Fee Paying Student Visa
Apply for this visa to study full-time in New Zealand. You will need to pay the full cost of your courses and enrol with an approved education provider.
Apply online-
Length of stay
Up to
4 years
-
Cost
From
NZD $850
-
Processing time
80% within
4.5 weeks
To apply you must:
- be offered a place on a course by an
- have enough money to pay your tuition fees, or have a scholarship
- have enough money to pay your living expenses, or have an acceptable sponsor
- declare that you will have insurance that is acceptable to your education provider
- have your parent or legal guardian with you if you are aged 9 or younger and not living in an New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA)-approved hostel
- meet the other requirements of this visa.
This visa lets you:
- study full-time in New Zealand on an approved course, including primary, secondary, tertiary and English language study
- work part-time up to 20 hours a week while studying and full-time in holidays, depending on your visa conditions
- live by yourself above a certain age, otherwise you will need to come with your parent or a legal guardian.
An ability to speak or write English is not a requirement when applying for a student visa. Check with the education provider to see if it is required for an offer of a place on their course.
You cannot include your partner or dependent children in your visa application, but they can apply for visas based on their relationship to you.
Bringing family if you have a student visa
Note
On 18 August 2025, applications for international student visas are moving to our enhanced Immigration Online system. If you are applying for a student visa in this timeframe you need to know how we will manage applications.
International student visa applications moving to enhanced Immigration Online
We are currently in a peak period for student visa applications. Try to get your application in at least 3 months before your intended travel date to avoid delays.
How long you can stay
This visa allows you to stay in New Zealand for up to 4 years. It is normally issued for the same period as the study you have paid for but may be for a shorter time if your passport expires before the end date of your study.
Who can apply
To apply for this visa you must:
- be offered a place on a course by an approved education provider
- have enough money to pay your tuition fees, or have a scholarship
- be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian and live with that person while studying if aged 9 or younger and not living in an approved school hostel
- provide information about your holidays and your course, and have written permission, if you plan to work
- show you are passing your course and meeting attendance requirements, if you already have a student visa
- be in good health
- be of good character
- have a genuine reason for coming to New Zealand
- have enough money to pay your living expenses during your stay, or have an acceptable sponsor
- show you can leave New Zealand at the end of your stay
- declare that you will have insurance that is acceptable to your education provider, from when you start your course until your visa expires.
Place on a course
You must have been offered a place on a course by an
The evidence must include:
- the name of your course
- how long it will last
- whether your study will be full-time or part-time
- if you will be learning from a distance or a correspondence student — if studying outside New Zealand, proof you need to be in New Zealand for more
- than 3 months to study at your education provider
- the dates of all of the course’s scheduled holidays, if it lasts for more than 1 academic year (You can provide information about the dates of holidays in a separate document).
Note
If you are applying from outside of New Zealand, you can apply with a conditional offer of place from your education provider. We can assess your application and approve your visa in principle, but you will need to provide an unconditional offer of place before we can approve your visa.
An offer of place must also include a declaration signed by your education provider to say they have assessed, and are satisfied, that:
- the course they offer you is appropriate to your expectations, and
- you have the English language ability and academic capability to pass the course.
If you will be studying for more than 2 weeks, your education provider must be a signatory to the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021.
Find out if an education provider is a signatory, and how the code protects international students.
Wellbeing and safety for international learners — New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA)
Tuition fees
Unless you are exempt, you must have enough money to pay your tuition fees.
You must be able to show you have paid the tuition fees for 1 course, or 1 year of study — whichever is shorter.
Depending on your situation, evidence can include any of the following:
- a letter or receipt from your approved education provider showing you have paid your fees
- confirmation from your education provider that you do not need to pay tuition fees or that they have given you a scholarship
- documents that show you have applied for a government loan in your home country, together with a letter from your education provider confirming they expect to receive the fees, or
- documents that show you have applied for a government loan in your home country and that you are enrolling in a bachelor degree programme or higher at a private training establishment.
