Fee Paying Student Visa

This visa is for students who are paying international tuition fees themselves, or with support from family, a loan, or a partial scholarship.

study full-time in New Zealand on an approved course, including primary, secondary, tertiary study

You must have an offer of place from an approved education provider.

An offer of place must also include a declaration signed by your education provider to say they have assessed, and are satisfied, that: the course they offer you is appropriate to your expectations, and you have the English language ability and academic capability to pass the course.

Your education provider must be a signatory to the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021.

Unless you are exempt, you must have enough money to pay your tuition fees. You must be able to show you have paid the tuition fees for 1 course, or 1 year of study — whichever is shorter.

If you are paying for yourself 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 NZD $1,667 for each month if your study is shorter than 1 year. If you are studying in compulsory education — for example, at a school in Years 1 to 13 — you must have NZD $17,000 for each year or NZD $1,417 for each month.

have enough money to pay your living expenses during your stay, or have an acceptable sponsor

have full medical and travel insurance for your stay

You must attend the course of study noted on your visa, unless you have good reason for absences. You must make satisfactory progress in your studies.

work part-time up to 25 hours a week while studying and full-time in holidays, depending on your visa conditions

You cannot include your partner or dependent children in your visa application, but they can apply for visas based on their relationship to you.

If you are aged 16 or 17 at a tertiary education provider, or in years 12 or 13 at school, you must have permission to work, for your student visa to be granted with work rights.

Students aged 15 or younger cannot work on a student visa.

To be given work rights allowing you to work full-time in scheduled holidays, you must provide information about your course and holidays. You will need to show: your course has a value of 120 credits

Your visa is normally issued for the same period as the study you have paid for, or up to when your passport expires if that is due to happen sooner.

This visa can be issued for a maximum of 4 years.

If you apply for another student visa, you will need to provide documents showing your previous performance, progress and attendance.

Apply for this visa if you want to work in New Zealand soon after you have completed your studies here. It allows you to stay and work in New Zealand for up to 3 years, depending on what you studied.

Residence option Can lead to a resident visa Yes

have recently finished studying in New Zealand for an approved qualification