New Zealand revised its Fee Paying Student Visa fee in January 2026, raised weekly work hours to 25 in late 2025, and is opening a new Short-Term Graduate Work Visa in November 2026. Hike Visa builds your application to the standard Immigration New Zealand is applying right now — not last year's rules.
What changed this year
Figures per Immigration New Zealand notices. Confirmed current as of this page's last review.
Immigration New Zealand's International Education: Going for Growth plan has reshaped the Fee Paying Student Visa over the past year. The application fee was revised to NZD $850 from January 2026, plus the standard International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) of NZD $100. Despite the fee change, New Zealand remains meaningfully cheaper than Australia's Subclass 500 and comparable to Canada's study permit once total costs are weighed.
From 3 November 2025, eligible students on a valid study visa can work up to 25 hours per week during term time, up from 20 — with no limit during scheduled course breaks. Immigration New Zealand's digital platform has also sped up decisions, with a large share of complete applications now processed within 12–15 working days, though more complex or incomplete files can still take several weeks.
The bigger structural change lands in November 2026: a new Short-Term Graduate Work Visa gives eligible graduates six months of open work rights to find a job, and the Post Study Work Visa is being extended to cover Level 7 graduate diplomas paired with a bachelor's degree. Alongside this, expanding Green List occupations in healthcare, ICT, and construction are opening faster residence pathways for graduates in shortage fields.
Note: Immigration New Zealand reviews fees, funds thresholds, and visa settings periodically and can change them with limited notice. We confirm the live figures for your specific course and nationality before we file.
Effective January 2026, plus the standard NZD $100 IVL — still one of the more affordable study visa fees globally.
Increased from 20 hours per week from 3 November 2025, with unlimited hours during scheduled breaks.
Launching 16 November 2026 — six months of open work rights for eligible graduates who don't qualify for the standard Post Study Work Visa.
Graduates in healthcare, ICT, and construction shortage roles have faster routes to residence, and in some cases their partners gain work rights too.
Immigration New Zealand checks four main areas — missing any one is the most common cause of delay or refusal.
A confirmed, unconditional (or conditional only on your visa) Offer of Place from an NZQA-approved education provider.
NZD $20,000 per year for living costs (or $1,667/month for courses under a year), plus tuition and a return airfare.
Approved medical and travel insurance for your full stay, plus a medical exam and chest X-ray for courses over 12 months.
INZ sets no single mandatory score, but most providers require IELTS 6.0 (undergraduate/diploma) or 6.5 (postgraduate), or equivalent.
A return air ticket, or proof of sufficient funds to buy one, if you are applying from offshore.
A police clearance certificate if you're 17 or older and plan to stay 24 months or more; certificates from other countries you've lived in may also apply.
The exact list can vary by provider and nationality. This is the baseline set we prepare for every applicant.
Offer of Place from your NZQA-approved education provider, stating course, duration, and fees.
Valid passport covering your intended period of study, plus passport-style photos.
English test result — IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL meeting your provider's minimum, where required.
Medical certificate & chest X-ray from an approved panel physician, if your course runs over 12 months.
Insurance certificate confirming approved medical and travel cover for your full visa period.
Bank statements for the last three to six months, showing genuine, stable funds — not a large deposit made just before applying.
Funds Transfer Scheme (FTS) receipt, if you've transferred living costs to an approved NZ bank account for monthly release.
Education loan sanction letter, if funding your studies through a loan.
Sponsor's bank statements and income evidence, if a parent or relative is sponsoring you.
Proof of tuition payment or a fee protection guarantee from your provider.
From accepted offer to visa grant, here's how a Hike Visa file moves.
Confirm your provider's Offer of Place and, where required, pay your tuition deposit or arrange a fee protection guarantee.
We assemble bank statements, an FTS transfer, or sponsor documents that clearly meet the NZD $20,000+/year threshold.
We help you select approved insurance and, if your course exceeds 12 months, book your medical exam and X-ray early.
We file your application through Immigration New Zealand's online portal and pay the NZD $850 fee plus the $100 IVL.
Most complete applications are decided within a few weeks. Once granted, we brief you on arrival documents and work conditions.
Note: the visa fee is non-refundable even if your application is declined. Figures are reviewed periodically by Immigration New Zealand — we confirm the live amount before we file.
Good to know: the Funds Transfer Scheme (FTS) lets you move your annual living costs to an approved NZ bank account before you arrive, released to you in monthly instalments — a popular option with Indian applicants.
We're not affiliated with any single institution — we guide applications to NZQA-approved providers across New Zealand's eight universities and leading polytechnics.
New Zealand handles family visas differently to Canada or Australia — your partner and children each need their own visa application, and eligibility depends on your course level.
Your partner can apply for their own work visa, with unrestricted work rights, only if you are studying a Level 9 or 10 qualification (master's or doctoral), or a Level 7–8 qualification that is Green-List-eligible or on the Post Study Work Visa qualifications list.
Children cannot be added to your student visa — each child needs their own Dependent Child Student Visa. Depending on your course, they may then be able to attend New Zealand schools as domestic students rather than paying international fees.
Visas granted to your partner and children usually expire alongside your own student visa, so plan renewals for the whole family together.
Partner applications need evidence of a genuine, stable relationship — joint bank statements, a shared lease, and a completed INZ support form from the studying partner.
Once you graduate, this new visa gives six months of open work rights if you don't qualify for the standard Post Study Work Visa — though it does not let you sponsor a partner's work visa or a child's Dependent Child Student Visa.
The Fee Paying Student Visa application fee is NZD $850, revised from January 2026, plus the standard International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) of NZD $100. This is non-refundable even if your application is declined.
NZD $20,000 per year for tertiary study (or $1,667/month for courses under a year), or NZD $17,000/year ($1,417/month) for compulsory schooling — on top of tuition and a return airfare. Funds must be genuine, traceable, and held for at least three months.
Yes — up to 25 hours per week during term time, increased from 20 hours from 3 November 2025, with no limit during scheduled course breaks. Work cannot begin until your course officially starts.
Only if you're studying a Level 9 or 10 qualification (master's or doctoral), or a Level 7–8 qualification that is Green-List-eligible or on the Post Study Work Visa qualifications list. Otherwise, your partner needs to qualify for their own visa independently.
Yes, but they cannot be added to your visa — each child needs their own Dependent Child Student Visa. Depending on your course and visa type, they may be able to attend New Zealand schools as domestic students, avoiding international school fees.
The FTS lets you transfer your annual living-cost funds to an approved New Zealand bank account before you travel. The funds are released to you in monthly instalments after arrival, and refunded if your visa is declined — a common option for Indian applicants.
Graduates of Level 7+ qualifications are generally eligible for a Post Study Work Visa of up to three years. From 16 November 2026, a new Short-Term Graduate Work Visa also offers six months of open work rights to eligible graduates who don't qualify for the standard route.
Tell us your target course and provider. We'll tell you plainly where you stand under the 2026 fee, funds, and work-rights rules — before you spend a rupee.
No charge. No obligation. Just honest advice.
