Independent advisory firm — not a government agency. Student visas are issued only by Immigration New Zealand.
New Zealand offers internationally recognised universities, institutes of technology and polytechnics, and a welcoming, safe environment. The Fee Paying Student Visa lets you study full-time with an approved provider and, for eligible students, work part-time during your course.
Rules changed in 2025 and 2026: work hours rose to 25 per week, the living-cost requirement is NZD 20,000 per year, and the post-study work options are being reshaped. Choosing the right course level now can affect your options after you graduate.
Eight universities and a wide range of vocational providers.
Eligible students can work up to 25 hours per week in term and full-time in scheduled holidays.
The Post Study Work Visa gives eligible graduates open work rights, with changes reported from 16 November 2026.
1-to-1 Advisor Guidance
Funds, work rights and post-study planning in one place
For students funding their own study in a full-time course of more than three months at an approved provider. You apply online with an offer of place and evidence of funds.
For students following a series of connected courses with an approved provider or group, such as English language, foundation and degree study, under one visa.
For students on approved exchange programmes or scholarships funded by a foreign government. Exchange students can now work up to 25 hours a week according to published guidance.
Figures checked October 2026. Confirm current amounts with the official source before you apply.
We discuss your academic background, budget, goals and timeline.
We help you compare approved providers, course levels and post-study implications.
We guide you through accepting your offer and meeting its conditions.
We help you organise financial, medical and academic evidence.
We review the details of your online application with you before it is submitted.
Insurance, accommodation, travel and arrival planning.
Work rights, the Post Study Work Visa and next steps.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fee Paying Student Visa (online) | About NZD 850 | Plus the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy; confirm on INZ. |
| Pathway Student Visa | About NZD 295 | Confirm the current fee on INZ. |
| Proof of living funds (shown, not paid) | NZD 20,000 per year | NZD 1,667 per month for courses under a year, plus tuition. |
| Medical and police certificates | Varies | Where required; costs set by providers. |
| Insurance | Varies | Medical and travel insurance required by providers. |
| Tuition fees | Varies | Set by each provider. |
Fees and funds thresholds are set by the New Zealand Government and change without notice. Confirm current amounts on the INZ website before applying.
Recognised universities and applied vocational study.
Part-time work during study and post-study work options.
A safe, friendly environment for international students.
Outdoor lifestyle and high quality of living.
A living-cost requirement lower than several competing destinations.
Answers to the questions applicants ask most.
The Fee Paying Student Visa is the standard visa for international students who fund their own study at an approved New Zealand education provider for more than three months. It is issued only by Immigration New Zealand (INZ). You need an offer of place before you apply.
Yes. UAE residents normally apply online through an INZ account, uploading their offer of place, funds evidence and other documents. Start well before your course start date, because providers, offer conditions and evidence checks all take time.
The main types are the Fee Paying Student Visa, the Pathway Student Visa for students moving through a sequence of courses with one provider group, the Exchange Student Visa, and the Foreign Government Supported Student Visa. Your provider can confirm which one applies to your course.
Published guidance puts the online Fee Paying Student Visa application fee at about NZD 850, plus the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy, and about NZD 295 for a Pathway Student Visa. Older pages quote lower figures, so confirm the current fees on the INZ website before you apply.
For tertiary and English-language study you must show NZD 20,000 for each year of your course, or NZD 1,667 per month for courses shorter than a year, in addition to your tuition fees. The living-cost requirement for school students is lower. Confirm the figure that applies on the date you apply.
INZ does not set one English test for all student visa applicants. Your education provider sets its own English standard for admission, and you may be asked for results as part of your offer of place. Check your institution's requirements early.
Providers normally require students to hold approved medical and travel insurance for their stay, and INZ may ask for a medical certificate or chest X-ray for longer courses. A police certificate may also be requested. Your INZ checklist lists exactly what applies to you.
INZ publishes current processing times and they vary by season, visa type and the completeness of your application. Decisions are not guaranteed within any time frame, so lodge a full application as early as your offer of place allows.
Eligible students can work up to 25 hours per week during term, raised from 20 hours on 3 November 2025, and full-time in scheduled holidays. Work rights depend on your course level and length and are shown in your visa conditions, so check your own visa before you accept a job.
Published guidance indicates that students on approved exchange programmes, including one-semester programmes, can now work up to 25 hours per week. Confirm your eligibility with INZ and your sending institution before you start work.
Children may be able to attend school in New Zealand, and some partners can apply for a visa to accompany a student. Partner work rights have been tightened and generally depend on your course level, so check the current rules before you plan on a second income.
The Post Study Work Visa gives eligible graduates of New Zealand qualifications open work rights without an employer or role restriction. Its length depends on the level and length of your qualification, so choose your course with this in mind and confirm eligibility with INZ before enrolling.
Two post-study changes are reported to start from 16 November 2026: a new six-month Short-term Graduate Work Visa, and expanded Post Study Work Visa eligibility for Graduate Diploma holders at Level 7. Confirm the final settings on the INZ website before relying on them.
Not automatically. Study and New Zealand work experience can help you qualify for a skilled work or residence pathway, but residence rules change and no outcome is guaranteed. Plan your course and job search around current requirements, not assumptions.
Typically a valid passport, your offer of place, proof of tuition payment or funding, evidence of living funds, medical and police certificates where required, English results if your provider asks for them, and a completed online application. Your INZ checklist shows exactly what applies.
Your visa conditions are linked to your course and provider, so changing either generally means asking INZ to vary your conditions or applying for a new visa. Speak to your provider and an adviser before you change anything.
Yes, with extra safeguards. Younger students need suitable guardian and accommodation arrangements approved by their school, and the funds requirement differs for school students. Parents should also review the school's pastoral-care arrangements.
New Zealand law requires anyone giving immigration advice about New Zealand, including from overseas, to be a licensed immigration adviser, a New Zealand lawyer or another exempt person. Check any adviser on the Immigration Advisers Authority register before you engage them.
INZ will explain the reason for the decision. Depending on the circumstances you may be able to reapply with new evidence or use the review options available. Reapplying without addressing the reasons rarely succeeds, so review the decision with an adviser first.
No. Visatrix Global is an independent advisory firm. Only Immigration New Zealand decides whether a visa is granted, and no consultant can guarantee approval or processing times. We help you shortlist courses and prepare an accurate, well-organised application.
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Disclaimer: Visatrix Global Services – FZCO is an independent advisory firm licensed in the UAE. We are not a government agency and are not affiliated with the New Zealand Government, Immigration New Zealand or any education provider. Student visas are issued only by Immigration New Zealand, and its officers make all decisions. We do not guarantee admission, visa approval, post-study work eligibility or processing times. Our services are limited to education counselling and application-document organisation; regulated immigration advice on New Zealand applications must come from a licensed immigration adviser, a New Zealand lawyer or another exempt person, which you can verify on the Immigration Advisers Authority register. Rules, fees and funds thresholds change frequently; always confirm them with official sources before acting.
