How Much Money Do You Need for a New Zealand Student Visa in 2026?

## Quick Facts Understanding how much money you need to show for your New Zealand student visa application: 1. Living costs requirement: NZD $20,000 per year for programmes of 12 months or longer, or NZD $1,667 per month for programmes shorter than 12 months, as required by Immigration New Zealand in 2026. 2. Tuition fees: You must show funds covering the first year of tuition (or the full programme fee if your course is shorter than one year). International undergraduate tuition typically ranges from NZD $30,000 to $52,000 per year depending on the programme and institution. 3. Return travel: You must have funds set aside for a flight back to your home country — typically NZD $1,500 to $2,500 depending on your destination. 4. Total minimum to demonstrate for a one-year programme: between NZD $52,000 and $75,000, combining living costs (NZD $20,000), tuition (variable), and return travel. 5. Acceptable forms of evidence include bank statements, education loan sanction letters, scholarship award letters, and financial undertakings from a sponsor. Cash, overdraft, and credit card limits are not accepted. 6. Funds must be genuinely available to you. Immigration New Zealand will assess whether you have real, unrestricted access to the money — not just that it exists in an account under your name or your sponsor's name. 7. If you are bringing dependants, the living cost requirement increases by NZD $5,000 per year for a partner and NZD $5,000 per year for each dependent child. ## The Core Requirement: What Immigration New Zealand Asks For The funds requirement is one of the most scrutinised parts of any student visa application. Immigration New Zealand's primary concern is that international students do not become a burden on New Zealand's public resources. If you cannot support yourself financially, the government may have to step in — and it wants to avoid that. The requirement is set out clearly in immigration instructions. For programmes lasting 12 months or longer, you must demonstrate that you have NZD $20,000 available for each year of study to cover accommodation, food, transport, and other living expenses. For programmes shorter than 12 months, the calculation is NZD $1,667 for each month of study, or part thereof. This NZD $20,000 figure has been in place since 2012. Despite inflation and rising living costs in New Zealand — particularly in Auckland and Wellington — Immigration New Zealand has not increased this threshold. In practice, many students find that their actual living costs exceed this amount, especially in major cities. Our cost-of-living analysis for 2026 suggests that a realistic annual living budget for an international student in Auckland is closer to NZD $22,000–$26,000, and in Christchurch or Dunedin approximately NZD $18,000–$22,000. It is critical to understand that the funds requirement is a minimum set by immigration policy, not a recommended budget. You should plan your finances conservatively and bring more than the minimum if possible. ## Tuition Funds: What You Must Show Beyond living costs, you must demonstrate that you can pay your tuition fees for the first year of your programme, or for the full programme if it is shorter than one year. The specific amount depends on your course and provider. Here are the 2026 international undergraduate tuition ranges at New Zealand's eight universities: 1. University of Auckland: NZD $37,085–$52,042 per year (Arts through to Engineering) 2. University of Otago: NZD $33,000–$42,000 per year 3. Victoria University of Wellington: NZD $32,000–$42,000 per year 4. University of Canterbury: NZD $32,000–$45,000 per year 5. Massey University: NZD $30,000–$42,000 per year 6. University of Waikato: NZD $29,000–$40,000 per year 7. Lincoln University: NZD $30,000–$38,000 per year 8. Auckland University of Technology (AUT): NZD $31,000–$42,000 per year For postgraduate programmes, fees are typically 10-20% higher. PhD programmes are an exception — international PhD students pay domestic tuition rates (approximately NZD $7,800 per year across all universities), which significantly reduces the total funds you need to demonstrate. If you have paid tuition in advance, you can provide a receipt from your education provider. This reduces the amount of liquid funds you need to show at the time of application. Many students pay their first-year tuition before applying for the visa, as this also strengthens the bona fide impression of their application. ## Acceptable Evidence of Funds Immigration New Zealand accepts several types of evidence to prove you meet the funds requirement. Each has its own evidentiary standard: 1. Bank statements in your name. These must cover the last six months and show a consistent balance that meets or exceeds the required amount. Sudden large deposits just before the application will raise questions — you may need to explain their source. 2. Bank statements in a sponsor's name. If a parent, relative, or other sponsor is funding your studies, you can submit their bank statements. You will also need a completed Financial Undertaking form (INZ 1014 or 1025), signed by the sponsor, declaring their commitment to support you. 3. Education loan sanction letters. If you are taking out an education loan from a recognised bank, a sanction letter confirming the loan amount and disbursement schedule is acceptable. Immigration New Zealand prefers loans from banks rather than unregulated private lenders. 