New Zealand’s international education strategy favours managed growth over the next few years. The plan is to grow student enrolments from 83,400 in 2024 to 105,000 in 2027 and 119,000 by 2034. Between January and August of 2025, New Zealand institutions hosted 85,535 international students (+14% over the same period in 2024). This number was already higher than the full-year total in 2024, and all sub-sectors experienced growth.

Generous work rights are part of New Zealand’s strategy to increase its attractiveness to international students.

New work visa: The Short Term Graduate Work Visa

The Short Term Graduate Work Visa is for students who are not eligible for the Post Study Work Visa. It will provide 6 months of open work rights, “allowing time to look for work and, where appropriate, transition to an Accredited Employer Work Visa.”

To be eligible, applicants must hold a qualification at NZQCF at level 5–7 (i.e., certificate/diploma to bachelor’s degree) that was studied full time for at least 24 weeks in New Zealand and that does not make them eligible for a Post Study Work Visa. That qualification cannot have been an English language, foundation, or bridging qualification.

Short Term Graduate Work Visa holders will not be able to support family for a work or dependent child student visa. However, says New Zealand Immigration:

“They can check if they are able to support them for a visitor visa instead. Dependent children can also apply for a student visa as international students, and partners can apply for work visas on their own merit.”

For more on the visa and eligibility requirements, please visit this New Zealand Immigration .

Extended eligibility: Post Study Work Visa

The Post Study Work Visa allows holders to work in New Zealand for up to three years, depending on their qualification. Currently, it is eligible to students who have graduated with an NZQCF Level 7 bachelor’s degree taken full-time at a New Zealand institution but not to those who have earned a Level 7 NZQCF graduate diploma. This will change in late 2026.

Along with , applicants with the NZQCF graduate diploma will need to have completed a bachelor’s degree in New Zealand or elsewhere to be eligible for the Post Study Work Visa.

Post Study Work Visa holders are permitted to support partners and dependent children for visitor, work, or dependent child student visas, as long as requirements are met.

Education exports are growing

The “” strategy aims to double the economic impact of the international education in New Zealand over the next decade from NZD$3.6 billion in 2024 to NZD$7.2 billion by 2034.

Stats NZ data show that education-related travel exports reached NZD$4.5 billion in 2025 (up to September).

For additional background, please see:

• “What students want: The top decision factors for study abroad“
• “New Zealand announces strong foreign enrolment growth along with a new international education strategy”��
• “New Zealand’s international student numbers climbing amid strong public support“

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The guidance continues, “During peak periods, applications may take longer to process. It is important anyone wanting to come to New Zealand to study in the second half of the 2025 academic year does not leave it too late to submit their visa application.

Students with a study start date in July or August should apply now.”

The mid-year processing peak for New Zealand typically occurs between May and August each year, and INZ generally advises that students should apply at least three months before their intended travel date.

Additional detail on wait lists for visas processing . Please note, however, that that reflects wait times for visas processed in the past four weeks, and does not indicate the wait times that should be anticipated during peak processing windows.

That heavier visa processing period takes on more significance given the growing popularity of New Zealand as a study destination. At the end of 2024, Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds announced that foreign enrolment was up by 6% over 2023 levels.

“With 73,535 enrolments between January to August 2024, more enrolments have been achieved in just two terms this year than we saw in all of last year,” said the Minister. “Universities and schools are driving growth, with universities enrolling 31,345 international students, a 14% increase, and schools rising by 33% to 16,815 students, including 69% surge in primary school enrolments. Funded private training establishments also grew by 80% on last year. Diversity in source markets strengthens our education sector. While China and India lead, enrolments have grown from the US, Thailand, Germany, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines, each now contribute 3% of international students.”

For additional background, please see:

• “New Zealand: International student enrolments up 67% in 2023 amid growing public support“
• “New Zealand resource aims to connect prospective international students with qualified agents“

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“Until now, our immigration system has been heavily subsidised by taxpayers. The changes we’re making are shifting the cost to those benefitting from the system. We’re ensuring it is self-funding and more efficient,” said the Minister. “The new charges reflect the costs associated with visa processing, assessing and managing more high-risk applications, and increased compliance costs…[However,] the charges remain competitive in comparison to countries like Australia and the United Kingdom so we are confident New Zealand will continue to be an attractive destination to live, work, study and visit.”

Student visa fees will double

Stakeholders were advised by email on 9 August that student visa fees will be affected, and that they will double from the current NZ$375 to NZ$750 as of 1 October.

