Apply online to INZ
You apply online to Immigration New Zealand. INZ advises applying at least 3 months before your course begins, and earlier if you already have all your documents.
Student visa · Fee Paying Student Visa
To study at a New Zealand university you need a Fee Paying Student Visa. Bangladeshi students apply online to Immigration New Zealand once they have an offer of place and have paid their tuition, pay a fee from NZD 850 and show NZD 20,000 for each year of study. In 2025 INZ approved 62% of applications from Bangladesh, and refusals rose sharply in 2026 amid fraud checks, so a genuine, well-documented file matters more than ever.
Written and reviewed by Anisuzzaman Kiron, Founder & CEO · Updated
| Visa you need | Fee Paying Student Visa |
|---|---|
| Where to apply | Online to Immigration New Zealand (INZ) |
| Visa fee | From NZD 850 (about BDT 59,400) |
| Money to show | NZD 20,000 for each year of study, on top of tuition |
| Processing time | 80% of applications decided within 5 weeks, INZ says |
| Health and character | Chest x-ray and police certificates if INZ requires them for your stay |
| Work on the visa | Up to 25 hours a week in term; full-time in scheduled holidays |
From Immigration New Zealand, Education New Zealand and the University of Auckland · Last verified
The basics
For a full-time university course you apply for the Fee Paying Student Visa. You apply online once you have an offer of place and have paid your tuition, and Immigration New Zealand checks your money, health, character and whether you genuinely intend to study.
You apply online to Immigration New Zealand. INZ advises applying at least 3 months before your course begins, and earlier if you already have all your documents.
You need an offer of place; applicants outside New Zealand can use a conditional offer since 23 May 2025. You show that tuition is paid for one course or one year, whichever is shorter.
INZ must be satisfied that you genuinely intend to study and will meet your visa conditions. It says clear, relevant and verifiable evidence matters more than the number of documents.
Bangladeshi students should apply early. In September 2026 INZ named Bangladesh among the countries that send very high numbers of applications, and said late applications are not prioritised, even when travel is booked. If your visa is not decided in time, you may have to defer to a later intake.
Sources: Immigration New Zealand: Fee Paying Student Visa · INZ: apply early and be ready, 17 Sep 2026 · University of Auckland: student visa applications. Last verified 11 Nov 2026.
Step by step
Six steps, from the offer letter to the flight. The hardest parts for Bangladeshi students are proving genuine funds and applying early enough in the peak season.
Pick a university and course and apply with your SSC, HSC or bachelor's documents, passport and English result.
Six to nine months beforePay the tuition on your offer of place, for one course or one year, whichever is shorter, plus insurance, and get the receipt.
After the offerBank statements and sponsor documents for NZD 20,000 a year, your study history, and a chest x-ray and police certificates if INZ requires them.
Before you applyApply for the Fee Paying Student Visa online and pay the fee, from NZD 850.
At least 3 months before your courseINZ shows 80% of decisions within 5 weeks. Travel bookings do not speed up a late application.
After you applyRead your visa conditions, including the 25-hours-a-week work limit, keep your insurance active and arrive before your course starts.
After the grantSources: Immigration New Zealand: Fee Paying Student Visa · University of Auckland: student visa applications · INZ: apply early and be ready. Timing of the first step: Sunrise advice. Last verified 11 Nov 2026.
Documents
The online application asks for the evidence that fits your situation. The right-hand list is what Sunrise prepares with New Zealand students in Bangladesh.
Use only your own, genuine documents. INZ has said that recent declines involving Bangladesh and other countries included concerns about fraud, such as genuine documents being altered or reused across applications and reused financial evidence.
Sources: Immigration New Zealand: Fee Paying Student Visa · University of Auckland: student visa applications · RNZ/1News, 15 Oct 2026, quoting INZ. Last verified 11 Nov 2026.
Money and fees
The fee is from NZD 850. You also pay your tuition before the visa, show NZD 20,000 for each year of study and have a ticket home or money for one.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Student visa fee | From NZD 850About BDT 59,400 | Immigration New Zealand's Fee Paying Student Visa page. Its fee table puts the application fee and immigration levy at NZD 750, and INZ lists a NZD 100 International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy for student visas. |
| Living funds to show | NZD 20,000 a yearAbout BDT 14.0 lakh | For study of a year or more; NZD 1,667 a month for shorter study. |
| Tuition before the visa | One course or one year | Whichever is shorter; the amount is in your offer of place. |
| Onward travel | A ticket, or money for one | On top of your living funds. |
| Medical and travel insurance | Confirmed in counselling | Required from the start of your course until your visa ends. |
| Chest x-ray and police certificates | Confirmed in counselling | Only if required for your application. |
| Post Study Work Visa, later | From NZD 1,670About BDT 1.2 lakh | Immigration New Zealand's Post Study Work Visa page; you also show NZD 5,000. |
Tuition is separate. A bachelor's in business, IT or engineering costs about NZD 39,000–54,000 a year and most 120-point master's start from about NZD 40,000; compare them on our New Zealand universities page and see the full budget in the New Zealand costs section.
