You study there first. Many let you stay and work after.

Fee Paying Student Visa

Study, then work New Zealand

Fee Paying Student Visa

Run by Immigration New Zealand (INZ)

Students with an offer of place from an approved New Zealand education provider who can pay tuition and show living funds. You can work up to 25 hours a week while studying.

Job offer: Not required.
Language: Set by your course and education provider.
Education: An offer of place from an approved education provider.
Work experience: Not required.
Government fee: From NZD 850. The exact fee depends on your nationality and where you apply.
Processing time: 80% of applications are decided within 7 weeks, according to the page. The visa lasts up to 4 years.
Money you must show: NZD 20,000 for each year of study if you study for 1 year or more, or NZD 1,667 a month for shorter study, plus tuition fees.
When and to whom you pay: Paid online when you apply.

Read the official page

Checked on 18 October 2026. What the page says

Read on immigration.govt.nz on 2026-10-18: "NZD $20,000 for each year if you are studying for 1 year or more"; "From NZD $850"; "80% within 7 weeks".

Never pay an agent

Every route here is applied for on the government's own website. Fees go to the government only. Anyone who asks you to pay them for a visa, a job offer or a lottery win is not to be trusted. Check a message or offer.

Other routes into New Zealand

Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa · New Zealand
Straight to Residence Visa (Green List Tier 1) · New Zealand
Accredited Employer Work Visa · New Zealand

Study, then work routes in other countries

Study permit · Canada
F-1 Student Visa and Optional Practical Training (OPT) · United States
Long term study visa (Stamp 2) · Ireland
Student visa · United Kingdom
Student long-stay visa · France
Visa for vocational training (Ausbildung) · Germany
Student visa for university study · Germany
Student visa (subclass 500) · Australia

How to keep your money safe

Never pay an agent, a consultant or a "visa officer" on WhatsApp or Telegram. Every route here is applied for on the government's own website.
A real employer never asks you to pay for a job offer, a sponsorship certificate or a visa deposit.
Government fees are paid to the government itself, on its own website or at its embassy. Never into a person's bank account or mobile money.
Check the web address. Canada uses canada.ca, the UK uses gov.uk, the US uses .gov. A look-alike address is a fake.
Nobody can promise you a visa or win you a lottery. The US visa lottery is free to enter on its own website.