New Zealand,
approved before you pay.
New Zealand uses the world's most applicant-friendly visa structure — Approval-in-Principle. You only pay full tuition after Immigration NZ has effectively pre-approved your visa. The risk is reversed: the country says yes before the money moves.
Four ways to get to New Zealand.
Pick the pathway that matches your goal. Each links to the detailed process, costs, and what we handle for you.
Seven steps to your NZ Student Visa.
AIP is the defining feature. You file the visa first with a conditional offer of place — Immigration NZ assesses everything and only asks for tuition payment once you've cleared their bar. This protects your money from refused-visa losses.
Clear your language proficiency exam.
Take IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL. Most New Zealand bachelor's and master's programs require an IELTS 6.0 overall (with no band below 5.5). Postgraduate research programs typically ask for 6.5.
Receive your conditional Offer of Place.
Apply to NZQA-registered universities and Institutes of Skills and Technology (formerly polytechnics). Receive a conditional Offer of Place specifying program, duration, and tuition. Do not pay yet — the AIP step comes next.
Submit your visa file to Immigration NZ.
Lodge your Fee-Paying Student Visa application on the INZ portal with your conditional Offer of Place, financial documents, IELTS scores, medical and police clearances, and study purpose statement. Pay only the visa fee at this stage.
Receive your Approval-in-Principle letter.
If the file is satisfactory, Immigration NZ issues an Approval-in-Principle (AIP). This is effectively a conditional yes — the visa is reserved, pending tuition payment. AIP is your green signal to release funds.
Pay your first-year tuition.
With AIP in hand, transfer the first-year tuition to your university and receive your unconditional Offer of Place plus a payment receipt. This is the only money-at-risk step, and by now your visa outcome is essentially confirmed.
Open and fund your ANZ FTS account.
Open an ANZ Bank Funds Transfer Scheme (FTS) account and transfer NZD 20,000 from India. This is your living-expense guarantee — the account releases funds monthly after you arrive. Submit the FTS Confirmation Letter to INZ.
Receive your visa and travel.
With tuition paid and FTS confirmed, INZ converts your AIP into a full Student Visa within days. Passport stamping (or eVisa email) follows. We provide a pre-departure briefing covering accommodation, IRD, and first-week logistics.
What it actually costs.
New Zealand is competitively priced relative to Australia. Note that no tuition leaves your account until AIP is received — minimising financial risk.
| Expense | Cost in NZD | Cost in INR |
|---|---|---|
| Language proficiency test (IELTS / PTE / TOEFL) | NZD 350 – 400 | ₹18,000 – 20,500 |
| NZ Fee-Paying Student Visa fee | NZD 750 | ≈ ₹38,500 |
| Biometrics enrolment | NZD 90 | ₹4,600 |
| Medical examination | NZD 250 – 350 | ₹12,800 – 18,000 |
| Police clearance (PCC) from India | NZD 10 – 20 | ₹500 – 1,000 |
| First-year tuition (undergraduate to postgraduate) | NZD 25,000 – 45,000 | ≈ ₹12.8 – 23.1 lakhs |
| Mandatory FTS account deposit (living expenses) | NZD 20,000 | ≈ ₹10.3 lakhs |
| First-year total liquid capital required | NZD 50,750 – 70,750 | ≈ ₹26 – 36 lakhs |
Tuition is paid only after AIP — your bank statement only needs to demonstrate capacity, not actual transfer, until that point.
The risk is reversed.
- AIP protects your money. You discover your visa outcome before transferring tuition. Refused applicants only lose the visa fee, not the full first-year tuition.
- NZQA-registered providers only. All eligible institutions are listed on the NZQA register. Studying with an unregistered provider voids your visa.
- Post-study work is generous. Up to three years on the Post-Study Work Visa, depending on qualification level and where you studied (some regional locations get bonus years).
- Part-time work is straightforward. Up to 20 hours per week during term, full-time during scheduled vacations.
- Genuine intent is examined. While AIP is generous, INZ still expects coherent answers on study choice and post-study plans. We help you structure these honestly.
42 NZQA-registered institutions we work with.
Universities and Institutes of Skills and Technology, all listed on the NZQA register. Search by name, or ask us for a shortlist matched to your programme and budget.
No institutions match “” — ask us, we likely still work with your target school.
Don’t see your target institution? Ask us — our network extends beyond this list.