wait until approval in principle to pay, but must provide evidence of payment before the visa is issued.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 5 minutes agoSource

• Living costs for non-compulsory study

  For tertiary, English language or other non-compulsory study, if paying for yourself, have NZD $20,000 for each year when studying for one year or more, or NZD $1,667 for each month when studying for less than one year. An acceptable sponsor or other evidence of funded living costs may be used instead.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 5 minutes agoSource

• Living costs for compulsory education

  For compulsory education, if paying for yourself, have NZD $17,000 for each year or NZD $1,417 for each month. An acceptable sponsor or other evidence of funded living costs may be used instead.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 5 minutes agoSource

• Sponsor or guarantor

  If using a sponsor, provide their sharing ID; an individual sponsor must be a family member or friend and must show they can afford to sponsor you. If using a guarantor, provide a completed Financial Undertaking for a Student form; an individual guarantor must be a relative or friend and must show the money is their own and not loaned.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 5 minutes agoSource

• Good health

  Be in good health. Immigration New Zealand may require a chest X-ray, a medical examination or both; evidence must be less than three months old when it is received.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 5 minutes agoSource

• Chest X-ray where required

  If staying more than six months, have a chest X-ray if you are a citizen of a country without a low incidence of tuberculosis, or have spent more than three months in the last five years in such a country. The page also specifies when a new certificate is needed after a previous X-ray.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 5 minutes agoSource

• Good character

  Be of good character. If aged 17 or older and your total time in New Zealand will be at least 24 months, provide police certificates less than six months old from countries of citizenship and countries where you have spent more than five years since turning 17, unless an exception stated on the visa page applies.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 5 minutes agoSource

• Genuine study intentions

  Genuinely intend to study in New Zealand and meet the conditions of your visa.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 5 minutes agoSource

• Medical and travel insurance

  Agree to have travel and health-care insurance from the start of your course until your visa expires; it must meet the applicable Code of Practice requirements and be acceptable to your education provider. PhD students do not need insurance.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 5 minutes agoSource

• Means to leave

  Show that you plan to leave New Zealand at the end of your stay. If paying for yourself, provide an outward ticket or enough money to buy one; ticket money must be additional to your living costs. A sponsor or guarantor may cover outward travel.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 5 minutes agoSource

• Passport validity

  Your passport or certificate of identity must be valid for at least three months after the date you plan to leave New Zealand.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 5 minutes agoSource

• Guardian for a young student

  If aged under 10 and not living in an NZQA-approved school hostel, be accompanied by and live with a parent or legal guardian while studying. The parent or guardian must show their legal right to care for you and that they care for you in your home country.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 5 minutes agoSource

• Previous study

  If applying for another student visa, provide evidence of previous performance, progress and attendance, and explain any failure to meet performance or attendance requirements.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 5 minutes agoSource

• Evidence for work rights

  If seeking work rights, provide the course and holiday information requested on the visa page. Students aged 16 or 17 at a tertiary provider, or in school Years 12 or 13, need written permission from both a parent or legal guardian and their education provider. Students aged 15 or younger cannot work on a student visa.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 5 minutes agoSource

• Student visa application fee, Band C (outside New Zealand, rest of world; fee waivers may apply)immigration.govt.nz · checked 5 minutes agoSource$485 per person
• Student visa application fee, Band B (outside New Zealand, specified Pacific citizenships; fee waivers may apply)immigration.govt.nz · checked 5 minutes agoSource$270 per person
• Immigration levy, unless exemptimmigration.govt.nz · checked 5 minutes agoSource$265 once
• International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy, if payableimmigration.govt.nz · checked 5 minutes agoSource$100 per person
• Decision timeThe Fee Paying Student Visa page says 80% are processed within eight weeks; this is not a guarantee or a figure stated specifically for applications from outside New Zealand. The separate student visa wait-times page reports different times by education-provider type, combines several student visa cAbout 8 weeks

1. Get ready

   • Get an offer of place

     3 months before you go

     Obtain an offer from an approved education provider that includes the course details and the provider’s signed declaration.

     You’ll need: Offer of place, or confirmation of enrolment if returning

   • Prepare proof of funding

     3 months before you go

     Gather evidence of tuition funding, living costs and money or an arrangement for outward travel.

     You’ll need: Tuition-fee evidence, Living-cost evidence, Sponsor’s sharing ID or guarantor form, if applicable, Outward ticket or evidence of funds

   • Gather your identity and check documents

     3 months before you go

     Prepare your passport scan and photo, and obtain medical evidence, police certificates, guardianship evidence or certified translations where required.

     You’ll need: Passport information-page scan, One acceptable photo, Medical or X-ray evidence, if required, Police certificates, if required, Guardianship evidence, if required, Certified translations of non-English medical or police certificates

2. Apply

   • Apply online and pay

     3 months before you go

     Submit the online application with your supporting documents and pay the applicable fee and levies; Immigration New Zealand advises applying at least three months before travel.

     You’ll need: Completed online application, Supporting documents

3. Visa

   • Check your application and decision

     3 months before you go

     Check your application status and respond if Immigration New Zealand requests more information; if approved, it will email you an eVisa.

     You’ll need: Any further evidence requested, eVisa, if approved

4. Travel

   • Complete the traveller declaration

     1 day before you go

     Complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration; if travelling by air, you can submit it from 24 hours before your journey begins.

     You’ll need: New Zealand Traveller Declaration

   • Carry evidence for arrival

     When you arrive

     On arrival, have proof of living-cost funds and an outward ticket, funds to buy one, or a sponsor’s agreement to pay.

     You’ll need: Living-cost evidence, Outward ticket, ticket funds or sponsor’s agreement

5. Settle in

   • Attend your course

     When you arrive

     Attend the course named on your visa, make satisfactory progress and follow any work conditions on your visa.

     You’ll need: eVisa and its conditions

You may be able to apply for a Post Study Work Visa after completing an eligible New Zealand qualification; this is not automatic.

• INZ 1028 Fees Guideimmigration.govt.nzOfficial
• Paying the International Visitor Levy :: Immigration New Zealandimmigration.govt.nzOfficial
• Fee Paying Student Visa » Immigration New Zealandimmigration.govt.nzOfficial

Japper is an AI immigration assistant. It gives general information from official sources, not legal advice, and it can be wrong. For your own case, ask a licensed advisor.