New Zealand Fee Paying Student Visa: The Complete Guide for 2026

## Quick Facts If you are planning to study in New Zealand as an international student, here is what the Fee Paying Student Visa involves: 1. You must have an offer of place from a New Zealand education provider approved by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) or recognised by Immigration New Zealand. 2. The visa allows full-time study in New Zealand for programmes longer than three months. Short courses under three months can often be studied on a visitor visa. 3. You must hold sufficient funds — at least NZD $20,000 per year for living costs (or NZD $1,667 per month for shorter courses) plus tuition fees for the first year or the full programme if it is shorter. 4. The application fee for a Fee Paying Student Visa is approximately NZD $380 (2026 figure from Immigration New Zealand), plus an immigration levy. 5. Processing times vary by country but typically range from 3 to 8 weeks. Immigration New Zealand recommends applying at least 3 months before your course starts. 6. Students on this visa can work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during scheduled holidays. The 2026 adult minimum wage is NZD $23.15 per hour from 1 April 2026. 7. You are required to have approved medical and travel insurance for the duration of your stay under the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021. ## What Is the Fee Paying Student Visa? The Fee Paying Student Visa is the primary immigration pathway for international students who want to study full-time at a New Zealand education provider. It is called "fee paying" because it requires you to be enrolled in a course for which you are paying the full international tuition — it does not cover government-subsidised domestic students. This visa is mandatory for any course of study longer than three months. It covers every level of the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF), from English language programmes at Level 1 through to doctoral degrees at Level 10. Whether you are enrolling in a certificate, diploma, bachelor's degree, master's programme, or PhD, if you are classified as an international student, this is the visa you need. The visa is granted for the duration of your course of study or for a maximum period determined by Immigration New Zealand. If your programme spans multiple years, the visa is typically granted for the full length of the course, though in some cases Immigration New Zealand may issue it in shorter increments. You must maintain valid enrolment and make satisfactory academic progress to remain compliant with visa conditions. One critical distinction: the Fee Paying Student Visa is not a pathway visa. This means that if you plan to study multiple consecutive programmes — for example, a foundation course followed by a bachelor's degree — you may be eligible for a Pathway Student Visa instead, which streamlines the process. If you are only studying one programme, the Fee Paying Student Visa is the correct choice. ## Who Is Eligible? To qualify for a Fee Paying Student Visa in 2026, you must meet the following core requirements: 1. An offer of place. You must hold an unconditional offer of place from an education provider that is a signatory to the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021. Conditional offers are not sufficient — the conditions must be cleared before you apply. 2. Sufficient funds. You must demonstrate that you have enough money to cover your living costs and tuition fees. The minimum living cost requirement is NZD $20,000 per year of study, or NZD $1,667 per month for programmes shorter than 12 months. You must also show funds for your tuition for the first year or the entire programme if it is shorter than one year. 3. Genuine intentions. You must satisfy Immigration New Zealand that you are a bona fide applicant — meaning you genuinely intend to study and will comply with the conditions of your visa. This is assessed through your application history, the relevance of your chosen course to your background, and your ties to your home country. 4. Health and character. You must meet New Zealand's health and character requirements. This typically involves a medical examination and chest X-ray (depending on your country of origin and the length of your stay) and a police certificate from your home country and any country where you have lived for more than five years since age 17. 5. Approved insurance. You must hold medical and travel insurance that meets the requirements set out in the Code of Practice. This insurance must cover the entire duration of your intended stay. 6. Genuine access to funds. It is not enough to show funds in an account — Immigration New Zealand must be satisfied you have genuine access to those funds for your time in New Zealand. ## The Application Process: Step by Step Applying for a Fee Paying Student Visa is done through Immigration Online, the digital portal operated by Immigration New Zealand. Here is the step-by-step process as of 2026: Step 1: Receive your unconditional offer of place. Before you can apply, your education provider must issue you an unconditional offer. Your offer letter must state the programme name, start and end dates, and the tuition fee amount for the first year. Step 2: Gather your documents. You will need your passport (valid for at least three months beyond your intended departure from New Zealand), your offer of place, evidence of funds, medical certificates (if required), police certificates, a passport-style photograph, and proof of insurance. Step 3: Create an Immigration Online account. Visit immigration.govt.nz and register for a RealMe account, which gives you access to Immigration Online. This is the platform where you will complete and submit your application. Step 4: Complete the online application form. The form asks for your personal