Evidence that a student has sufficient funds

To gain a Student Visa or Permit we want to see that a student from overseas is able to meet their living costs during their stay.

Evidence may include:

• sufficient funds held in New Zealand by the student, or on their behalf
  or
• an undertaking by another person to cover the student’s accommodation and living costs.  We’ll want to see this before the student leaves for New Zealand
  or
• an undertaking by a New Zealand sponsor to cover the student’s accommodation and living costs
  or
• financial assistance available to the student under aid programmes operated in New Zealand by a government agency.

If the student is taking a course lasting less than nine months…

they’ll need to show us they have:

• access to NZ $1000 for each month of their stay
  or
• access to NZ $400 for each month, if their accommodation is already paid for.  The student will need to show us that they’ve paid
  or
• a letter from the education provider that the student’s accommodation and other living costs are included in the package they’ve already paid for.

If the student is taking a course that’s longer than nine months…

• they’ll need to show us they have access to NZ$10,000 per year to cover their costs during their stay in New Zealand
  or
• if the student is a citizen of Samoa or Tonga, they’ll need to show us they have a written guarantee from a relative who is a New Zealand citizen or resident that they will cover the student’s living costs.

Evidence of funds can be:

• cash
• travellers cheques
• bank drafts
• a recognised credit card with sufficient available credit.