New Zealand Student Visa 2025 : Types, Requirements, Processing Time, Cost
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New Zealand Student Visa 2025 : Types, Requirements, Processing Time, Cost

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Raj
Raj Vimal
Assistant Manager Editorial
Updated on Nov 22, 2025 11:45 IST
To get New Zealand student visa, students need to apply online only. This change has been implemented on 18 August 2025. Indian students need to have an admission offer letter from a valid university of NZ. Students must have proof of sufficient funds to cover tuition fee & living expenses.
New Zealand Student Visa

If you are dreaming of studying in New Zealand, there’s good news for you. The New Zealand student visa process is now 100% digital. It means no paper work in offline mode. It is making it easier and more transparent for Indian students than ever before. With the new Immigration Online system, applying for your New Zealand student visa is quicker, paperless, and fully streamlined.

New Zealand Student visa is a legal document that allows Indian students to complete higher studies here. Now, you need to have just few minutes for NZ study visa application and focus more on planning your academic adventure. Whether you are aiming for undergraduate, postgraduate, or doctoral studies university of NZ, this update will help every international student. The NZ student visa processing time varies between 8-10 weeks. If you have submitted application well then approval chances are high. The New Zealand student visa fee is NZD 850 for online applications.

Table of contents
  • New Zealand Student Visa Details
  • Who Can Apply for New Zealand Student Visa?
  • New Zealand Student Visa Application Fee
  • New Zealand Student Visa Documents Required
  • How to Apply for a New Zealand Student Visa
  • Additional Information for NZ Study Visa
  • New Zealand High Commission in India
  • New Zealand Study Visa Processing Time
  • Scholarships for Studying in New Zealand
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New Zealand Student Visa Details

Students who want to study in New Zealand need to apply and get NZ student visa. For any course more than 3 months. Check out some key requirements to get a New Zealand student visa:

  • A letter of acceptance from a New Zealand university.
  • Proof of funds to cover your living expenses. Also proof of income.
  • Student must have proof of full medical and travel insurance before applying for a student visa.
  • A valid passport is the most important document which a student must have.
  • Show any proof that you can speak, listen, write and understand the English language well.

Who Can Apply for New Zealand Student Visa?

Check out eligibility to get New Zealand student visa for an international student:

  • Confirmed Admission: Applicant must have confirmed their offer letter for a course registered under Ministry of Education of New Zealand or NZQA.
  • Proof of Funds: Applicants must show proof of NZD 20,000 for a year to stay in New Zealand for study.
  • Per Month Fund: An applicant must maintain NZD 1,667 per month to survive in New Zealand.
  • A Ticket to Return: You must either provide a return ticket to your home country, or show that you have sufficient funds to buy one. This proves you have the means to leave New Zealand when your visa expires.

New Zealand Student Visa Application Fee

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Students who are submitting their Student Visa Application online are required to pay NZD 850, which is INR 42,857 (approximately).

New Zealand Student Visa Documents Required

Candidates looking to apply for their New Zealand Student Visa must have the following documents as part of their visa application process: 

Requirement Details / Examples
Valid Passport Must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the intended departure from New Zealand.
Offer of Place From an approved New Zealand education provider.
Tuition Fees Proof Receipt, payment confirmation, scholarship letter, or education loan letter.
Proof of Funds

Typically NZD $20,000 per year (or NZD $1,667/month for courses under a year).

Evidence can include:

  • Bank statements
  • Scholarship letters
  • Education loan sanction letters
  • Funds Transfer Scheme (FTS) certificate, encouraged for Indian citizens
Medical / Chest X-ray

Required if applicable (depends on length of stay and personal circumstances).

  • If  course duration is 6 months: you do not normally need a chest X-ray
  • If course duration is 12 months: you do not normally need a medical certificate.
Police Certificate May be required depending on age and length of stay.
Visa Photograph(s) One acceptable photo if applying online; two if applying on paper.
Proof of Onward Travel Return ticket or evidence of funds to purchase one.
Certified Translations Required for any non-English documents.
Insurance Evidence of travel and health insurance that meets New Zealand requirements (through a provider or independently).
Parental / Guardian Consent Needed if under 18, or under 10 and not living in an NZQA-approved hostel.
Work-related Documents If planning to work, include parental and provider permission if under 18.
Additional Documents
  • Scores from tests that your college required, such as TOEFL, GRE, or GMAT scores
  • Transcripts, diplomas, degrees, or certificates from schools you attended

*Note: Additional documentation may be required. During the personal interview, additional documents may be requested by the interviewer. These may be documents to prove evidence of academic or financial status.

Note: As an evidence of identity, INZ accepts only PAN card or Aadhar Card. Voter ID, Ration Card, academic documents or driving license are not acceptable as evidence of identity.

Related Reads:

How to Apply for a New Zealand Student Visa

The online method is not only less time-consuming but also less expensive as compared to the post. Here is how to complete your application online using NZ Immigration Online.

  • Secure admission and obtain an official offer letter from a New Zealand approved university.
  • Prepare your all document.
  • Visit official NZ Immigration Online portal. Register for a new account.
  • Choose correct student visa type.
  • Fill out application accurately, upload all required documents, and pay the visa fee online.
  • Monitor your New Zealand student visa application through your online account. Respond quickly if Immigration NZ requests.
  • Once approved, you will receive an eVisa.