The move comes just a month after Australia’s decision to double its student visa application fees to AUD$1,600 (NZ$1,750), and it compares to the relatively low visa fees levied in other major study destinations, including Canada CDN$150 (NZ$180) and the United States US$185 (NZ$310).

The more important relative pricing among destinations, however, is unquestionably between Australia and New Zealand. Even with the adjusted fees coming into effect in October, a New Zealand student visa application will cost a little more than 40% of the price of an Australian study visa application.

What do students think?

IDP’s recent pulse survey provides some interesting insights into how visa fees influence the study plans of prospective students. It is important to note that the survey was in the field in June 2024, ahead of the actual fee increase announcements in Australia and now New Zealand. But even so, we can see some evidence of price sensitivity.

When it comes to prospective students considering study in New Zealand, 50% said that the cost of the student visa would have little impact on their study plans. However, the other 50% of respondents demonstrated more price sensitivity with 22% saying an increase would have a “medium” impact and the remaining 28% indicating it would have a “high” impact.

Presenting the findings at NZIEC 2024 in Wellington last week, IDP Partnership Director Jerry He said, “We can see that NZ-bound students appear to be more price sensitive, with half of the surveyed students claiming that student visa [fees] influences where they intend to study. This large proportion of students influenced by visa fees should benefit New Zealand.”

The IDP findings illustrate that that price sensitivity varies quite a bit by sending country, with markets such as the Philippines and Bangladesh demonstrating a higher level of concern around visa fees. Meanwhile, the issue was less of a factor for students from China. “These market distinctions are important as New Zealand seeks to target future students that may be persuaded to switch away from Australia,” added Mr He.

85% approval rate

Also speaking at NZIEC 2024, Immigration New Zealand officials shared that New Zealand has received 124,000 study visa applications since the country’s border re-opened to international visitors in August 2022. Just over 119,000 of those files have been processed to date, resulting in 101,000 visa approvals. That works out to an 85% approval rate, with applications processed within six weeks on average.

INZ officials note as well that agents are permitted to provide advice for prospective students without being a licensed immigration advisor, but only with respect to student visas. In such cases, however, the agent must declare their involvement in the student’s application by completing .

For additional background, please see:

• “New Zealand aims to double value of education exports by 2027“
• “New Zealand hosted over 69,000 international students in 2023“
• “Australia implements immediate doubling of student visa application fees“
• “Pulse survey indicates early impact of new financial requirements for Australian study visas“

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Accompanying dependants can now apply for a with open work rights if their partner is studying in “a specified level 7 or 8 bachelor’s or bachelor’s (honours) degree that will lead directly to professional registration required for a Green List role.”

are occupations that have been classified as being in high demand by the New Zealand government. They include positions in health care, STEM fields, and others.

The new policy offers a significant benefit to accompanying children of Green List-enrolled students as well in that: “For partners who are now eligible, their dependent school-aged children can be treated as domestic students. The children can apply for a Dependent Child Student Visa so they will not have to pay tuition fees to go to school. This currently applies to anyone with a Partner of a Student Work Visa.”

The news follows the recent announcement of New Zealand’s full-year enrolment figures for 2023. The country’s schools, universities, language institutes, and vocational institutions together hosted 69,135 international students last year, a 67% increase in total foreign enrolment over 2022.

This represents 60% of the international student base in 2019, when over 115,000 international students were enrolled.

For additional background, please see:

• “New Zealand hosted over 69,000 international students in 2023“
• “New Zealand: Foreign enrolments climbed steadily through 2023 but full recovery will take years“
• “New Zealand moves to active footing for student recruitment with new national strategy“

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The effect of higher proof of funds can serve as a deterrent for a segment of prospective international students. Destinations requiring lower amounts of guaranteed funds are often less expensive for students in general, and as per our recent article on emerging host countries, more affordable destinations are:

• increasingly being considered by many international students;
• seeing their international student population expand in tandem with leading destinations’ higher costs.

In this article, we take a look at proof of funds requirements in 2024 across 20 destinations.

Please note: These sums are exclusive of what may be required for tuition, health insurance, airfare/travel, additional family members, or other fees. They are the funds the governments expect individual students to have available to them while studying for a certain time period. Also note: These values can change every year, and sometimes proof of funds depends on the student’s country and type of study. The best source of current information for students and agents are individual institutions and government officials. The following figures were updated in July 2024, and are current as of that month.

