Student visa applications for new students

Step-by-step visa application guide for new international students who have never studied (online or in-person) at the University of Auckland.

On this page:

Before you start your student visa application
Step-by-step: How to apply for your student visa
Additional resources and guidance

Before you start your student visa application

You won't be able to study at the University of Auckland without a valid visa, i.e. you can't study on your school or other institutions' visa. It is also often not permitted to study on a work or visitor visa without a Variation of Conditions approved by Immigration New Zealand (INZ).

Applying three months before your intended travel date gives you the best chance to have a decision made in time for your study.

Before submitting your application to INZ, ensure you have all required documentation available as electronic copies. If you submit an incomplete application, it will delay processing and your application may be declined.

Step-by-step: How to apply for your student visa

Step one: Offer of place

Accept your offer of place.
Ideally, you will use an unconditional/firm offer of place for your visa application. However, you may be able to apply for your visa with a conditional offer of place. Please refer to the recent INZ update below for details.
If you have been given offers for multiple programmes, ensure you submit the offer letter for the programme you will be enrolled in.

Link:

Accept or decline an offer place

Immigration New Zealand Update - 23 May 2025

Immigration New Zealand now allows applicants outside New Zealand to apply for a student visa using a conditional offer of place if final academic results or other conditions (e.g., IELTS scores) are pending. They will begin assessing these applications and may grant approval in principle (AIP). However, an unconditional offer of place is required before a visa can be granted.
More details can be found here.

Step two: Pay your fees

Pay the estimated annual tuition fees stated on your offer of place/offer of admission including the insurance fees.
When you have paid, it may take a few days for your payment to be allocated to your tuition fees account depending on the payment method you used.
Once your payment has been allocated you will need to generate a receipt to upload with your visa application.
If you are a scholarship recipient, please refer to the Student Visa guide below for further information.

Links:

Please note:
If you apply for your visa outside New Zealand, you can choose not to pay your tuition fees until INZ advises you that they have approved your application in principle (AIP). Your application will take longer to process as you will need to provide evidence that you have paid your tuition fees before they can issue your visa.

Step three: Evidence you have enough money to live on

INZ requires you to show evidence that you can support yourself during your studies. You must have:

NZD 20,000 per year, if you are studying for one academic year or more, or
NZD 1,667 for each month, if your study is shorter than one academic year.

Link:

Student fund requirements

Step four: Evidence you have enough money to leave New Zealand

In addition to the funds mentioned in the previous step, you’ll also need to show evidence that you have funds available covering the equivalent of a flexible flight ticket to your home country.

Step five: Evidence of your health and character

You may be required to submit a chest x-ray and/or medical certificate with your visa application.
You may be required to submit a police certificate (or certificates) and a certified translation if it is not in English to show you are of good character.