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 (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.

Who can get public health care

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.

Responsibilities as a sponsor

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).

Evidence of funds

You need to provide evidence of sufficient funds (primary funds evidence), and you may be asked for evidence of the source of your funds (secondary funds evidence).

We are continuing to update our country-specific guidance.

Primary funds evidence

We accept the following types of evidence to show you have sufficient funds:

  • bank statements, including the name of the account holder and the last 3 months of transaction history
  • fixed-term deposit certificates showing that the term deposits have been held for at least 3 months
  • a scholarship award letter
  • an education loan disbursal letter, and education loan sanction letter from a nationalised or multi-national bank with security against fixed assets that belong to you, stating the:
    • security
    • moratorium period
    • interest payable
    • repayments
  • evidence of provident funds that can be withdrawn.

Secondary funds evidence

We may ask you to provide further evidence of your funds to check they will be genuinely available to you and are from a genuine source we can confirm.

  • If your bank account shows large deposits (over NZD $2,000), or many smaller ones, explain where the money came from and include supporting documents.
  • If you opened the bank account recently, explain where the money came from and provide supporting evidence to show the transfer of money, such as from employment or self-employment. This could include:
    • your most recent tax return showing income
    • your most recent payslip
    • a letter from your employer confirming your income
    • a business registration document
    • your most recent business tax returns
    • evidence of rental property ownership and income.
  • If you have shown evidence of a loan, you may be asked how you plan to repay the loan.
  • If you have shown evidence of provident funds, include evidence of employment linked to the account, such as:
    • the most recent tax return showing income
    • the most recent payslip
    • a letter from the employer confirming the employment linked to the provident fund.

Evidence of sponsorship

If a New Zealand organisation or individual wants to sponsor you, they must complete the Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry. They must attach evidence showing that they can afford to sponsor you.

Evidence can be:

  • recent bank statements
  • pay slips
  • their employment agreement
  • ownership papers for your accommodation or receipts for rent payments.

You submit this form and their evidence as part of your visa application.

Sponsorship process for a visa

Evidence of financial undertaking

If a third party or guarantor from outside New Zealand is going to support you, they must complete the Financial Undertaking for a Student form. They must attach evidence showing that they can afford to support you with money that is their own and not loaned.

Evidence can be:

  • bank statements from the previous 3 months, or
  • by getting their bank to confirm they hold sufficient funds by completing Section E of the form.

You submit this form and their evidence as part of your visa application.

Funds Transfer Scheme

The Funds Transfer Scheme (FTS) is an Immigration New Zealand scheme, run by ANZ Bank New Zealand Limited.

The FTS is a secure way for students from India, Sri Lanka, China, Vietnam and the Philippines to transfer the funds they need to support themselves while they are in New Zealand.

You may be able to use the FTS as evidence you will be able to access funds — we will let you know if you need to use the FTS.

Using the FTS and setting up an account does not guarantee approval of your student visa application.

Funds Transfer Scheme

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:

Study visas