4. Scholarship award letters. If you hold a scholarship — whether from the New Zealand government, your home government, or the university — the award letter must clearly state the amount, what it covers (tuition, living costs, or both), and the duration. 5. Evidence of ongoing income. If your sponsor has regular employment income, pay slips and employment contracts can supplement bank statements to demonstrate ongoing capacity to fund your studies. Forms of funds that are not accepted include: cash holdings (without verifiable bank statements), credit card limits, overdraft facilities, property deeds, fixed assets (unless they are being liquidated with documented evidence), and informal promises of support without a formal Financial Undertaking. ## Return Travel and Other Costs In addition to living costs and tuition, Immigration New Zealand expects you to have funds for a return ticket to your home country or the means to purchase one. This is typically an additional NZD $1,500–$2,500 depending on your country of origin. You do not need to hold a physical ticket at the time of application — but you should have the money set aside. There is also the visa application fee itself: approximately NZD $380 in 2026. Additionally, you will incur costs for medical examinations (NZD $200–$600 depending on your country), police certificates (country-dependent), document translation and certification, and health and travel insurance premiums (typically NZD $500–$800 per year). If you plan to bring a partner, the living cost requirement increases by NZD $5,000 per year for your partner. For each dependent child, you must show an additional NZD $5,000 per year. This means a student with a partner and one child must demonstrate NZD $30,000 per year in living costs alone, before tuition. ## Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them Many student visa applications are delayed or declined because of issues with the funds evidence. Here are the most frequent problems: 1. Insufficient funds relative to the requirement. Always calculate carefully: living costs (NZD $20,000/year) plus tuition (check your offer letter) plus return travel. Round up, not down. 2. Stale bank statements. Statements must be recent — typically within the last 1-3 months at the time of application. 3. Unexplained large deposits. If your bank account shows a sudden large deposit shortly before your application, Immigration New Zealand may suspect the funds are borrowed temporarily to meet the requirement and will be withdrawn after the visa is granted. Provide a paper trail explaining the source. 4. Sponsor documents incomplete. If using a sponsor, the Financial Undertaking form must be fully completed, signed, and accompanied by identity documents for the sponsor. Missing any part of this can cause delays. 5. Currency fluctuation risk. Immigration New Zealand assesses funds in New Zealand dollars. If your funds are held in a foreign currency, a sharp exchange rate movement between submission and assessment could push you below the threshold. Maintain a buffer of 10-15% above the minimum. ## FAQ ### Q1: Can I show my parents' bank statements instead of my own? Yes. Immigration New Zealand accepts sponsor funding. Your parents (or another sponsor) must complete a Financial Undertaking form and provide their bank statements, identity documents, and evidence of their relationship to you. The sponsor does not need to be a New Zealand citizen or resident. ### Q2: What if my living costs will actually be lower — for example, I will live with relatives? Even if you plan to live with relatives in New Zealand and your accommodation costs will be lower, you must still demonstrate the full NZD $20,000 per year (or NZD $1,667/month) in available funds. Immigration New Zealand does not reduce the requirement based on your expected living arrangements. However, a letter of support from the relative providing free accommodation can strengthen the overall credibility of your application. ### Q3: Do I need to show the full amount in a single bank account? No. You can use multiple bank accounts, a combination of bank statements and an education loan, or part scholarship and part personal funds. What matters is that the total demonstrable amount meets or exceeds the requirement and that all sources are properly documented. ### Q4: Can I use a fixed deposit or term deposit as evidence? Yes. Fixed deposits and term deposits are acceptable if they are in your name or your sponsor's name, held in a recognised bank, and can be accessed (even if with a penalty) if needed for your living expenses. Provide the deposit certificate or statement clearly showing the amount and maturity. ## Sources - Immigration New Zealand — Student Visa Funds: www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/visas/visa/fee-paying-student-visa - Immigration New Zealand — Financial Undertaking Forms (INZ 1014, 1025): www.immigration.govt.nz - Education New Zealand — Cost of Living: www.studywithnewzealand.govt.nz - Employment New Zealand — Minimum Wage 2026: www.employment.govt.nz - New Zealand universities — International tuition fees (individual university websites accessible via universitiesnz.ac.nz)