details, education history, employment history, health declaration, character declaration, and details about your intended course of study in New Zealand. Step 5: Upload your supporting documents. All documents must be in English or accompanied by certified English translations. Immigration New Zealand accepts PDF, JPG, and PNG formats. Step 6: Pay the application fee. The fee as of 2026 is approximately NZD $380 for the visa application, plus an immigration levy. Payment is made online by credit or debit card. Step 7: Submit and wait. Once submitted, your application enters a queue for processing. You can track its status through your Immigration Online account. If Immigration New Zealand requires additional information, they will contact you through the portal. Step 8: Receive your eVisa. If approved, you will receive an eVisa linked to your passport. You do not receive a physical label or stamp — the visa is electronic and verified by airlines and border officials using your passport number. ## Visa Conditions You Must Follow Once your Fee Paying Student Visa is granted, it comes with legally binding conditions. Breaching any of them can result in your visa being cancelled and you being required to leave New Zealand. 1. Enrol and attend. You must enrol in the programme stated on your visa and maintain satisfactory attendance and academic progress. Your education provider reports this to Immigration New Zealand. 2. Work limits. You may work up to 20 hours per week during term time. During scheduled holidays (including summer break and semester breaks), you may work full-time. You cannot be self-employed or operate a business. 3. Maintain insurance. You must hold approved medical and travel insurance continuously throughout your stay. 4. Funds maintenance. While it is not actively monitored day-to-day, Immigration New Zealand expects you to maintain sufficient funds. If you cannot support yourself and seek emergency assistance from the New Zealand government, your visa status may be affected. 5. Address reporting. You must inform Immigration New Zealand of your residential address in New Zealand and update it if you move. 6. Course changes. If you want to change your programme or education provider, you must apply for a variation of conditions or a new visa. You cannot simply switch courses without notifying Immigration New Zealand. ## What Happens After Your Studies Finish? When your course of study ends, you have several options depending on your circumstances and goals: 1. Depart New Zealand. If you do not intend to stay, you must leave before your visa expires. Overstaying has serious consequences for any future visa applications to New Zealand. 2. Apply for a Post Study Work Visa. If you have completed a qualification at Level 4 or above on the NZQF, you may be eligible for a Post Study Work Visa. The duration depends on your qualification level: up to 3 years for a bachelor's degree or higher, and 1-2 years for lower-level qualifications. 3. Apply for a further student visa. If you have been accepted into another programme, you can apply for a new Fee Paying Student Visa or, if you are continuing a planned pathway, extend under existing arrangements. 4. Transition to a work visa. If you receive a job offer from an accredited employer, you may be eligible for an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). ## FAQ ### Q1: Can I bring my family on a Fee Paying Student Visa? Your partner and dependent children can apply for visas based on your student visa. Partners of students enrolled in Level 7 or 8 qualifications on the Green List, or Level 9 or 10 qualifications, may be eligible for an open work visa. Dependent children can attend school as domestic students (paying no international tuition) if their parent is studying at Level 7 or above. ### Q2: How long before my course starts should I apply? Immigration New Zealand recommends applying at least 3 months before your programme start date. Processing times vary by country — applicants from some countries may receive a decision in 3-4 weeks, while others may wait 8 weeks or longer. Check the current processing times for your country on immigration.govt.nz. ### Q3: What happens if my visa application is refused? If your application is refused, you will receive a letter explaining the reasons. You may have the right to appeal to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal within 42 days of the decision. You can also reapply if you can address the reasons for refusal — for example, by providing stronger evidence of funds or clarifying your study intentions. ### Q4: Can I travel in and out of New Zealand on a student visa? Yes. A Fee Paying Student Visa typically includes multiple entry travel conditions, meaning you can leave and re-enter New Zealand while your visa is valid. However, if your visa is about to expire and you leave New Zealand, you may not be allowed to re-enter. Always check your visa expiry date before travelling. ### Q5: Do I need to show a return ticket? Immigration New Zealand requires that you have enough funds for a return ticket home or onward travel, but you are not required to hold a physical return ticket at the time of application. Having NZD $1,000–$2,000 set aside for this purpose in addition to your living costs is advisable. ## Sources - Immigration New Zealand — Fee Paying Student Visa: www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/visas/visa/fee-paying-student-visa - Immigration New Zealand — Immigration Online: www.immigration.govt.nz/immigrationonline - Education New Zealand — Study in New Zealand: www.studywithnewzealand.govt.nz - New Zealand Legislation — Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021: www.legislation.govt.nz - New Zealand Qualifications Authority: www.nzqa.govt.nz - Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment — Minimum Wage: www.employment.govt.nz