Fee Paying Student Visa
The Fee Paying Student Visa is the main student visa for international students paying their own tuition. Immigration New Zealand describes it this way: “This visa is 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.” It costs from NZD $850. INZ publishes a processing time of 80% within 8 weeks.
Checked against immigration.govt.nz on 2026-09-15
What Immigration New Zealand publishes
- Length of stay
- Up to
- 4 years
- Cost
- From
- NZD $850
- Processing time
- 80% within
- 8 weeks
Copied from the Fee Paying Student Visa page at immigration.govt.nz on 2026-09-15. Figures change without notice.
To apply you must
- be offered a place on a course by an approved education provider
- have enough money to pay your tuition fees, or have a scholarship
- have enough money to pay your living expenses, or have an acceptable sponsor
- declare that you will have insurance that is acceptable to your education provider
- have your parent or legal guardian with you if you are aged under 10 and not living in an New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA)-approved hostel
- meet the other requirements of this visa.
INZ’s own wording, unedited.
This visa lets you
- study full-time in New Zealand on an approved course, including primary, secondary, tertiary study
- work part-time up to 25 hours a week while studying and full-time in holidays, depending on your visa conditions
- travel in and out of New Zealand until your visa expires.
INZ’s own wording, unedited.
Where to apply
You apply to Immigration New Zealand, not to us. The Fee Paying Student Visa page carries the application link, the full requirements and the current fee.
Questions about the Fee Paying Student Visa
What does the Fee Paying Student Visa cost?
Immigration New Zealand publishes a cost of NZD $850 for this visa, as the "from" figure — the lowest published amount. Medicals, police certificates, translations and any adviser's fee are separate. Checked on 2026-09-15; confirm on the INZ page.
How long does the Fee Paying Student Visa take?
Immigration New Zealand publishes 80% within 8 weeks for this visa. That is a published average, not a promise about any one application. Checked on 2026-09-15; the current figure is on the INZ page.
Who can apply for the Fee Paying Student Visa?
INZ's own summary is: "This visa is 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." The published criteria are listed above, word for word. Whether any particular person meets them is a question for Immigration New Zealand, or for a licensed immigration adviser or a New Zealand lawyer — not for this site.
Where do I apply?
On Immigration New Zealand's own website. Start at Fee Paying Student Visa. Applying through this site is not possible: we are an information site and we cannot lodge or handle an application.
Can NZ Visas tell me whether I qualify?
No, and we would be breaking the law if we did. Under the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, telling somebody how the rules apply to their own immigration matter is licensed work. We republish the published rules and stop there. More on where that line sits.
Sources
Read on 2026-09-15. Immigration rules change: if this page and the source disagree, the source is right.
Once you have a decision
Getting the visa is one job; landing here is another. Our settling-in guides cover the IRD number, a bank account, a rental, schools, a doctor and a driver licence — all free, and all separate from anything to do with your visa.