Fee-Paying Student Visa · Verified 2026-05-14
INZ doesn't count your funds — they judge whether they're genuinely yours.
A lump sum that lands in your bank account 30 days before applying gets flagged as 'funds displayed for the visa.' The same balance held continuously for 6 months gets approved. New Zealand's visa officers care about fund stability more than fund amount.
- Visa Type
- Fee-Paying Student Visa
- Processing
- 4–8 weeks
- Application Fee
- NZD 375 (online) + NZD 100 IVL
schedule Last reviewed:
The one thing that decides it
Funds must be genuinely available
Immigration NZ requires NZD 20,000/year in living funds plus Year 1 tuition paid. But beyond the amount, INZ tests whether the money is stably yours — a recent transfer from a sponsor, an unexplained lump sum, or borrowed money that the bank shows as a loan deposit all trigger refusal.
- check_circle Hold the NZD 20,000-equivalent for at least 3–6 months in your name before applying.
- check_circle Sponsor declarations must include 12 months of the sponsor's bank statements plus relationship proof.
- check_circle Loan letters work — but only if the loan is formally documented and matches the funds in your account.
- check_circle Don't move money between accounts in the 30 days before applying — it creates a 'fund displayed for visa' pattern.
Who can apply for the Fee-Paying Student Visa
Eligibility is the easy part — most denied applications fail on documentation or interview prep, not eligibility. Make sure all of these are cleared before you book anything.
Offer of Place
A formal offer letter from an INZ-approved provider listing the course, duration and tuition fees.
Financial evidence
NZD 20,000/year for living costs + full Year 1 tuition. Bank statements or an INZ-approved sponsor declaration.
Tuition paid
Year 1 tuition (or first semester) paid to the institution before visa decision.
Health & character
Chest X-ray for stays over 6 months; police clearance certificate for stays over 24 months.
What you'll submit
The core document stack. Your counsellor gives you a complete country-specific checklist after the free consultation — including formatting, translations and apostille rules.
Offer of Place
A formal offer from an Immigration NZ-approved education provider — required before you can apply for the visa.
Financial Evidence
Proof of NZD 20,000/year for living costs + full tuition for Year 1. Bank statements or an approved sponsor declaration.
Medical & Police Certificate
Chest X-ray for students staying over 6 months + Sri Lankan police clearance certificate.
Tuition Receipt
Year 1 tuition paid directly to the institution before visa decision — receipt forms part of the application file.
The 6-step application, in order
Doing these in the wrong order is the second-most-common reason files slip a semester. Numbers matter.
- 1
Accept Offer of Place
Confirm acceptance with your NZ university or institute and request a final Offer of Place.
- 2
Pay tuition + arrange funds
Pay Year 1 tuition to the institution; consolidate the NZD 20,000 living fund in a bank account in your name.
- 3
Medical & police checks
Chest X-ray at an INZ-approved Colombo panel doctor; Sri Lankan police certificate (issued in Colombo).
- 4
Apply online
Submit via the INZ online portal. Upload all supporting documents — clear scans, no phone photos.
- 5
Biometrics (if requested)
Some applications require biometrics at VFS Colombo. INZ contacts you if needed.
- 6
Decision
INZ issues a Tertiary Student Visa typically within 4–8 weeks. eVisa delivered by email.
Visa fees & costs
These are visa-specific costs only. Tuition and living costs are covered in our full cost guide for New Zealand .
Visa Fee Summary
Why New Zealand student visas get refused
Most refusals come down to these four problems. Knowing them before you submit is the single biggest difference between approval and refusal.
Funds not genuinely available
Large transfers into your account immediately before applying — INZ assesses whether funds are stable and accessible.
Course-progression issue
Switching from your previous field of study without a strong rationale in your statement.
Missing dependent documentation
If you have a partner or children remaining in Sri Lanka, evidence of ties is needed.
Unclear academic record
Gaps in your transcripts (e.g. a gap year) without explanation.
How we keep New Zealand applications watertight
Four things we do for every Sri Lankan New Zealand file before it goes near the embassy or immigration portal.
Funds-stability structuring
We help you structure the NZD 20,000 + tuition proof so INZ sees a clean, long-held position. No sudden top-ups, no last-minute transfers.
Statement of intent drafting
A 1-page personal statement covering your course choice, post-study career plans and ties to Sri Lanka. The single most overlooked piece of an NZ application.
Medical & police certificate handling
Chest X-ray at an INZ-approved Colombo panel doctor + Sri Lankan police certificate — coordinated with your visa application timing.
Refusal recovery if it happens
If INZ refuses, we request the case officer notes (PPI letter), address the cited concern with new evidence, and re-submit.
Sri Lankan applicants we've placed in New Zealand
Three anonymised journeys from this year. Names changed; outcomes real.
Dhanuka — BCom Accounting, Otago
Dhanuka's tuition was paid to Otago directly; we held his living-cost funds in his own NSB account for 4 months before applying. Decision in 5 weeks.
Timeline
4-month fund hold · 35-day decision · approved
Ruwanthi — MSc Environmental Science, Wellington
Ruwanthi's NZD 5,000 entrance award reduced tuition; we used her father's HNB statement (held 12 months) as sponsor proof, with a notarised relationship declaration.
Timeline
Sponsor account · 28-day decision · approved
Nisal — PhD Computer Science, Auckland
Nisal's NZIDRS scholarship handled tuition. We focused on a stability narrative around his ongoing family business and a return-to-Lanka research plan.
Timeline
NZIDRS-funded · 21-day decision · approved
Frequently asked questions
Don't see your question? WhatsApp a New Zealand visa counsellor — we usually reply within the hour, weekdays.
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Can I work while studying? expand_more
Yes — up to 20 hours/week during term and full-time during scheduled vacations. PhD students can work unlimited hours. -
Is there a post-study work visa? expand_more
Yes — up to 3 years on the Post-Study Work Visa for Bachelor, Master and PhD graduates. -
Does NZ require IELTS? expand_more
Most universities accept IELTS 6.0 (no band below 5.5) for undergraduate and 6.5 for postgraduate. Some accept PTE Academic or TOEFL. -
Can my partner come with me? expand_more
A partner / spouse can apply for an open work visa for the duration of your study; dependent children can attend NZ schools.
More on New Zealand
Study in New Zealand
Universities, costs, intakes, post-study work — the full destination overview.
Destination Guide arrow_forward paymentsCost of Studying in New Zealand
Tuition, living costs and total LKR budget — with and without scholarships.
Cost Breakdown arrow_forward workspace_premiumScholarships for New Zealand
Open scholarships for Sri Lankan students — government, university, and private awards.
See Scholarships arrow_forwardDon't risk a New Zealand visa refusal
Send us your offer letter (or your I-20 / CAS / CoE / LoA) on WhatsApp and a counsellor returns a 1-page file review — what's strong, what's weak, what the embassy will probe. Free. No commitment. Reply within one working day.
Message a New Zealand visa counsellor- check_circle Free for students — universities pay us, not you
- check_circle Average reply: under 1 hour, weekdays
- check_circle Walk in to any of 4 offices across Sri Lanka
Prefer a callback?
Drop your number — a New Zealand visa counsellor calls within one working day.