New Zealand Student Visa From Pakistan: NZD 850 Fee, NZD 20,000 Funds and 25 Hours Work

A New Zealand student visa from Pakistan costs from NZD 850, needs proof of NZD 20,000 a year for living costs, and lets you work up to 25 hours a week during study and full time in holidays. Immigration New Zealand says it processes 80 per cent of these applications within 7 weeks.

The visa is called the Fee Paying Student Visa, and it can be issued for up to 4 years. You apply online from Pakistan after you have an offer of place from an approved New Zealand school. We read the visa's page on the Immigration New Zealand website on 4 November 2026, and every figure below comes from it.

Timing matters now. Immigration New Zealand says application numbers peak from November to March, and it advises applying at least 3 months before you plan to travel. For a February 2027 start, that means applying this month.

The New Zealand student visa at a glance

The Fee Paying Student Visa covers full-time study at an approved provider for up to 4 years. It costs from NZD 850, needs NZD 20,000 a year of living funds, allows 25 hours of work a week in term, and 80 per cent of decisions arrive within 7 weeks.

The fee page says "from", so the final amount shows when you apply online. Fees in New Zealand dollars are paid by card during the application, so check your Pakistani bank card works for international online payments before you start.

Documents you need from Pakistan

You need four things before you apply: an offer of place from an approved provider, proof that tuition is paid or can be paid, proof of living funds, and health and character evidence. The offer must come first, because Immigration New Zealand will not take the visa application without it.

1. Offer of place. From an education provider that has signed the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021.
2. Tuition proof. Show you have paid, can pay, or do not need to pay fees for one course or one year, whichever is shorter.
3. Living funds. NZD 20,000 for each year of tertiary study, or a sponsor's support.
4. Health. A chest X-ray is normally needed if you will stay more than 6 months and come from a country without low TB incidence. A medical check may also be requested.
5. Character. A police certificate if you are 17 or older and will spend 24 months or more in New Zealand.
6. Passport and photo, uploaded with the online form.

For the police certificate, our guide to the police character certificate in Pakistan lists the route for each province. Declare any help you received, including from an agent, because the application asks for it.

How to apply online, step by step

You apply on the Immigration New Zealand website. Gather your documents, fill in the online form, upload the documents and pay the fee. Then track the status online. There is no paper application for this visa.

1. Get your offer of place and pay the first tuition instalment, if the school asks for it.
2. Book the chest X-ray and medical, if required, with a panel doctor approved by Immigration New Zealand.
3. Collect bank statements or sponsor papers showing NZD 20,000 for each year.
4. Create an account on the Immigration New Zealand website and start the Fee Paying Student Visa application.
5. Upload the documents, pay the fee and submit.
6. Check your status online and answer any request for more information quickly.

Apply at least 3 months before travel, the site says. Early applications can be approved in principle, which gives you time to finish payments before the visa is issued.

Work rights and family rules

You can work up to 25 hours a week during study and full time in scheduled holidays. You cannot add your partner or children to your student visa application. They have to apply for their own visas, based on their relationship to you.

That rule surprises many Pakistani families. Plan the partner's visa as a separate application with its own fee and its own conditions. Part-time work helps with living costs, but Immigration New Zealand still wants to see the full NZD 20,000 a year before it issues the visa, so do not count future wages as funds.

How New Zealand compares with other study countries

Compare the living funds rule and the work limit before you choose a country. New Zealand asks for NZD 20,000 a year and allows 25 hours of work a week in term. Canada's off-campus limit is 24 hours a week, and each country sets its own funds figure in its own currency.

For the same checks in other countries, see our guides to the Australia student visa from Pakistan, the Ireland student visa and the UK student visa. If you only want a short course of up to 3 months, Immigration New Zealand says a visitor visa can cover it, and our New Zealand visitor visa guide explains that route.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the New Zealand student visa fee for Pakistanis?

Immigration New Zealand lists the Fee Paying Student Visa from NZD 850. The final amount shows on the online application.

How much bank balance is needed for a New Zealand student visa?

NZD 20,000 for each year of tertiary study, or NZD 1,667 a month for courses shorter than a year. This is for living costs, on top of tuition.

Can Pakistani students work in New Zealand?

Yes. The visa allows up to 25 hours a week during study and full-time work in scheduled holidays.

How long does a New Zealand student visa take from Pakistan?

Immigration New Zealand says 80 per cent of applications are processed within 7 weeks. Apply at least 3 months before travel.

Can I take my wife or children on my New Zealand student visa?

No. You cannot include your partner or children in your application. They apply for their own visas based on their relationship to you.

Do I need a chest X-ray for a New Zealand student visa?

Usually yes, if you will stay more than 6 months and come from a country without low TB incidence. Immigration New Zealand may also ask for a medical exam.