New Zealand student visa

New Zealand student visa requirements

For the Fee Paying Student Visa, INZ says applicants must have an offer of place on a course from an approved education provider, enough money for tuition fees (or a scholarship) and living expenses (or an acceptable sponsor), and insurance acceptable to the provider, along with health, character and genuine-student requirements.

Fee Paying Student Visa and Pathway Student Visa

INZ says the Fee Paying Student Visa is for students paying international tuition fees themselves or with support, and is normally issued for the period of study paid for, up to 4 years. The Pathway Student Visa lets a student study up to 3 courses, one after the other, on a single visa of up to 5 years, with a pathway offer of place.

Studying and working

INZ says the visa can let you work part-time up to 25 hours a week while studying and full-time in scheduled holidays, depending on your visa conditions. Partners and dependent children cannot be included in the same application, but INZ says they can apply for visas based on their relationship to you.

Applying from the Philippines, the UAE or elsewhere

INZ advises applying at least 3 months before you plan to travel, and says student visa processing is busiest between October and March. The offer of place comes first, from the school or university; the visa application follows.

Documents typically involved

INZ tells each applicant exactly what it needs. These are the kinds of documents usually involved:

• The offer of place from an approved education provider
• Evidence of funds for tuition and living costs, or a scholarship or sponsor
• Insurance acceptable to your education provider
• Identity, health and character documents

The process, step by step

1. Choose a course. With an approved education provider.
2. Offer of place. The provider issues it; the visa application depends on it.
3. Documents. Funds, insurance, identity, health and character evidence.
4. Application. Lodged online, at least 3 months before you plan to travel, as INZ advises.
5. INZ assesses it. INZ may ask for more information before it decides.

Fees and processing times change, so we do not quote them. Check the current figures on INZ's fee finder and processing times.

How we help

Our Licensed Immigration Adviser can talk through your situation, explain the requirements that apply, help you gather and organise the evidence, and review the application for consistency before it is lodged. Every decision is Immigration New Zealand's to make, and we never promise an outcome.

Finding the right school or universityAdmission coachingAsk about this visa

Student visa: questions