Document Checklist
New Zealand Student Visa Document Checklist (2026)
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) decides the Fee Paying Student Visa on a small set of documents, but gets strict about one of them: your 'show money.' Most refusals trace back to funds that can't be traced to a genuine source, not to missing paperwork. Gather everything below well ahead of your application, and confirm every dollar figure against the current immigration.govt.nz page before you apply, since thresholds are reviewed periodically.
Offer and enrolment
- Offer of PlaceA formal, unconditional offer from an INZ-approved education provider showing your course, its duration, and total tuition fee — this is the single document your whole application is built around.
- Evidence of accommodation and pastoral care (under-18 applicants)Required alongside the Offer of Place if you're a minor, showing who will house and be responsible for you in New Zealand.
- Proof of tuition payment or payment planSome providers require a deposit or full payment before issuing the final Offer of Place — keep the receipt, as INZ can ask for it.
Show money (financial requirement)
- Bank statements or scholarship letterShowing NZ$20,000 per year (NZ$1,667/month for courses under a year) for tertiary or English-language study, or NZ$17,000 per year (NZ$1,417/month) for compulsory education — on top of tuition and any pre-paid accommodation.
- Evidence funds are genuinely availableA visible history of the funds, not a lump sum deposited just before applying — INZ specifically flags recently-appeared balances with no transaction history behind them.
- Sponsor declaration and sponsor's financial proof (if sponsored)If a parent or third party is funding you, INZ wants evidence of the sponsor's own ability to pay — payslips, tax records, or their bank statements — alongside a signed sponsorship declaration.
Identity, health and character
- PassportValid for at least three months beyond your intended departure from New Zealand.
- Medical and travel insuranceCovering the full length of your stay — INZ has specific approved-insurer requirements for some nationalities and course lengths, so confirm your policy qualifies before buying it.
- Medical examination and chest X-rayRequired if you're staying longer than 12 months, or if you're from a country INZ flags for health screening — book this early, as approved-panel-physician appointments can have lead times.
- Police certificatesRequired if you've spent 12 or more months in any single country (including your home country, in some cases) within the last 10 years.
English and academic evidence
- English test results (if your provider requires them)INZ doesn't set a universal English standard itself — your provider sets English requirements as a condition of enrolment, so check your Offer of Place rather than assuming a fixed IELTS score applies.
- Academic transcripts and qualification certificatesUsually already verified by your provider before they issued your Offer of Place, but keep certified copies ready in case INZ requests them directly.
If dependants apply with you
- Proof of relationshipMarriage certificate or evidence of a partnership, and birth certificates for any dependent children joining you.
- Separate visa applications and funding for each dependantPartners and children need their own visa applications and must meet their own funding (and, for partners, sometimes work-visa eligibility) requirements — budget this as a distinct cost, not an add-on to your own show money.
Tips
- Build your show-money paper trail months in advance — a bank balance that jumped up right before you applied, with no visible history, is the single most common reason INZ asks for further evidence or declines.
- Confirm your provider is INZ-approved for your specific course level before accepting an offer — an offer from a non-approved provider or course can invalidate the whole application.
- Don't let your insurance or medical clearance lapse between application and departure — both need to cover your full intended stay, not just the application date.
- Apply as soon as your Offer of Place is confirmed — roughly 80% of complete applications are decided within 8 weeks, but plan a two-month buffer before your course start date, especially in the December–February peak intake.
- Match your name and dates exactly across your passport, Offer of Place, and bank statements — inconsistencies are an easy, avoidable reason for INZ to request more evidence.
Requirements change — always confirm the current list with the official source before you submit.
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