New Zealand visa guide
The New Zealand Student Visa (Fee Paying Student Visa) is the route used by the overwhelming majority of Indian students. It covers full-time enrolment in a single qualification at an approved school, university, polytechnic or private training establishment, and is granted for the full course length, up to four years on one visa.
The application turns on three things: a genuine offer of place from an approved provider, clear proof of tuition and living-cost funds (NZD 20,000 per year), and a credible study plan. India is part of Immigration NZ's Funds Transfer Scheme (FTS) with ANZ Bank: strongly recommended, because unclear finances are the single biggest cause of Indian student refusals. Eligible students can work up to 25 hours a week during term.
Lifeset Overseas guides the offer of place, the FTS funds route, the statement of purpose and the document file so your genuineness and your finances are both beyond question.
New Zealand Fee Paying Student Visa from India
Immigration New Zealand describes the Fee Paying Student Visa as the visa "for students who are paying international tuition fees themselves, or with support from family, a loan, or a partial scholarship. You must have an offer of place from an approved education provider."
Cost, timing and work rights: from Immigration New Zealand
Cost
- INZ position
- "NZD $850"
When to apply
- INZ position
- "Apply for your student visa at least 3 months before you plan to travel. Student visa processing is busiest between October and March."
Work
- INZ position
- "work part-time up to 25 hours a week while studying and full-time in holidays, depending on your visa conditions"
Tuition
- INZ position
- "You must be able to show you have paid the tuition fees for 1 course, or 1 year of study, whichever is shorter."
Insurance
- INZ position
- "declare that you will have insurance that is acceptable to your education provider" and "have full medical and travel insurance for your stay"
The fee is paid to INZ and is not refunded on refusal; a separate International Visitor Levy may apply.
The offer of place
You must have been offered a place by an approved education provider that is a signatory to the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021. Applicants outside New Zealand "can apply with a conditional offer of place"; INZ can approve the visa in principle and the final documents follow. The offer must carry the provider's signed declaration that it has assessed the student.
Funds beyond tuition
INZ publishes separate student fund requirements for living costs, and Indian applicants are assessed on the source and history of the money, not only its amount. Applications are made online through Immigration Online.
Official sources
- Immigration New Zealand, Fee Paying Student Visa: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/fee-paying-student-visa/
- Immigration New Zealand, 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/
Quotations above were checked against these pages on 30 September 2026. Fees and rules change; the official page always prevails.