• Australia: AUD$29,710 (US$19,537)

• Canada: CDN$20,635 (US$14,930)

• China: USD$2,500 per year of study

• Czech Republic: 3,130 CZK (US$133) per month, so assuming a stay of one year, US$1,600

• Finland: €590 per month (US$630), so assuming a stay of one year, US$7,560

• France: €615 (US$655) per month of study (so assuming a study duration of one year, US$7,860)

• Germany: €11,904 (US$12,875) for one year

• Ireland: €10,000 (US$10,680) immediately available and the same amount for each subsequent year of study

• Italy: €350 (US$375) per month of study (so assuming a study duration of one year, US$4,500)

• Japan: 2 million Japanese yen (US$12,970) for one year

• Netherlands: €14.700 (US$15,685) for one year

• New Zealand: NZD$20,000 per year (USD$11,840)

• Portugal: €820 per month (US$875), so assuming a study duration of 12 months, US$10,500

• Singapore: 8,400S$ ($6,175)

• South Korea: US$20,000

• Spain: €600 (US$640) per month (so assuming a study duration of one year, US$7,680)

• Switzerland: HF 21,000 (US$23,070) per year and the same amount for each subsequent year

• UAE: Depends on the university – for Abu Dhabi University, the proof of funds is US$15,000

• UK: Just over £1,100 (US$1,660) per month of study (so assuming a study duration of nine months, US$14,940)

• US: New F-1 students must prove that they have funds for the first year of study (some US embassies will ask for proof of funds for the duration of a programme). For those accepted to highly ranked institutions (e.g., University of California, Santa Barbara) – proof of funds can run over US$70,000 for the first year of a programme.

Considerable variation in terms of requirements

Looking at the research above, it’s clear that students must demonstrate a higher level of access to funds in Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, South Korea, Switzerland, the UK, and US (as well as some universities in the UAE) – all requiring over US$14,000. The next tier includes Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, and Portugal (US$10,000-$14,000), while countries requiring the least amount of available funds are China, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Italy, Singapore, and Spain (under US$10,000).

On its own, a destination’s proof of funds requirement is not among the top factors influencing where students choose to study. But the requirement does provide a signal to students of whether they can comfortably afford to live in a destination – and in this sense, the funds requirement is an interesting variable in the overall way in which students measure the attractiveness of different destinations.

For additional information, please see:

• “The impact of immigration settings, affordability, and job opportunities on international students’ study abroad decisions”
• “The cost of living: A closer look at inflation and foreign exchange trends in key student markets”
• “Global survey shows rising costs of living are significantly affecting international student mobility”

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Marketing push is driving results

New Zealand has an impressive website as well as an associated “I AM NEW” digital campaign that most recently has been focused on parents and students in China, India, US, Thailand, Vietnam, Germany, Brazil, Japan, and South Korea. Phase 2 of the campaign featured the stories of international students in New Zealand. (A wide body of research shows that prospective international students are eager to hear the perspectives of current international students when choosing where they will study.)

The timing of Phase 2 of the campaign coincided with a significant jump in traffic to the Study with New Zealand website: from around 75,000 users in November 2022 to around 295,000 users in February 2023. India, Vietnam, Brazil, Thailand, and Japan contributed the highest number of users.

Visa trends are positive

A few data points indicate that the pace of recovery is picking up:

• New Zealand immigration officials are processing and deciding on a growing volume of international student visas; 16,000 decisions were made between December 2022 and February 2023.
• There were nearly 34,000 international students holding visas for study with New Zealand at the beginning of March 2023, up 98% since the border reopened.
• Between December 2022 and February 2023, the number of approved visas was about two-thirds of the number approved between December 2019 to February 2020.
• The number of Chinese and Indian visas approved was lower than in December 2019–February 2022, while visa approval rates for students from Vietnam and Malaysia were 17% and 4% higher, respectively, in the December 2022–February 2023 period.

How’s the competition looking?

New Zealand Education also looked at trends in competitor countries. They note that across Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US, the big driver of growth is India. Those leading destinations (combined) granted 28% fewer visas to Chinese students and 125% more visas to Indian students in 2022 compared with 2019.

New Zealand Education also provides a great table that illustrates where growth is coming from – aside from India – for top destinations. Australia is leading the pack in terms of diversification, attracting significant volumes of new students across a range of nationalities including Nepal, India, Thailand, Colombia, Philippines, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

For additional background, please see:

• “New Zealand launches new online portal for adult learners”
• “New Zealand expands working holiday programme for 2022-23”
• “International students are returning to Australia but not yet at pre-pandemic levels”

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The backlog of temporary visa files, which includes applications for student visas, has been in limbo since 10 August 2020. That was the point at which New Zealand suspended offshore visa applications. Under its recently released guidelines, offshore applications for a temporary entry visa made before 10 August 2020 will be automatically closed and refunded. Similarly, any applications received by Immigration New Zealand after 10 August will also be closed and refunded, unless the traveller has an exception from the current border restrictions due to work or family reasons.