Additional Information for NZ Study Visa

You can work part-time in New Zealand, for up to 20 hours per week on your student visa. Here are important details that you should know:

Study Type Work Rights
Any program (requirement) Must complete within the duration stated in the offer letter.
Post-study work option Can apply for a Post-study Work Visa (valid up to 12 months) if no job offer.
General courses Work up to 20 hours/week if:
  • Course is at least 2 years long, OR
  • Qualification counts towards Skilled Migrant visa points, OR
  • English language course with IELTS 5.0+.
Full-time program (≥ 1 year) Work full-time during all vacations.
Full-time program (8+ months, 2 semesters, <120 credits) Work full-time only during the Christmas & New Year holidays.
Master’s by research / PhD No restrictions, can work unlimited hours.

New Zealand High Commission in India

Provided below is the contact information of various New Zealand High Commissions located across the country.

Office Details
New Zealand High Commission, New Delhi

Sir Edmund Hillary Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110 021, India

  • Telephone: +91-11-4688 3170
  • Fax: +91-11-4688 3165
  • Email: nzhcindia@mfat.govt.nz
New Zealand Consulate-General, Mumbai

Level 2, Maker Maxity, 3rd North Avenue, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai 400 051, India

New Zealand Study Visa Processing Time

On average a student visa application is processed within 20-30 days in New Zealand for international students:

NZ Education Provider

Average NZ Study Visa Processing Time

Te Pūkenga

2 weeks

PTEs

3 weeks

Universities

2 weeks

Schools

2 weeks

Source: Official Website of NZ Government.

Scholarships for Studying in New Zealand

Arranging finances for studying in New Zealand is a great concern for international students. However, the government of New Zealand and various universities are offering a number of scholarships that students can avail of and gain knowledge. We have listed out the top scholarships that students can apply to study in New Zealand. Other Scholarships include:

Candidates looking for assistance with universities in New Zealand can get in touch with our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors on our website. Readers with queries can get in touch with us in the comments section below.







Q:   Is IELTS required for NZ student visa?
A:

Yes, IELTS is required for a New Zealand student visa. It is an eligibility to proove your English language proficiency if you're from a non-English-speaking country. Minimum IELTS scores vary by course level. However, there are some alterantives of IELTS scores TOEFL or PTE.

Q:   When should an international student apply for a student visa in New Zealand?
A:

In order to study in New Zealand international, students can apply for a study visa of NZ after receiving their confirmation letters from the respective universities. International students should ideally apply 8 weeks before travelling to study in New Zealand. Applicants should keep some buffer time so that they are able to fulfil all formalities and furshish all documents as and when needed. 

Q:   How much money do I need for a New Zealand student visa?
A:

For New Zealand student visa, students must show proof of NZD20,000 per year for living expenses, and tuition fees. Funds must be accessible via bank statements or approved schemes. If students have scholarships or sponsor then letter issued by them are also accepted as financial proof.

About the Author
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Written by
Raj Vimal
Assistant Manager Editorial
Hi, I am Raj. I help Indian students figure out study abroad without the confusion. For 8+ years, mostly in Ed-Tech, I have written about the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. I cover what peo Read Full Bio
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Reviewed by
Anuradha
All courses in ANZ
Armed with B.Com from Delhi University, Anuradha Sharma has accumulated rich experience as an education counsellor. She is especially adept at handling Australia and NZ admission procedure. Before becoming a GTE Exp Read Full Bio
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Comments

(58)

s

sarabjeet kaur

4 years ago

I have valid visa to enter NZ ,,Any chance border will open for post study work visa holder who stuck offshore migrants

Reply to sarabjeet kaur

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Rahul Singha

4 years ago

Hello Sarabjeet. The situation is very unpredictable with the advent of the Delta variant of the virus. Would request you to keep check the official website for regular updates.

i

iffat faleela

4 years ago

hi rahul, can a parent accompany with the student to newzealand

Reply to iffat faleela

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Rahul Singha

4 years ago

Hello Iffat. You would be required to apply for a different visa category.

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Ravikant Kurra

4 years ago

Hi i am planning to study in NZ and already my aunt and uncle live there, so if i am going to stay with them how do i show it to the government or university

Reply to Ravikant Kurra

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Rahul Singha

4 years ago

Hello Ravikant. You can mention this under the accommodation category in your application form.

P

Priyanka

5 years ago

Hii...What are the chances of getting admission in new zealand as the pandemic is still going on, so will the process of admission & accepting applications of international students would be made?

Reply to Priyanka

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Ashish Surti

5 years ago

hi rahul . i had applied for for my visa in march 2020 . what are my chances for getting a student visa for new zealand for feb 2021 ?

Reply to Ashish Surti

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Rahul Singha

5 years ago

Hello Ashish. There is obviously a lot of uncertainty looming over international travel for next year. While most universities are promoting students to do a semester or two at home via the remote method and then travel to the country once travel restrictions are lifted. you can get more updates he

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