If you study for more than 1 year — on a single course or several courses — you must also show us how you will pay your tuition fees for the following years. For example, you could send us bank statements showing savings or family income you can access while in New Zealand.
If we process your application outside New Zealand, you do not need to send us these documents until we let you know that we have approved your application in principle.
Parent or legal guardian
If the student is aged 9 or younger and not going to live in a New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA)-approved school hostel, they must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian and live with that person while studying.
The parent or legal guardian must provide proof that they care for, and have the legal right to care for, the applicant in their home country.
Evidence of this can include:
- the parent or guardian’s passport or residence document showing the applicant has been living with them in their home country
- documents that show the parent or guardian paid for and are responsible for the applicant's education.
Evidence the parent or legal guardian has the legal right to provide care for the applicant can include:
- the applicant's birth certificate or adoption papers, if an adoptive parent
- court documents, if a court-appointed guardian
- relevant legal documents, if a testamentary guardian (named as guardian in the applicant's parents’ will if the parents have died).
Note
The parent or legal guardian must apply separately for the type of visa they need.
Practical work experience
If you are required to do practical work experience as part of your course, you must provide evidence that it is a requirement of your studies.
Evidence can include:
- a letter from your approved education provider confirming that you must complete work experience as part of your study
- a course outline that shows you must do practical work experience — this information may be in your offer of place document.
Note
Time you spend doing practical work experience is in addition to the hours you are allowed to work under the conditions of your visa.
Permission to work
If you are aged 16 or 17, or in years 12 or 13 of secondary school, you must have permission to work.
You can work up to 20 hours a week and full-time in the summer holidays. For this, you will need to provide a letter agreeing that you can work, from your:
- parents or legal guardian, and
- approved education provider.
Note
If you are older than 18 you do not need written permission to work during the summer holidays. Students aged 15 or younger cannot work on a student visa.
Working full-time in your holidays
If you can work full-time in your holidays, you must provide information about your course and holidays.
You will need to show:
- your course has a value of 120 credits — this information may be on your fee receipt or invoice, or other correspondence provided by your approved education provider
- when holidays are scheduled during your course — you can usually find this in your education provider's offer of place letter.
If you already have a student visa
If you apply for another student visa, you will need to provide documents showing your previous performance, progress and attendance. These can include:
- academic transcripts
- attendance records
- a letter from your approved education provider.
Health
You must be in good health.
We may ask you to have a chest X-ray, a medical examination or both as proof of your health.
If you are staying less than:
- 6 months, you do not normally need a chest X-ray
- 12 months, you do not normally need a medical certificate.
When you apply, you must answer questions about your health. This will help to decide whether you need to provide evidence of a chest X-ray or medical examination. Even if you do not need these when you apply, we may ask for them when we process your application.
Check the situations where we may ask you to have a chest X-ray or medical examination.
Note
Full fee-paying students do not usually need to provide a medical certificate.
Who needs an X-ray or medical examination
Evidence of a chest X-ray or medical examination must be less than 3 months old when we receive them.
If staying for more than 6 months
If you will be staying in New Zealand for more than 6 months, you must have a chest X-ray if you:
- are a citizen of a country that does not have a low incidence of tuberculosis (TB), or
- have spent more than 3 months in the last 5 years in a country that does not have a low incidence of TB.
You must provide a new chest X-ray certificate, even if you have provided one to us previously, if you:
- have spent 6 months in a row in a country that does not have a low incidence of TB since the date of your last X-ray certificate, and
- are now coming to New Zealand for more than 6 months — if you are in New Zealand this includes any time you have already spent here.
Character
You must be of good character.
You may need to provide police certificates as proof of your good character.
If you have a criminal conviction, or are a security risk to New Zealand, we might not give you a visa.
You must provide police certificates that are less than 6 months old when you apply, if:
- you are aged 17 or older, and
- your total time in New Zealand will be 24 months or longer — this includes time you spent in New Zealand in the past on other visas.
Police certificates must be obtained from:
- countries you are a citizen of, and
- countries you have spent more than 5 years in since you turned 17.
You do not need to provide police certificates if you provided them with an earlier visa application and they were issued in the last 24 months.
