New Zealand Student Visa Fee and Funds Calculator (2026)
Short answer. A New Zealand student visa costs from NZD 850 for an Indian applicant. On top of that you must show your first year’s tuition and NZD 20,000 for living costs, or NZD 1,667 a month for a course under a year. You do not need the money for later years in hand when you apply.
Uses Immigration New Zealand’s Fee Paying Student Visa page and its student fund requirements, checked in November 2026. The money to show covers the first year only. Chest X-ray and medical costs are not included because they depend on the panel physician and whether INZ asks for them.
What you pay and what you show
Two very different kinds of money go into a New Zealand student visa. One is a fee you hand over. The other is a balance you prove you can reach, which stays yours.
| Item | Amount | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Fee Paying Student Visa | From NZD 850 | Fee |
| Tuition | First year, or the whole course if shorter | Paid or shown |
| Living costs, course of a year or more | NZD 20,000 for the first year | Shown |
| Living costs, course under a year | NZD 1,667 a month | Shown |
| Outward travel | A paid ticket, or the money for one | Shown |
| Medical and travel insurance | Your provider's price | Paid |
INZ's May 2026 fees guide lists a NZD 485 application fee and a NZD 265 immigration levy for a student visa applied for from India. Its visa page puts the total at from NZD 850. Older figures you will see quoted, such as NZD 330 or NZD 750, are out of date.
You only prove the first year
For an 18 month or two year master's, INZ does not ask you to show the whole course. You show one year of tuition, or the whole course if it is shorter, and NZD 20,000 for living costs. In INZ's words, you do not need to have the money for any later years available now.
What INZ does like to see for a longer course is a credible plan for the following years, such as evidence of family income. A loan sanction that covers the whole course does that job, which is why the education loan for New Zealand guide recommends asking for both years at once.
Faz's rulePay the first year's tuition before you apply if you can.
A paid receipt is the cleanest evidence you can give. It also means the balance you have to prove drops to the living costs and a ticket home, which is a much easier number to hold in a bank account for months before your visa decision.
Costs that come later
- Chest X-ray or medical. You normally need a chest X-ray for a stay of more than 6 months, from a panel physician. Fully fee-paying students do not usually need a full medical certificate.
- Post-study work visa. From NZD 1,670, and you need at least NZD 5,000 for living costs when you apply. It lasts up to 3 years depending on what you studied.
- Your partner's visa. Partners cannot be included in your student visa application. They apply separately, and what they can get depends on your course.
For the full application, read our New Zealand student visa guide. For tuition and living costs by city, see the cost of studying in New Zealand, and to compare funds across countries, use the proof of funds calculator.
Questions people ask
What is the New Zealand student visa fee for Indian students in 2026?
From NZD 850, according to Immigration New Zealand's visa page. Its May 2026 fees guide lists a NZD 485 application fee and a NZD 265 immigration levy within that.
How much bank balance is needed for a New Zealand student visa?
NZD 20,000 for living costs if your course lasts a year or more, or NZD 1,667 for each month of a shorter course. You also need your first year's tuition paid or available, and a ticket out of New Zealand or the money for one.
Do I need to show funds for the whole course?
No. You show tuition and living costs for the first year. For later years, a credible plan, such as evidence of family income or a loan, can strengthen your application.
Can my parents' account be used for New Zealand proof of funds?
Yes. A guarantor or third party outside New Zealand can support you by signing a Financial Undertaking for a Student, form INZ 1014. The funds must come from a source INZ can confirm and be genuinely available to you.
How many hours can students work in New Zealand?
Up to 25 hours a week during study, and full time in the scheduled holidays, if your visa conditions allow work. Check the conditions on your eVisa.
Where these rules come from
- Immigration New Zealand, Fee Paying Student Visa
- Immigration New Zealand, student fund requirements
- Immigration New Zealand, Fees Guide INZ 1028 (May 2026)
- Immigration New Zealand, working on a student visa
- Immigration New Zealand, Post-Study Work Visa
Checked on 12 November 2026. INZ changes its fees from time to time, so confirm the amount when you pay.