New Zealand Student Visa Requirements for Indians: 2026 Checklist

This page is a working checklist, built so you can tick items off as you collect them. The facts are as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. Immigration New Zealand's (INZ) website was returning errors on 15 and 16 October 2026, so several details were read from archived copies of the official INZ pages; confirm them on INZ's Fee Paying Student Visa page before you pay. For visitor visas for your parents, see our New Zealand visa guide for Indians.

What is on the 2026 student visa checklist?

Which financial documents does INZ accept from Indian families?

If you are paying for yourself, INZ sets these living-fund levels:

• NZD 20,000 for each year of tertiary, English-language or other non-compulsory study of 1 year or more.
• NZD 1,667 a month for study shorter than a year.
• NZD 17,000 a year (NZD 1,417 a month) for school Years 1 to 13.

Instead of your own funds, you can use an acceptable sponsor or a guarantor who signs the Financial Undertaking for a Student (INZ 1014). For applications made in South Asia, only immediate family can do this: partner, parents, siblings, grandparents or parents-in-law. An uncle or a family friend does not qualify.

Two India-specific points help. Indian citizens may be able to use the Funds Transfer Scheme to show they can access their money in New Zealand. And if you rely on an education loan, include the loan sanction letter and show how the loan will be repaid.

Which health, character and photo rules apply?

Health: a chest X-ray is needed if you will stay more than 6 months, because India is not on New Zealand's low-TB list. A full medical certificate is not normally needed for stays under 12 months.

Character: police certificates are needed if you are 17 or older and your total time in New Zealand will be 24 months or longer.

Photo: the online application needs one acceptable photo. INZ's rules (INZ photo requirements):

• JPG or JPEG file of 512 KB to 3.14 MB, portrait, 3:4 aspect ratio, face covering 70 to 80% of the image
• Plain, neutral background with good contrast and no shadows
• Taken within the last 6 months, with no editing, filters, beautification or AI tools
• Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open; clear prescription glasses only

When do you pay, and how long does INZ take?

The IVL is not charged for MFAT-scholarship students. INZ's headline timeframe is 80% of student visas decided within 8 weeks. INZ asks students to apply at least 3 months before travel and says student visa processing is busiest between October and March, so lodge early if your course starts in that period. You apply online; VFS Global's centres in New Delhi, Chandigarh and Mumbai only come in if INZ asks for your passport, which costs INR 1,460 in VFS handling.

How did Indian student applicants fare in 2025?

INZ publishes decisions by nationality for student visa applications made from outside New Zealand. In calendar year 2025, 39% of decided applications from Indian nationals were declined (2,838 of 7,235) and 59% approved (4,276), against 83% approved for all nationalities. In 2024, 50% of Indian applications were declined. These are past decision shares, not a prediction for your file (INZ decision data 2025).

Which gaps should you close before you lodge?

• Provider status: check the provider is a Code of Practice signatory before you pay anything.
• Wrong sponsor: a sponsor outside your immediate family will not be accepted from South Asia.
• Loan without paperwork: a loan claim needs the sanction letter and a repayment plan.
• Insurance: buy a policy your provider accepts, covering the whole visa period.
• Family members: your partner and children cannot be included; they apply for their own visas.
• Edited photo: any filter or AI touch-up can get the photo rejected.

Once you arrive, the visa may let you work up to 25 hours a week during study and full-time in scheduled holidays, depending on its conditions.

For family members planning a visit, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or contact us.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for a New Zealand student visa with a conditional offer?

Yes. If you apply from outside New Zealand, INZ accepts a conditional offer of place and can give approval in principle. You can then pay the tuition after approval in principle.

Is IELTS compulsory for a New Zealand student visa?

INZ says English test results such as IELTS are not mandatory for the student visa, but they can help show a genuine intention to study. The visa decision still rests on the offer of place, funds, health and character evidence.

Can my spouse be added to my New Zealand student visa?

No. Partners and dependent children cannot be included in a Fee Paying Student Visa application. They apply for their own visas, for example a Partner of a Student Work Visa where the student's course qualifies.

How long can a New Zealand student visa be issued for?

INZ can issue the Fee Paying Student Visa for up to 4 years, in line with your study. Students under 10 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian unless they live in an NZQA-approved hostel.