Visas
Documents required for a New Zealand student visa
In short
Immigration New Zealand requires a fee-paying student to show living costs of "NZD $20,000 for each year, if you are studying for 1 year or more, or NZD $1,667 for each month, if your study is shorter than 1 year", tuition paid for one course or one year whichever is shorter, and the means to leave: "a fully paid ticket out of New Zealand, or enough extra money to buy a ticket". It states exactly what funds evidence it accepts, bank statements with three months of history, fixed deposits held three months, a scholarship letter, an education loan sanction and disbursal letter with security details, withdrawable provident funds, and what it will not: screenshots of transfers and receipts from education agents.
New Zealand publishes the most detailed funds-evidence rules of the seven destinations, down to the size of deposit that triggers a question. Most Indian refusals are on exactly that page, so it is quoted at length.
This is one of seven posts on the documents each destination asks for; the [document preparation](/study-abroad-documents) page sets out who produces each document and the order to start them in.
The money, in INZ's words
From INZ's student fund requirements page, read on 27 October 2026.
- Living costs for tertiary, English language or other non-compulsory study: "NZD $20,000 for each year, if you are studying for 1 year or more, or NZD $1,667 for each month, if your study is shorter than 1 year." Prepaid accommodation can be deducted.
- Tuition: evidence that you have paid the fees for one course, or one year of study, whichever is shorter; for applications processed outside New Zealand, payment evidence is not required until the application has been approved in principle.
- Outward travel: "a fully paid ticket out of New Zealand, or enough extra money to buy a ticket".
- If pregnant: "NZD $9,000 for maternity health and medical costs", in addition.
- Funds "must be from a source that we can confirm" and "genuinely available for you to access while you are in New Zealand"; they can be your own, an acceptable New Zealand sponsor's, or a guarantor's under a financial undertaking.
Evidence INZ accepts, and evidence it rejects
Primary funds evidence, as listed:
- "bank statements, including the name of the account holder and the last 3 months of transaction history"
- "fixed-term deposit certificates showing that the term deposits have been held for at least 3 months"
- "a scholarship award letter"
- an education loan disbursal letter and sanction letter "from a nationalised or multi-national bank with security against fixed assets that belong to you", stating the security, moratorium period, interest payable and repayments
- "evidence of provident funds that can be withdrawn"
- Not acceptable, per the fee-paying student visa page: screenshots of bank transfers, and receipts from education agents.
Secondary evidence: when the source is questioned
INZ says it may ask for evidence of the source of funds, and names the triggers: "If your bank account shows large deposits (over NZD $2,000), or many smaller ones, explain where the money came from and include supporting documents", and if the account was opened recently, evidence of the transfer from employment or self-employment such as the most recent tax return, payslip, an employer's letter, business registration or business tax returns, or rental ownership and income. A loan invites the question of how it will be repaid; provident funds need the employment behind them evidenced. For Indian students, INZ may direct the Funds Transfer Scheme run by ANZ as the way to show funds.
The rest of the file
An offer of place from the provider, a passport, health and character evidence where required (a chest x-ray or medical certificate and a police certificate, depending on length of stay and country), and a statement that satisfies INZ's genuine-intent assessment, which the New Zealand page covers alongside the university statement of purpose. A guarantor outside New Zealand completes the Financial Undertaking for a Student (INZ 1014) with three months of their own bank statements.
Sources
Quoted from Immigration New Zealand on 27 October 2026.
Related questions
How much money do I need for a New Zealand student visa?
NZD 20,000 for each year of tertiary study, or NZD 1,667 a month for a course under a year, plus tuition for a course or a year, plus a ticket out or the money for one. Prepaid accommodation can be deducted from the living-cost figure.
Can I use an education loan as proof of funds?
Yes. INZ accepts an education loan sanction and disbursal letter from a nationalised or multinational bank secured against fixed assets that belong to you, stating the security, moratorium, interest and repayments, and may ask how you plan to repay it.
Why was my bank statement questioned?
INZ asks for the source of funds when a statement shows a deposit over NZD 2,000 or many smaller ones, or when the account was opened recently. Explain each deposit with documents: tax return, payslip, employer letter, business records or property income.