New Zealand student visa (Fee Paying Student Visa)

You need an offer of place from an approved education provider for an approved course, or confirmation of enrolment if you are a returning student. The offer must include a declaration signed by the provider that it has assessed you as having the English and academic ability to pass the course. From outside New Zealand you can apply with a conditional offer and receive approval in principle.

Children under 10 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian unless they live in an NZQA-approved hostel. INZ assesses whether your intention to study is genuine; English test results are not mandatory but can support that assessment.

You must declare that you will hold insurance acceptable to your education provider and have full medical and travel insurance for your stay. Depending on your length of stay you may need a chest X-ray, a medical certificate and police certificates; translations of police and medical certificates must be certified.

Unless exempt, you must show you have paid tuition for one course or one year of study, whichever is shorter. For living costs you need NZD 20,000 for each year of tertiary, English or other non-compulsory study of a year or more, or NZD 1,667 per month for shorter study. School students in Years 1 to 13 need NZD 17,000 a year or NZD 1,417 a month. An acceptable sponsor can provide this support instead.

You can study full time on the approved course at primary, secondary or tertiary level, and most students may work part time up to 25 hours a week during study and full time in scheduled holidays, as set out in their visa conditions. You can travel in and out of New Zealand while the visa is valid.

Family members cannot be added to a student visa application, but they can apply for visas based on their relationship to you, such as a visitor visa for a partner or a student visa for a child, subject to the rules INZ sets for family of students.