If we ask for a new police certificate when processing your application, you will need to send us a new one.
Genuine intentions
You must genuinely intend to study in New Zealand and to leave at the end of your stay.
When we decide if your intentions for coming to New Zealand are genuine, we will consider all the information that:
- you provide to support your application
- we have about your personal circumstances
- you have previously provided to us.
Enough money to live on
You must have enough money to live on while you are in New Zealand, or have an acceptable sponsor.
The evidence you send us can include:
- bank statements
- bank drafts
- traveller's cheques
- documents that show your living costs have been paid — for example, receipts for a school homestay where you will live with a local family while you study
- a Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry, completed by an acceptable sponsor
- a Financial Undertaking for a Student form, completed by an acceptable sponsor.
Note
If you are in New Zealand and applying for a further student visa as a fee paying tertiary student, you can only be sponsored if your first student visa was sponsored. Sponsorship must be by the same person or organisation that acted as the sponsor for your initial visa application.
If you are paying for yourself
If your studies are tertiary level, English language or other non-compulsory study you must have:
- NZD $20,000 for each year if you are studying for 1 year or more
- NZD $1,667 for each month if your study is shorter than 1 year.
If you are studying in compulsory education — for example, at a school in Years 1 to 13 — you must have NZD $17,000 for each year or NZD $1,417 for each month.
If you study for more than 1 year, you must also show how you will pay your living costs for the following years. Provide evidence, such as savings or family income, to show how you will get access to the money you need while you are in New Zealand.
Note
Depending on what city you live in while you are in New Zealand, you might need more than NZD $17,000 each year.
If you have a sponsor
Your sponsor is responsible for your accommodation and living costs while you are in New Zealand. They can be an organisation or an individual.
Individual sponsors must be a family member or friend.
Sponsorship process for a visa
Your sponsor must complete a Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry. They can provide supporting documents including:
- recent bank statements
- pay slips
- their employment agreement
- ownership papers for your accommodation or receipts for rent payments.
You submit the form and evidence with your application to show us how they will pay your living expenses.
If you have a guarantor
Before you arrive in New Zealand, a third party or guarantor can agree to provide you with financial support while you are in New Zealand. The guarantor can be an organisation or an individual — if an individual, they must be a relative or friend of the child.
The guarantor must:
- complete a Financial Undertaking for a Student form
- provide evidence that they have money that is their own and not loaned, such as recent bank statements or confirmation from the bank.
Paying for health care
You or your sponsor will need to pay for any health care or medical assistance you receive while in New Zealand.
If you are pregnant, there are additional requirements.
Citizens of Samoa or Tonga
The only evidence you must provide is a written guarantee of maintenance from a relative in New Zealand. This relative must be a New Zealand citizen or resident.
Citizens of India, Sri Lanka, China and Philippines
You may be able to use the Funds Transfer Scheme to show that you will be able to access your funds in New Zealand.
Citizens of India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal or Bhutan applying from any of those countries
If you are applying in South Asia, only immediate family are able to sponsor you or provide a financial undertaking. Immediate family are your partner, parents, siblings, grandparents and parents-in-law.
You also need to provide acceptable evidence you can comfortably afford to study in New Zealand.
Medical and travel insurance
You must agree to have insurance for travel and any health care you need, from the the start of your course until your visa expires.
Your education provider will tell you what your insurance policy must cover, or they may arrange insurance for you.
Your insurance policy must meet the requirements set out in the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021, and be acceptable to your education provider.
The Tertiary and International Learners Code of Practice — NZQA
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students do not need to have insurance.
Leaving New Zealand
You must be able to show that you plan to leave the country at the end of your stay.
If you are paying for yourself, you will need to provide:
- your ticket for travel out of New Zealand at the end of your stay to a
, or - documents, such as bank statements, that show you have enough money to buy a ticket.
Note
The money for your ticket must be in addition to what you have to live on.
If you are being sponsored and you do not have a return ticket, your sponsor can provide recent bank statements to show they have enough money to buy you a ticket out of New Zealand.
