Study in New Zealand from Nepal and India

New Zealand student visa at a glance

Visa fee

NZD 850

Source: Immigration New Zealand (opens the official website in a new tab)

Money to show a year

NZD 20,000

Source: Immigration New Zealand (opens the official website in a new tab)

Work in term

25 hrs/wk

Work during study

Source: Immigration New Zealand (opens the official website in a new tab)

Stay after study

3 yrs

Post Study Work Visa

Source: Immigration New Zealand (opens the official website in a new tab)

Short answer: To study in New Zealand you apply for the Fee Paying Student Visa. The main visa fee is NZD 850. You must also show NZD 20,000 per year: money that stays yours. You can work up to 25 hours a week during term. Eligible bachelor's and master's graduates can get a post-study work stay of up to 36 months (rules and longer stays for some degrees below).

How much does it cost to study in New Zealand?

Two different kinds of money: fees you pay (gone once paid) and funds you show as evidence (they stay in your account). Never add them together.

What do I need for the New Zealand student visa?

Tuition

Show tuition paid for one course or one year, whichever is shorter. Agent receipts are not accepted as proof of tuition paid. Source: Immigration New Zealand (opens the official website in a new tab)

Accepted funds evidence

3 months of bank statements, fixed deposits held at least 3 months, scholarship, education loan sanction and disbursal letters, withdrawable provident fund, or an INZ 1014 guarantor (own funds, not loans). Deposits over NZD 2,000 need an explanation. Source: Immigration New Zealand (opens the official website in a new tab)

Insurance

Travel and health insurance meeting the Code of Practice 2021 (PhD students exempt). Source: Immigration New Zealand (opens the official website in a new tab)

English

No English test is mandatory for the visa; your offer of place must include the provider’s English declaration. Source: Immigration New Zealand (opens the official website in a new tab)

Medical

Chest X-ray if staying over 6 months and you are from a country that is not low-TB-incidence. Source: Immigration New Zealand (opens the official website in a new tab)

Processing

80% of applications decided within 7 weeks. Source: Immigration New Zealand (opens the official website in a new tab)

Family members

Not included — they apply for their own visas. Source: Immigration New Zealand (opens the official website in a new tab)

Can I work while studying in New Zealand?

Work during study

25 hours a week; full-time in scheduled holidays for courses worth 120 credits or more. Source: Immigration New Zealand (opens the official website in a new tab)

Can I stay and work after graduating?

Post Study Work Visa

From NZD 1,670, up to 3 years. Level 7+ degree: open work (needs 30+ weeks of full-time study in NZ). Apply within 3 months of your student visa ending and show NZD 5,000. Source: Immigration New Zealand (opens the official website in a new tab)

What is different for Nepali and Indian students?

What are the top universities in New Zealand?

Compare universities across countries

Are there scholarships to study in New Zealand?

Yes: 5 we have checked on official pages. Eligibility can differ for Nepal and India. See all countries

What has changed recently?

1. 16 Nov 2026

   Post-study work visa paper applications end; eligibility widens to level 7 graduate diplomas and bachelor’s degrees. Source: Immigration New Zealand (opens the official website in a new tab)

2. 3 Nov 2025

   Work limit rose from 20 to 25 hours a week for visas granted from this date. Source: Immigration New Zealand (opens the official website in a new tab)

Check these yourself

We could not confirm these on an official page when we last checked, so we do not state them as facts.

• Whether the Funds Transfer Scheme is mandatory for most Nepali applicants (reported, not confirmed on an INZ page).
• NZD is not on Nepal Rastra Bank’s rate list, so NPR/INR equivalents are not shown.

Official sources for New Zealand

Government and official pages we use for this guide, checked 22 Oct 2026.

1. 1Immigration New ZealandImmigration authority · Visas
2. 2Fee Paying Student VisaStudent visa main · Fee, funds, insurance, work rights
3. 3Student fund requirementsFunds · Evidence rules, Funds Transfer Scheme
4. 4Student visa work rights changes (news)Work rights · 25 hrs/week
5. 5Post Study Work VisaPost-study · PSW rules
6. 6Ministry of EducationEducation ministry · Ministry
7. 7NZQA "Find Education Organisations"Provider register · Register; Code of Practice signatory status
8. 8Manaaki New Zealand ScholarshipsScholarship · Government scholarships
9. 9NZ High Commission New DelhiHC for Nepal + India · Accredited to India + Nepal; Honorary Consul Kathmandu