“Processing these refunds is a significant administrative exercise and is expected to take months,” said Immigration New Zealand Visa Operations General Manager Nicola Hogg.

Immigration New Zealand says that there are roughly NZ$14 million in fees to be refunded. The agency will follow up with all affected applicants using the contact email address in the original visa applications, and explains:

• “For applications submitted online, refunds will be paid to the card the original payment was paid from. If the payment was made by a third party on behalf of the applicant, such as a Licensed Immigration Advisor, it is the responsibility of the applicant and their representative to arrange reimbursement of the refund. Immigration New Zealand is not able to mediate between the applicant and their representative.”

• “For those where payment was made more than 12 months ago, applicants will be contacted to complete a refund form and provide a bank account number for the refund to be processed to.”

• “For applications submitted through other channels, applicants will be contacted to obtain payment details.”

The immigration agency confirms as well that any future visa applications will not be adversely affected by the closing of the current files. However, adds Ms Hogg, “Refunding these applicants is the fair and pragmatic thing to do, particularly given the uncertainty that remains about when border restrictions may be eased or lifted.”

With limited exceptions, including an estimated 1,250 foreign students that will be allowed to return to New Zealand this year under strict quarantine conditions, the country’s borders remain closed to international travellers. Those border restrictions first went into effect in March 2020. In a May 2021 letter to education sector stakeholders, Education Minister Chris Hipkins indicated that the current closures will extend into 2022.

For additional background, please see:

• “New Zealand signals that border closures will remain in place into 2022“
• “EC closing locations in four countries, including all centres in Australia and New Zealand“
• “New Zealand aims to build on positive perceptions from COVID response“
• “New Zealand takes next step in recovery plan with major pathways initiative“

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The students will return to a variety of tertiary institutions from universities and polytechnics/institutes of technology to ����Բ��Բ��� (public institutions that provide education in the context of Māori culture), and private training establishments.

In late-2020, the government also announced that 250 PhD and master’s students would be allowed to enter the country. These students are reported to be “confirming their visas” at this stage to be able to return.

Return in stages

The first intake will involve a maximum of 300 students in April, and subsequent groups will return in stages throughout the rest of the year in order to reduce strain on MIQ (managed isolation and quarantine) facilities. In decision-making about which students will be allowed to return, the government says that those closest to graduation will be given priority.

Otherwise, students interested in returning are being asked to contact their education providers. To be eligible for the border exception, students must demonstrate that they need to be in New Zealand to complete their degree and:

• Hold, or have held, a 2020 study visa;
• Be pursuing a bachelor’s degree or higher;
• Have been in New Zealand in 2019 or 2020 studying towards their current degree;
• Be going back to their current education provider in New Zealand to study.

Balancing safety and economic recovery

Education Minister Chris Hipkins said,

“This border exception delivers on a part of the recovery plan for international education. It underscores the Government’s commitment to the international education sector, which is important in the country’s long-term economic recovery from COVID-19. The students will return to New Zealand in phases, beginning with a cohort of 300 that will be able to return from April, with the remaining students returning throughout the year as MIQ availability allows.”

Minister Hipkins said as well that the decision does not conflict with the government’s top priority of keeping New Zealanders safe. “Within our safety-first framework, we also have a responsibility to carefully balance our decisions, to support New Zealand’s economic recovery …. “[Students] will be subject to the same border rules and quarantine regime as all other arrivals – with any additional restrictions depending on where they come from.” 

The decision will allow higher education providers to “welcome back students who have made the greatest commitment to New Zealand,” he added.

The costs of returning

Returning students will also have to meet some additional financial obligations:

“They will need to book their space through the allocation system and will be billed the standard charges for managed isolation. They also need to be able to do more to support themselves in New Zealand, with the living expenses that are required for international students to be granted a visa now raised to NZD$20,000 – up from NZD$15,000.”

Industry reaction

Education New Zealand (ENZ) welcomed the announcement of the new border exception:

“We are very pleased to see the Government progress the safe return of international students to New Zealand. This is a good next step, and we look forward to welcoming more students as soon as the time is right.”

ENZ notes as well that, “Before the onset of COVID-19, international education was New Zealand’s fifth-largest export, contributing NZD$5 billion to the economy and supporting around 45,000 jobs.”

For additional background, please see:

• “New Zealand to allow first international students to return this year”
• “New Zealand takes next step in recovery plan with major pathways initiative“

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