Student Visa
The New Zealand student visa, step by step
What the process involves
- 1 Receive an Offer of Place from your chosen New Zealand university
- 2 Show evidence of funds for tuition and living costs (NZ$20,000/year minimum for living costs)
- 3 Complete a medical examination and, where required, a chest X-ray
- 4 Apply for the Student visa through Immigration New Zealand (INZ)
- 5 Receive your visa decision and book travel
Work rights
Most student visa holders can work part-time during term and full-time during scheduled breaks, and eligible graduates may qualify for a post-study work visa afterward.
What we help with
- ✓ A document checklist built around your specific university and course
- ✓ Review of your financial evidence before submission
- ✓ Guidance on booking your medical exam
- ✓ A timeline working backwards from your intake date
We recommend starting the visa process around 3 months before your intended travel date, once your Offer of Place and financial documents are ready.
Immigration New Zealand requires evidence of at least NZ$20,000 per year for living costs, on top of tuition fees — the exact figure is confirmed at the time of application.
Most student visa holders can work up to 20 hours a week during term time and full-time during scheduled term breaks, subject to visa conditions.
Yes, in most cases — a panel physician medical exam and sometimes a chest X-ray are required as part of the application.