Student visa in New Zealand: Fee Paying Student Visa, funds and documents
Fee Paying Student Visa is a common route for paid study; check English Language Student Visa for English courses. You need an approved programme, an offer of place, acceptable funding and the relevant visa conditions. Approval in principle is not an issued visa.
Contents
Which costs need evidence for a student visa?
Living funds, tuition and outward travel are separate. Applicable tertiary or English study lists NZ$20,000 per year or NZ$1,667 per month; school and dependent-child cases need their own checks.
Check the programme and offer
The provider must be a signatory to the international learner Code of Practice. Your offer of place should identify the programme, length, study mode and required holiday information.
Offshore applicants may be assessed with a conditional offer and receive approval in principle. An unconditional offer and the required tuition evidence are needed before issue. Waiting for approval in principle before paying can lengthen processing.
Source: Fee Paying Student Visa » Immigration New Zealand (checked 2026-10-15).
Separate living costs, tuition and outward travel
For tertiary, English-language and other non-compulsory study, applicable funding evidence is NZ$20,000 per year or NZ$1,667 per month for a course shorter than a year. School study in years 1-13 uses NZ$17,000 and NZ$1,417 respectively.
INZ accepts verified available funds, eligible sponsorship or guarantees under its rules. Documented prepaid accommodation can reduce the outstanding living-funds amount. Tuition and outward travel are separate. These amounts do not promise to cover a household’s actual expenses; dependent-child applications have their own conditions.
Source: Student fund requirements :: Immigration New Zealand (checked 2026-10-15); Dependent Child Student Visa » Immigration New Zealand (checked 2026-10-15).
Insurance and documents
Insurance must meet visa and provider requirements, generally covering travel and health care from the course’s start until visa expiry. The Fee Paying Student Visa page expressly identifies a PhD exception.
Prepare your passport, photo, offer, tuition and funding evidence, outward-travel information and any required medical or police certificates with certified translations. Check other document translations against your route.
Source: Fee Paying Student Visa » Immigration New Zealand (checked 2026-10-15); Providing English translations of supporting documents :: Immigration New Zealand (checked 2026-10-15).
Work and later plans
Work rights depend on the programme and eVisa. Eligible visas can permit up to 25 hours a week; a 20-hour visa condition needs an approved change first. Future work does not replace funding evidence.
Post-Study Work Visa depends on the qualification. The announced extension for eligible level-7 graduate diploma holders with a bachelor’s degree starts on 16 November 2026 and is not operative at this check date. Use current INZ fee and processing links.
Source: Working on a student visa :: Immigration New Zealand (checked 2026-10-15); Post-Study Work Visa » Immigration New Zealand (checked 2026-10-15).
| Study type | A year or longer | Shorter than a year |
|---|---|---|
| Tertiary, English and other non-compulsory | NZ$20,000 per year | NZ$1,667 per month |
| School: years 1–13 | NZ$17,000 per year | NZ$1,417 per month |
Student fund requirements :: Immigration New Zealand
Related reading
- Study in New Zealand: education options, preparation and relocation plan
- Cost of living in New Zealand: rent, groceries, transport and first-month budget
- Bank account and phone service in New Zealand: first practical steps
FAQ
Which costs need evidence for a student visa?
Living funds, tuition and outward travel are separate. Applicable tertiary or English study lists NZ$20,000 per year or NZ$1,667 per month; school and dependent-child cases need their own checks.
Sources for independent verification
A check date is shown beside sources reviewed for this update.
- Providing English translations of supporting documents :: Immigration New Zealand. Checked:
- Fee Paying Student Visa » Immigration New Zealand. Checked:
- Student fund requirements :: Immigration New Zealand. Checked:
- Working on a student visa :: Immigration New Zealand. Checked:
- English Language Student Visa » Immigration New Zealand. Checked:
- Post-Study Work Visa » Immigration New Zealand. Checked:
- Dependent Child Student Visa » Immigration New Zealand. Checked: