Good fit
International students with an offer from an approved NZ provider, funds for tuition and living costs (or an acceptable sponsor), and genuine study intent.
New Zealand · Study to PR
Fee Paying Student Visa
A New Zealand student visa for people with an offer of place from an approved education provider who pay international tuition (or partial scholarship). INZ says stay can be up to 4 years, online applications cost from NZD $850, and 80% of decisions are within 9.5 weeks. Limited part-time work (up to 25 hours a week while studying, full-time in holidays) depends on visa conditions. Living funds are typically NZD $20,000 per year for tertiary study.
Status note. Immigration New Zealand describes the Fee Paying Student Visa as the main full-time study route for international fee-paying students. Paper applications are no longer accepted; apply online. New Zealand has no dedicated digital-nomad visa in this record.
Decision fit
Who this pathway serves
Important limits
Applicants without an approved provider offer, people seeking unrestricted work or a digital-nomad stay, or those who cannot show funds, insurance, health, or character requirements.
Minimums
Eligibility
Age
No hard age floor or ceiling is modeled.
If aged under 10 and not in an NZQA-approved hostel, a parent or legal guardian must accompany you and you must live with them while studying.
Work experience
Minimum: Not stated years
Language
Not stated
Education
Minimum: Unknown — confirm with the official source
Assessment: Unknown — confirm with the official source
Must be offered a place on a course by an approved education provider that is a signatory to the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021.
Selection threshold
Points: Not stated
Competition: Not stated
Health and character
Medical exam: Yes
Police certificate: Unknown — confirm with the official source
Costs
Funds and fees
Settlement funds
| Family size | Minimum funds |
|---|---|
| 20000 NZD |
Application fees
- 850 NZDFee Paying Student Visa application fee (from)
Outcomes
Residence, work, and family
Permanent residence
A student visa is temporary. Later work or residence routes such as AEWV or Skilled Migrant Category may apply under their own rules after study.
Work: Limited or conditional · Study: Yes
Family
You cannot include a partner or dependent children in the student visa application; they may apply for visas based on their relationship to you.
Partner: Limited or conditional · Children: Limited or conditional
Citizenship
Student visa sources do not establish citizenship eligibility.
Processing time
INZ states cost from NZD $850, processing 80% within 9.5 weeks, and strongly encourages applying 3 months before travel. Maximum stay up to 4 years; visa length usually matches paid study or passport validity if sooner.
Modeled: 2–3 months
Sources
Official sources
Citations
Field provenance
Information only, not legal advice. Rules, fees, and processing times change. Confirm the linked official pages before acting.