A guarantor can also decide to cover the costs of outward travel.
Documents you need
When you apply
When you apply, you will need to provide:
- a copy of your passport or
— if you apply on paper, you can provide a , but we will usually process your visa application faster if you provide the original - 1 acceptable photo if you apply online, or 2 photos if you apply on paper
- evidence you have been offered a place in an approved course of study
- evidence you have paid tuition fees, can do so, or do not need to
- evidence that practical work experience forms part of your study, where applicable
- if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, proof that they are responsible for you in your home country
- permission from your parent or legal guardian, as well as from the approved education provider, if you will be working during your stay
- information about your course and holidays, if you plan to work full-time in your holidays
- if you have a sponsor, a copy of the completed Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry if applying on paper, or your sponsor's
if you are applying online - evidence of a chest X-ray, if required
- evidence of a medical examination, if required
- police certificates, if required
- proof you plan to leave New Zealand at the end of your stay
- evidence of medical and travel insurance
- certified English translation of all documents that are not in English.
Your passport or certificate of identity must be valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave New Zealand.
Alert
You may not be allowed to check in to your flight if your passport is close to expiring. Check that it will not expire while you are in New Zealand or close to when you plan to leave New Zealand.
- a passport from Hong Kong
- a Hong Kong document of identity
- a Hong Kong British National Overseas passport (HKBNO)
- a passport from Macao
- copies of their passports
- a copy of your livret de famille.
If you are 17 or older, you must also provide a completed supplementary form giving more details of your background and intentions.
You may also provide your Hukou (household registration book) as an additional form of identity.
If you are 17 or older and are applying within China, Hong Kong or Macao, you must also provide a completed supplementary form if you are applying with:
You must also provide a copy of your identity card and copies of identity cards for family members included in your application.
If you are not a French national, also provide a copy of your carte d’assuré.
Also provide a copy of your livret de famille.
Even if your partner and children are not coming with you, also provide:
If you are not a French national, also provide a copy of your carte d’assuré.
If you are a citizen of Indonesia, also provide your
After you apply
After you apply, we may contact you and ask for police certificates as proof of your good character.
When you arrive
When you arrive, you will need to have:
- a ticket to leave New Zealand at the end of your stay, proof you have enough money to buy one, or agreement that a sponsor will pay for one
- proof you have enough money to pay your living expenses during your stay.
How to apply online
Follow these steps to complete your application online.
Note
To help prevent delays with processing, make sure your application contains all the required documents.
-
1
Step 1: Have a place on a course
Provide details of the course you have been accepted for, including a signed declaration from the approved education provider.
If you are a returning student, you must provide confirmation of your enrolment.
-
2
Step 2: Gather your documents
The section 'Who can apply' explains the requirements for this visa and what you will need as proof.
Our guide to applying for a study visa can also help. This is available in languages other than English.
Get documents translated
For your application you must provide:
- certified translations of police and medical certificates that are not in English
- scanned copies of the original documents.
Note
If your other evidence is not in English, you can provide a translated copy to help prevent delays with processing.
Documents must be translated by someone who meets our requirements for providing English translations.
Organise proof you have been offered a place, and can pay your tuition fees
Gather the documents to show that you have been offered a place by an approved education provider, or confirmation of enrolment if you are a returning student.
You will also need to show that you have either paid your tuition fees, have the ability to do so, or are not required to pay tuition fees.
Organise work-related information and permissions
Where applicable, gather the documents you will need to show that:
- practical work experience is part of your course of study
- you have permission to work while in New Zealand
- you can work full-time in your holidays.
Organise proof of identity, citizenship and age
If you need a new passport, allow yourself enough time to get it.
When you apply, make sure you enter your identity details exactly as they appear on your passport or certificate of identity.
Alert
If there are any mistakes in your identity details, your application may be delayed. We may also decline your application or refuse you entry to New Zealand.
Make sure your photos are acceptable for a New Zealand visa.
Book medical appointments, if required
If you have determined that you need a chest X-ray or medical examination, book an appointment.
