Student fund requirements
How much money you need if you are applying for a student visa, what you need it for, different funding options, and the types of evidence we can accept.
If you are applying for a student visa, you will need to show that you have enough money to live on and cover all your expenses while you are in New Zealand.
Living costs
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, or
- NZD $1,667 for each month, if your study is shorter than 1 year.
If a child is studying in primary, intermediate, or secondary school from years 1 to 13, they must have:
- NZD $17,000 for each year, if they are studying for 1 year or more, or
- NZD $1,417 for each month, if their study is shorter than 1 year.
Accommodation that has been prepaid can be deducted (for example, to the school for a homestay service). If there is a shortfall, you must show evidence of the remaining balance.
Outward travel
You need to prove you have enough money to leave New Zealand. Evidence of this can be proof of:
- outward travel — a fully paid ticket out of New Zealand, or
- enough extra money to buy a ticket.
Maternity costs (if you are pregnant)
You must show evidence that you can pay for your maternity care while you are in New Zealand if you are pregnant. This is in addition to funds for your living costs and outward travel.
You must have:
- NZD $9,000 for maternity health and medical costs.
In certain situations, maternity care can be publicly funded.
Funding options
Your funds for living costs, outward travel and maternity care if applicable must be from a source that we can confirm. They must be genuinely available for you to access while you are in New Zealand
The funds you need can be covered by:
- money held by you or on your behalf
- an acceptable sponsor
- a guarantor or third party.
You do not need to choose only one of these ways to pay for everything. For example, you could pay for living costs yourself and show a ticket out of New Zealand as proof of funds for outward travel.
Sponsorship
If an individual or organisation sponsors you, they are responsible for ensuring all your living costs are paid while you are in New Zealand. Even if you intend to pay for some things yourself, your sponsor will still be legally responsible.
If your sponsor is an organisation, it must be registered in New Zealand and show a clear link between its activities and the reason it wants to sponsor you. Individual sponsors must be a New Zealand citizen or resident, and a family member or friend.
You cannot:
- change your sponsor
- be sponsored for a second visa if you were not sponsored for your first.
Financial undertaking
Before you arrive in New Zealand, a guarantor or third party from outside New Zealand can agree to provide you with financial support throughout your time studying here. A financial undertaking can be provided by an organisation or an individual.
If the guarantor is an organisation, it must nominate an individual as a contact.
If the guarantor is an individual, we will assess that it is credible they would be your guarantor. We look at the strength of your relationship when assessing this (for example, if you are relatives or close family friends).
- Bank of Baroda
- Bank of India
- Bank of Maharashtra
- Canara Bank
- Central Bank of India
- Indian Bank
- Indian Overseas Bank
- Punjab and Sind Bank
- Punjab National Bank
- State Bank of India
- UCO Bank
- Union Bank of India.
- Nepal SBI
- Nabil Bank
- Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) Nepal Limited.
Evidence (such as bank statements with transaction history, fixed deposit certificates, and secured education loans) from the following public sector banks generally help us process your application faster:
We will not usually need evidence of your ability to repay the loan if it is from one of the banks listed above, including if a moratorium period applies. However, an Immigration Officer can ask for additional information on a case-by-case basis.
Scheduled private sector banks
If you provide loan or financial information from a scheduled private sector bank, it will generally take us longer to assess whether it is a genuine source of funds. Include evidence of how you are going to repay the loan.
Non-banking financial corporations (NBFCs) and non-scheduled banks
We do not recommend sending financial information from NBFCs or non-scheduled banks. It will take us longer to process your application and there is a higher chance it could be declined due to concerns about the source of funds and that the funds are genuinely available. If you still want to provide loan details from a non-scheduled bank or NBFC, include evidence of how you plan to repay the loan.
Evidence (such as bank statements with transaction history, fixed deposit certificates, and secured education loans) from the following banks generally help us process your application faster:
Tuition fees
We need evidence that you meet 1 of these requirements:
- You have paid your tuition fees in full for 1 year or 1 programme (whichever is shorter).
- You have money to pay your tuition fees if you are outside New Zealand and wish to use the 'approval in principle' option.
- You are exempt from paying fees and your provider has confirmed this.
- You are an aviation student who meets the fees by instalment requirements. Only eligible aviation students can pay tuition by instalment. Check with your aviation training provider to see if you are eligible.
As evidence of this, we can accept:
- a receipt of payment
- confirmation from your education provider that you have paid your tuition fees
- confirmation from your education provider that they expect to receive payment for the tuition fees from a partner provider (for example, Study Abroad), or from your home country government loan.
Screenshots of bank transfers are not acceptable. Receipts from education agents are not acceptable.
Your visa 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.
Note
Your tuition fees are in addition to living costs. Make sure your evidence shows you can access enough funds to cover both. If you have paid your tuition, your evidence of funds should be dated after this.
Approval in principle (AIP)
Students usually pre-pay their tuition fees and include a receipt from their education provider in their visa application, as this helps us process the application faster. However, some students want the security of knowing that their application is approved, before paying their tuition fees.
If you are outside New Zealand when you apply for your student visa, you can choose to pay your tuition fees after your visa has been approved in principle.
You may be asked to use the FTS as a condition of having your visa AIP, if applicable.
To have your visa granted, you must provide:
- a tuition fee receipt after your application has been AIP.
AIP deadlines are usually 10 days, or 15 days for the FTS. If you need longer, request an extension from your Immigration Officer as soon as possible. If you miss the AIP deadline, your application will likely be declined.
More information
More information about student visa options and how you can get help with you application: