A New Zealand student visa is permission from Immigration New Zealand (INZ) to enter the country and study on campus with an approved education provider. International students who pay their own tuition apply for the Fee Paying Student Visa. In practice you need an offer of place, proof that the first year of study is paid, NZD 20,000 for each year of study for living costs, insurance and, for citizens of most CIS countries, a chest X-ray. The visa fee starts at NZD 850, the visa can be granted for up to 4 years, and INZ decides 80% of applications within 8 weeks.
Updated 30 September 2026. Visa and cost figures are taken from official sources on that date.
Key figures at a glance (September 2026)
The summary below is based on the INZ Fee Paying Student Visa page and related INZ pages as at 30 September 2026. The rules change several times a year, so check each line against the link before you apply.
| Item | What applies | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Visa | Fee Paying Student Visa — for students who pay international tuition themselves or with help from family, a loan or a partial scholarship | INZ |
| Length | up to 4 years, within the course you have paid for | INZ |
| Fee | from NZD 850 | INZ |
| Processing | 80% of applications within 8 weeks (an INZ guide that changes monthly) | INZ |
| Living costs | NZD 20,000 per year of study; NZD 1,667 per month for courses under a year | INZ, student fund requirements |
| Return travel | a ticket out of New Zealand or the money to buy one, on top of living costs | same page |
| Tuition | proof of payment for the course or for 1 year, whichever is shorter | INZ |
| Work | up to 25 hours a week during study (visas granted from 3 November 2025) | INZ news, 21.10.2025 |
| When to apply | at least 3 months before you travel | INZ |
| Family | cannot be included; partner and children apply for their own visas | INZ |
Who needs a Fee Paying Student Visa and what INZ looks for
If you are going to New Zealand for a bachelor's, master's, diploma or an English course longer than three months and you pay for it yourself, this is your visa. Government scholarship and exchange students use other visa types, and school-age children travelling with their parents use the separate Dependent Child Student Visa (see the family section below).
According to the visa page as at September 2026, INZ assesses five core requirements:
- An offer of place from an approved education provider. The offer must include a declaration signed by the provider that the course matches your expectations and that your English and academic preparation are sufficient.
- Acceptable health, shown by a chest X-ray and sometimes a medical examination (details below).
- Good character, shown by police certificates if your stay will be long.
- Genuine intention: the real purpose of the trip is study, not, for example, job hunting.
- Ability to leave when you finish: money for the journey home and no reason to think you will overstay.
Full medical and travel insurance for the whole visa is a condition of the visa. It must meet the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021, the code that every provider enrolling international students has signed.
How much money you need to show: a worked example
INZ sets one living-costs figure for every country and city. According to the funds requirements page (version of 2 March 2026, in force in September 2026):
| Level of study | Course of 1 year or longer | Course shorter than 1 year |
|---|---|---|
| Tertiary study, English language and other non-compulsory study | NZD 20,000 for each year | NZD 1,667 per month |
| School (Years 1–13) | NZD 17,000 per year | NZD 1,417 per month |
| Pregnancy (additional) | + NZD 9,000 for maternity costs | + NZD 9,000 |
On top of this you need a paid ticket out of New Zealand or enough money to buy one. INZ does not publish a figure for the ticket, so use the real fare on the date you apply.
Example. A master's student is going to Auckland for a one-year on-campus stage and has already paid that year's tuition. They need to show:
- NZD 20,000 for 12 months of living costs;
- a ticket home or money for it, on top of the NZD 20,000;
- proof that tuition for the year is paid;
- if a partner and a child are coming, their funds go into their own applications: at least NZD 4,200 for the partner's work visa (INZ) and NZD 17,000 a year for the child's student visa (INZ).
For an 8-month course the calculation is monthly: 8 × NZD 1,667 = NZD 13,336 plus the ticket (our calculation at the INZ rate).
NZD 20,000 is the visa minimum, not a forecast of what you will actually spend. University estimates quoted by Education New Zealand put a year of living in Auckland or Wellington at about NZD 20,000–27,000 (studywithnewzealand.govt.nz). A full budget is on the Cost of study and living page.
What evidence INZ accepts
According to INZ as at September 2026:
- bank statements for the last 3 months;
- term deposits held for at least 3 months;
- a scholarship letter;
- an education loan from a national or international bank;
- a withdrawal from a provident fund.
If a large amount (over NZD 2,000) has recently arrived in the account, or the account is new, INZ may ask where the money came from: tax returns, payslips, a letter from an employer. The practical lesson is to have the money in the account well before you apply, not a week before. If a parent is sponsoring you, include evidence of their income and of your relationship. Every document that is not in English must be translated.
Document checklist
Based on the visa page as at September 2026, with notes on what tends to cause questions for applicants from Russia and the CIS:
- Passport scan, valid for the whole period you are applying for.
- One photo that meets INZ requirements.
- Offer of place or confirmation of enrolment from the New Zealand provider.
- Proof of tuition payment for the course or for 1 year, whichever is shorter. When exactly you pay depends on the provider, so check the terms in your offer.
- Proof of funds for living costs: statements, deposit, loan or sponsor documents (see above).
- Return ticket or money for it.
- Police certificates, if needed (see the next section).
- Medical documents, if needed: a chest X-ray, and in some cases a medical examination.
- English translations of every document in another language.
- A study plan. It is not on the mandatory list, but it is the best way to show genuine intention: why this programme, why New Zealand, how it follows from your education and work, and what you plan to do afterwards.
You apply online through your account at apply.immigration.govt.nz (INZ). Find out early how you will pay the fee from your country: banking restrictions sometimes take longer to solve than collecting the documents.
Health, character and insurance for CIS citizens
Chest X-ray. You need one if you will be in New Zealand for more than 6 months and you are a citizen of a country that is not on the low-tuberculosis list, or you have spent 3 months or more in such a country. On the INZ list as at 30 September 2026, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Moldova are not low-incidence countries, so their citizens need an X-ray for study longer than six months. Belarus and Armenia are on the list.
A full medical examination is usually not needed for a student, even for more than 12 months, unless there are specific risk factors (INZ Operational Manual, A4.25, version of 29.09.2025). Medical documents must be less than 3 months old when you apply, and examinations are done by INZ-approved panel physicians; you can find one in your city from the link on the visa page.
Police certificates are required if you are 17 or older and your total time in New Zealand will be 24 months or more. Each certificate must be less than 6 months old when you apply (INZ), and you need one from each country where you have lived for long periods, translated into English.
Insurance means full medical and travel cover for the whole visa. The simplest route is the policy your provider arranges, because it is guaranteed to meet the Code of Practice. As a reference point, Lincoln University's policy costs about NZD 899 a year in 2026 (lincoln.ac.nz); other providers set their own prices.
Fees and processing times
The visa page says "from NZD 850". The official Fees Guide INZ 1028 (May 2026 edition) shows how that total is made up:
| Component | NZD | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Visa fee (Band C — applying from Russia and the CIS) | 485 | the same when applying from within New Zealand (Band A) |
| Immigration levy | 265 | |
| International Visitor Levy (IVL) | 100 | INZ |
| Total | 850 | our calculation, matching "from NZD 850" on the visa page |
A variation of conditions (for example, to raise an old 20-hour work limit to 25) costs NZD 325.
Timing. INZ's current guide is 80% of student visa applications decided within 8 weeks (September 2026 data, updated monthly). INZ advises applying at least 3 months before travel. If you also need an X-ray and police certificates, allow 4–5 months for the whole visa stage before on-campus study starts: 1–1.5 months for documents and up to 3 months for the decision.
Working on a student visa
From 3 November 2025, students with newly granted visas can work up to 25 hours a week during study (previously 20). Holders of older visas with a 20-hour limit can apply for a variation of conditions for NZD 325 (INZ news, 21.10.2025).
Under the INZ rules as at 30 September 2026, you have work rights if your course meets at least one condition:
- it lasts at least two semesters;
- it leads to a qualification at level 4 or above on the NZQCF (formerly NZQF), New Zealand's qualifications framework;
- it is an English course of 24 weeks or more with IELTS 5.0+ (or 14 weeks or more at a university or a Category 1 provider);
- it is an exchange or Study Abroad programme of at least one semester.
Full-time work in holidays is allowed during scheduled breaks (between semesters and over Christmas and New Year) if the course lasts at least one academic year, carries 120+ credits and runs for two semesters over 8+ months. Research master's and doctoral students have no hours limit. Self-employment is not allowed, and practical work experience that is part of the course does not count towards the limit.
What it is worth. The adult minimum wage from 1 April 2026 is NZD 23.95 an hour before tax (employment.govt.nz), so 25 hours at the minimum rate is NZD 598.75 a week before tax (our calculation). That covers a meaningful share of everyday costs, but it does not replace the funds on your statement: INZ assesses the money you have when you apply, not what you expect to earn.
One more detail: moving to another provider or to a lower level of study usually needs a new student visa rather than a variation of the old one (INZ).
Partner and children: how they get visas
Your partner and children cannot be added to your application. Each applies for a relationship-based visa of their own, and which visa they can get depends on the level of your programme (INZ, September 2026):
| Your level of study | Partner | School-age children |
|---|---|---|
| Master's (level 9) or doctorate (level 10) | open work visa (Partner of a Student Work Visa) | student visas supported through the partner's work visa |
| Level 7–8 on the Green List or on the list of qualifications eligible for a post-study work visa | open work visa | through the partner's work visa |
| Other level 7–8 study, diplomas, English | visitor visa | visitor visa, or their own student visa on international terms |
The partner work visa costs from NZD 1,630, requires at least NZD 4,200 in funds, and INZ decides 80% of applications within 5 weeks (INZ). It can be lodged at the same time as yours but is granted after your student visa. From 25 September 2026 both partners must be 18 or older when they apply, and evidence of the relationship only counts from the time both were 18 (INZ news, 25.09.2026). Children under 10 must be in New Zealand with a parent or legal guardian.
The details, a family budget and schooling are on the Studying with your family page.
Why applications are declined and how to avoid it
INZ does not publish decline rates by country, but the reasons follow directly from the visa requirements, and the same ones come up again and again:
- Doubts about genuine intention. The programme has no link to your previous study or work, there is no explanation of why you chose it, or it is below a level you already hold (a diploma after a master's, say) with no clear reason. A good study plan that connects education, work, this programme and your plans afterwards is the cure.
- Unclear funds. A large sum arrived a month before you applied, its source is not documented, or the sponsor has no evidence of income. Put the money in early and collect documents on where it came from.
- An incomplete application. Missing translations, medical documents older than 3 months, police certificates older than 6 months.
- English or preparation that does not add up. The provider formally confirms this in the offer declaration, but INZ checks that the picture is consistent.
- Past visa breaches in any country, not only New Zealand. Hiding them is worse than explaining them.
A decline is not final: you can apply again once the reason is fixed. It costs time and another fee, though, so it pays to have the application checked before you lodge it.
The student visa and an online start with NIU
Joint programmes at Nairi International University (NIU) start online and finish on campus at a New Zealand partner institution. You study from home during the online stage and need no New Zealand visa for it. The student visa is needed for the on-campus stage, and you apply for it with the offer from the New Zealand provider.
- Master of Business Informatics (MBI) — a joint master's by NIU and ICL Graduate Business School in Auckland, level 9, 180 credits. The first semester (60 credits) is online with NIU, followed by one academic year (120 credits) on campus at ICL, about 16 months in total. IELTS Academic 6.5 (no band below 6.0) is needed for the ICL stage but not for the NIU stage. Programme page.
- Bachelor of Business Information Systems (BBIS) — a joint bachelor's by NIU and ICL, level 7, 360 credits. The first academic year is at NIU by distance, followed by on-campus study at ICL. Moving on requires IELTS Academic 6.0 (no band below 5.5) and the NIU certificate for the first year. Programme page.
ICL Graduate Business School is registered with NZQA as a Category 1 private training establishment and is a signatory to the Code of Practice, which every provider enrolling international students must be (NZQA register, checked 30.09.2026).
An indicative visa timeline for the MBI (your adviser will confirm actual dates):
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Month 1 | start online with NIU (any month of the year); begin IELTS preparation |
| Months 1–2 | request police certificates if your total time in NZ will be 24+ months; choose an ICL intake (there are 6 a year) |
| Months 2–3 | sit IELTS; receive the offer of place from ICL; have NZD 20,000 in the account so you can show 3 months of statements |
| Month 3 | chest X-ray (documents less than 3 months old when you apply); lodge the application online |
| Months 3–5 | decision (80% within 8 weeks); tuition payment on the offer's terms; insurance and flights |
| Month 5 | move and start the on-campus year at ICL |
The practical advantage is that during the online semester you are not paying New Zealand living costs, and you can assemble the visa application calmly while already enrolled. The online part also does not get in the way of a later work visa: a post-study work visa after a master's depends on at least 30 weeks of on-campus study in New Zealand, and the year at ICL is designed to meet that, provided the other INZ requirements are met. More on the Post-study work visa page.
The first stage with NIU costs USD 2,499 per semester for the MBI and USD 7,500 per academic year for the BBIS. The cost of the New Zealand stage is calculated individually and confirmed by an adviser for your programme and intake.
Other programmes in the catalogue and what they mean for your visa
The NIU Programs and courses catalogue lists around 200 programmes at nine New Zealand institutions. They all require the same Fee Paying Student Visa; what differs is work rights, family options and the visa after study:
- Master of Management — ICL Graduate Business School — a level 9 master's, so a partner can get an open work visa;
- Master of Business Administration (MBA) — AIS — also level 9;
- Master of Information Technology — NMIT — level 9, studied in Nelson rather than Auckland;
- Postgraduate Diploma in Business Informatics — ICL — level 8, so a partner generally gets a visitor visa, and a work visa only if the qualification is on the INZ lists.
If your English is not there yet, you can start with language preparation. Test requirements are on the English language requirements page, and start dates in Intakes and start dates.
What changes after 16 November 2026
The November 2026 changes do not affect the student visa itself, but they matter for choosing a programme, because the programme determines what happens after you graduate (INZ news, 10.09.2026):
- a level 7 Graduate Diploma will lead to a post-study work visa (for up to 1 year) if you already hold a bachelor's degree and studied on campus in New Zealand for the whole qualification, with no cross-crediting;
- a new 6-month Short-Term Graduate Work Visa will open for level 5–7 qualifications that do not lead to a post-study work visa. It does not support visas for a partner or children;
- post-study work visa applications will only be accepted through the enhanced Immigration Online system.
Sources
All links checked on 30 September 2026.
- Immigration New Zealand — Fee Paying Student Visa: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/fee-paying-student-visa/
- INZ — Student fund requirements: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/process-to-apply/applying-for-a-visa/providing-evidence-and-documents-to-support-your-visa-application/student-fund-requirements/
- INZ — Fees Guide INZ 1028 (May 2026): https://www.immigration.govt.nz/assets/inz/documents/forms-and-guides/Fees-Guide-INZ-1028.pdf
- INZ — International Visitor Levy: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/process-to-apply/applying-for-a-visa/fees-processing-times-and-refunds/paying-the-international-visitor-levy/
- INZ — Working on a student visa: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/study/once-you-have-a-student-visa/working-on-a-student-visa/
- INZ — Upcoming changes to student visa work rights (21.10.2025): https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/news-centre/upcoming-changes-to-student-visa-work-rights/
- INZ — Countries with a low incidence of tuberculosis: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/process-to-apply/applying-for-a-visa/providing-evidence-and-documents-to-support-your-visa-application/health-requirements/countries-with-a-low-incidence-of-tuberculosis/
- INZ — Operational Manual A4.25: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/opsmanual/88698.htm
- INZ — Bringing family on a student visa: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/process-to-apply/once-you-have-a-visa/bringing-family-to-new-zealand/bringing-family-on-a-student-visa/
- INZ — Partner of a Student Work Visa: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/partner-of-a-student-work-visa/
- INZ — Dependent Child Student Visa: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/dependent-child-student-visa/
- INZ — New age and evidence requirements for partnership-based visas (25.09.2026): https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/news-centre/new-age-and-evidence-requirements-for-some-partnership-based-visas/
- INZ — Post-study work visa eligibility extended from 16 November 2026 (10.09.2026): https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/news-centre/post-study-work-visa-eligibility-extended-from-16-november-2026/
- Employment New Zealand — Minimum wage rates: https://www.employment.govt.nz/pay-and-hours/pay-and-wages/minimum-wage/minimum-wage-rates-and-types
- Education New Zealand — Cost of living: https://www.studywithnewzealand.govt.nz/en/plan-your-studies/cost-of-living
- NZQA — ICL Graduate Business School in the provider register: https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/providers/details.do?providerId=754840001
- Lincoln University — International fees 2026: https://www.lincoln.ac.nz/study/fees/international-fees/