For your application, you will need to provide the:
-
reference code from the clinic submitting your health information - name of the clinic submitting your health information, if there is no eMedical reference code, or
- medical certificate, chest X-ray certificate, or both if the clinic gave these to you.
Note
Evidence of a chest X-ray or medical examination must be less than 3 months old when we receive it. Allow yourself enough time to get this.
Apply for police certificates, if required
Check if you will need to include police certificates with your visa application.
If you do, use the tool to find out how to get police certificates in different countries.
How to get a police certificate
Note
Your police certificates must be less than 6 months old when you submit your application. Allow yourself enough time to get these certificates.
Organise proof of guardianship
Where the student will be accompanied, have the necessary documents to prove the parent or legal guardian is responsible for the applicant in their home country.
Organise proof you have enough money to live on
Gather the documents you need to prove you have enough money to cover your living expenses while you are in New Zealand, or an acceptable sponsor or guarantor.
These must be included with your online application.
If you have a sponsor, make sure you get a copy of their completed Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry.
Sponsorship process for a visa
If you have a guarantor, make sure you get a copy of their completed Financial Undertaking for a Student form.
Organise proof you can leave New Zealand
Evidence can be a plane ticket, proof you have the money to buy one, or agreement that your sponsor, or a guarantor, will pay for any onward travel.
Organise proof of medical and travel insurance
Documents you can show us include:
- a copy of your insurance certificate
- a letter from your insurance company.
-
3
Step 3: Submit your application and pay the fee
To apply online, log in to your account or set up an account if you do not have one already.
Apply online, upload your documents and pay the applicable fees.
Check the 'How to pay and submit' section for fees.
-
4
Step 4: Wait for our decision
We will let you know if we need more information to process your application.
Check the 'How to pay and submit' section for timeframes.
Note
If you are already in New Zealand, you must have a valid visa. If your current temporary visa is going to expire while you are waiting for our decision, we will normally issue you an Interim Visa to let you stay in New Zealand lawfully.
-
5
Step 5: Check your application status
Log in to your account to check the status of your application.
Checking your application status
We will email you when we make a decision.
If we approve your application, we will give you an eVisa and send you a copy.
Check the 'While you are in New Zealand' section to find out what you can and cannot do when you come to New Zealand.
How to apply on paper
Follow these steps to complete your application on paper.
Note
To help prevent delays with processing, make sure your application contains all the required documents.
-
1
Step 1: Have a place on a course
Provide details of the course you have been accepted for, including a signed declaration from the approved education provider.
If you are a returning student, you must provide confirmation of your enrolment.
-
2
Step 2: Gather your documents
The section 'Who can apply' explains the requirements for this visa and what you will need as proof.
Our guide to applying for a study visa can also help. This is available in languages other than English.
Get documents translated
For you application you must provide:
- certified translations of police and medical certificates that are not in English
- copies of the original documents.
Note
If your other evidence is not in English, you can provide a translated copy to help prevent delays with processing.
Documents must be translated by someone who meets our requirements for providing English translations.
Organise proof you have an offer of place, and can pay your tuition fees
Gather the documents to show that you have been offered a place by an approved education provider, or confirmation of enrolment if you are a returning student.
You will also need to show that you have paid your tuition fees, have the ability to do so, or are not required to pay tuition fees.
Organise work-related information and permissions
Where applicable, gather the documents you will need to show that:
- practical work experience is part of your course of study
- you have permission to work while in New Zealand
- you can work full-time in your holidays.
Organise proof of identity, citizenship and age
If you need a new passport, allow yourself enough time to get it.
When you apply, make sure you enter your identity details exactly as they appear on your passport or certificate of identity.
Alert
If there are any mistakes in your identity details, your application may be delayed. We may also decline your application or refuse you entry to New Zealand.
Make sure your photos are acceptable for a New Zealand visa.
Book medical appointments, if required
If you have determined that you need a chest X-ray or medical examination, book an appointment.
For your application, you will need to provide the:
-
reference code from the clinic submitting your health information - name of the clinic submitting your health information, if there is no eMedical reference code, or
- medical certificate, chest X-ray certificate, or both if the clinic gave these to you.
