Before you apply for a student visa

Making study and travel plans before you apply

To qualify for a student visa, you’ll need:

• to be accepted for a course at an education institute approved by the Ministry of Education or the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA)
• money for your tuition fees or proof that you have a scholarship that pays your fees
• proof you have enough money to live on while you’re in NZ, and
• a ticket out of NZ or evidence that you enough money to buy one.

Fee Paying Student Visa — criteria

Pathway Student Visa — criteria

Choosing a course

Find a programme of study or qualification that suits you.

Find a course

Find primary, intermediate and secondary schools that teach international students.

Find an institution or school

If you’re applying for a Pathway Student Visa, you must study with a Pathway Education Provider.

Pathway Education Providers

Study fees

Most people who come to NZ to study pay full fees as international students.

Cost of living — fees

Domestic students

If you qualify as a domestic student, your fees are usually less — but you’ll still need a student visa.

You’re a domestic student if, for example you’re:

• studying at primary or secondary school under a government-approved exchange programme
• studying at primary or secondary school in NZ because your parent or legal guardian is here on a student or work visa
• studying for a PhD.

Definition of a domestic student in New Zealand

Paying your living expenses

To support yourself while you study in NZ, you need to show you have one of the following:

• NZD$15,000 for your first year of study
• NZD$1250 for each month if your programme of study is less than 36 months
• a scholarship, such as a New Zealand Aid Programme scholarship, or
• a sponsor or family member who’s agreed to accept financial responsibility for you while you’re in NZ.

Cost of living

New Zealand Aid Programme Scholarships

Sponsorship

Health and character

To get a visa, you need to be healthy and of good character.

Health requirements for a student visa

Character requirements for a student visa

Health insurance

If you’re a fee paying student, you need approved medical and travel insurance. Contact your education provider to get help with arranging medical and travel insurance.

Students aged 9 or younger

International students who are 9 or younger must:

• have a parent or legal guardian living with them, or
• live in a school hostel approved by NZQA.

Visa factsheet: Guardian of a Student Visitor Visa

School hostels

Documents to provide with your application

Your identity

You need to provide:

• a colour photo of your head and shoulders — or 2, if you apply using the printed form
• a passport that’s valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave NZ.

Acceptable visa photos

Other supporting documents

If you’ve been offered a place on a course of study, the institution you’ll study at gives you a document confirming your place. You must include this with your visa application.

You may also have to provide:

• medical certificates
• police certificates, and
• translations of any documents not in English.

Fee Paying Student Visa — criteria

Pathway Student Visa — criteria

Application fees

You also need to pay the correct application fee.

Fees, decision times and where to apply