Note
Evidence of a chest X-ray or medical examination must be less than 3 months old when we receive it. Allow yourself enough time to get this.
Apply for police certificates, if required
Check if you will need to include police certificates with your visa application.
If you do, use the tool to find out how to get police certificates in different countries.
How to get a police certificate
Note
Your police certificates must be less than 6 months old when you submit your application. Allow yourself enough time to get these certificates.
Organise proof of guardianship
Where the student will be accompanied, have the necessary documents to prove the parent or legal guardian is responsible for the applicant in their home country.
Organise proof you have enough money to live on
Gather the documents you need to prove you have enough money to live on while you are in New Zealand, or an acceptable sponsor or guarantor.
If you have a sponsor, make sure you get a copy of their completed Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry.
Sponsorship process for a visa
If you have a guarantor, make sure you get a copy of their completed Financial Undertaking for a Student form.
Organise proof you can leave New Zealand
Evidence can be a plane ticket, proof you have the money to buy one, or agreement that your sponsor, or a guarantor, will pay for any onward travel.
Organise proof of medical and travel insurance
Documents you can show us include:
- a copy of your insurance certificate
- a letter from your insurance company.
-
3
Step 3: Complete the application form
Complete the application form and attach all supporting documents.
Check the 'Who can apply' section and use our student visa guide to help you.
-
4
Step 4: Submit your application and pay the fee
Check the 'How to pay and submit' section for fees and where to submit your application.
-
5
Step 5: Wait for our decision
If we need more information to process your application, we will let you know.
We will email you when we make a decision.
Checking your application status
Check the 'How to pay and submit' section for timeframes.
If we approve your application, we will give you an eVisa and email you a copy.
Note
If you are already in New Zealand, you must have a valid visa. If your current temporary visa is going to expire while you are waiting for our decision, we will normally issue you an Interim Visa to let you stay in New Zealand lawfully.
Check the 'While you are in New Zealand' section to find out what you can and cannot do when you come to New Zealand.
How to pay and submit
We cannot display any process or costs information until you have provided your country details.
Enter your details so we can show information that is relevant to you.
When you get your visa
Your visa is valid from:
- the date you enter New Zealand, if you are outside New Zealand when we approve your application, or
- the date you get your visa, if you are already in New Zealand.
You must leave New Zealand before your visa expires.
When you arrive
Entry permission
You must apply for permission to enter New Zealand. You do this by completing a New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD) form.
You can start your digital declaration any time, but the earliest you can submit it is 24 hours before starting your travel to New Zealand.
A paper declaration form is available for travellers who cannot complete it online.
New Zealand Traveller Declaration — Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
New Zealand Customs and Biosecurity also check that you meet their entry requirements.
Alert
You can be refused entry permission if you:
- do not have genuine intentions in coming to New Zealand
- do not meet our character requirements
- have had a change in circumstances since we issued your visa
- refuse to let us take your photo, fingerprints or an iris scan
- cannot provide evidence that you intend to leave New Zealand at the end of your stay.
While you are in New Zealand
Attendance and progress
You must attend the course of study noted on your visa, unless you have good reason for absences.
You must make satisfactory progress in your studies.
Travel
If you want to travel in and out of New Zealand, you must have valid
If you are applying from inside New Zealand, we will normally give you multiple entry travel conditions when we grant you this visa.
If you do not have multiple entry travel conditions and you leave New Zealand, your visa will expire.
Your travel conditions will be recorded on your visa label or in your visa letter.
Work
You may be allowed to work part-time for up to 20 hours a week and full-time during all scheduled holidays and/or the Christmas and New Year holiday period.
Paying tax
Everyone who has a job in New Zealand pays tax on what they earn.
To pay tax, you need an Inland Revenue Department (IRD) number from Inland Revenue — the New Zealand Government department that collects tax.
Visa expiry
If your passport is due to expire, your visa will expire before this date. You need to renew your passport and apply for either a new student visa or have the 'balance' of that visa transferred to your new passport, if you want to continue studying.