BDT amounts are approximate, at about BDT 69.94 per New Zealand dollar (Wise mid-market rate, 11 Nov 2026), and change with the exchange rate. Sources: Immigration New Zealand: Fee Paying Student Visa · fee table · fees and levies · Post Study Work Visa · University of Auckland: paying before the visa. Last verified 11 Nov 2026.
Success and refusals
Immigration New Zealand's own data show that it approved 62% of student visa applications from Bangladesh in 2025, against 83% for all countries. Refusals then rose: RNZ reported in October 2026 that INZ had declined 70% of Bangladeshi applications in the previous three months.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Applications from Bangladesh, 2025 | 1,102 |
| Approved | 678 (62%) |
| Declined | 414 (38%) |
| Approval rate, all countries, 2025 | 83% |
Money in accounts you can explain, from sources you can document. INZ has said financial evidence was often reused in fraudulent applications.
A course that fits your study history and plans, explained in your own words, so INZ can see that you genuinely intend to study.
At least 3 months before your course begins, with every document ready; INZ does not prioritise late applications.
If you are refused, read the reasons in your decision letter before you do anything else, and talk to a counsellor before you apply again.
Sources: Immigration New Zealand: 2025 student visa decisions · RNZ/1News, 15 Oct 2026 · INZ: apply early and be ready. Last verified 11 Nov 2026.
Timeline
Immigration New Zealand shows 80% of Fee Paying Student Visa applications decided within 5 weeks, but it asks students from high-volume countries such as Bangladesh to apply especially early. Plan backwards from your start date.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Six to nine months before the start | Shortlist universities and courses, and take an English test if your university asks for one. |
| Next | Apply to the university; each one sets its own closing dates for the Semester 1 and Semester 2 intakes. |
| After the offer | Pay the tuition and insurance and get your receipt. |
| At least 3 months before your course | Apply for the visa online; for 2027 starts, Education New Zealand passed on advice to apply around September 2026. |
| After you apply | INZ shows 80% of decisions within 5 weeks; reply quickly if it asks you for more information. |
| Before the course starts | Once the visa is granted, book your flight and housing and arrive before your course begins. |
Sources: Immigration New Zealand: Fee Paying Student Visa · INZ: apply early and be ready · Education New Zealand, 28 April 2026. Month-by-month plan: Sunrise advice. Last verified 11 Nov 2026.
After you arrive
Keep your enrolment, insurance and work hours within your visa conditions. After you finish, you can apply for a Post Study Work Visa if you meet its rules.
Up to 25 hours a week during term, and full-time in scheduled holidays if your course is worth at least 120 credits. You cannot average your hours across weeks.
Stay enrolled, keep your medical and travel insurance and follow your visa conditions. The visa is normally issued for the period you have paid for, up to 4 years.
The Post Study Work Visa lasts up to 3 years, depending on your qualification; apply within 3 months of your student visa ending and show NZD 5,000. From 16 November 2026, a 6-month Short-Term Graduate Work Visa opens for some level 5–7 graduates.
Not sure your file is ready? A Sunrise counsellor checks it before you apply. Book a free consultation or message WhatsApp 01611878274.
Sources: Immigration New Zealand: Fee Paying Student Visa · AUT: working while you study · Post Study Work Visa · Short-Term Graduate Work Visa. Last verified 11 Nov 2026.
FAQ
Ask a New Zealand counsellor directly if your question is not here.
WhatsApp 01611878274Yes. For a full-time university course you need a Fee Paying Student Visa, applied for online to Immigration New Zealand after you get an offer of place.
NZD 20,000 for each year of study (about BDT 14.0 lakh), or NZD 1,667 a month for shorter study, on top of your tuition and money for a ticket out of New Zealand.
From NZD 850 on Immigration New Zealand's Fee Paying Student Visa page. The amount depends on where you apply, so check it before you pay.
Yes. You show that tuition is paid for one course or one year, whichever is shorter, with a receipt or letter from your university.
INZ does not set an English score for the visa; your university must confirm that you have the English to pass the course, so it sets its own requirement. A test result can still support your application.
You may need a chest x-ray if you will stay more than 6 months, and police certificates if you are 17 or over and will stay 24 months or more. Full fee-paying students usually do not need a medical certificate.
In 2025 INZ approved 62% of applications from Bangladesh (678 of 1,102). RNZ reported in October 2026 that INZ had declined 70% in the previous three months, citing fraud concerns, so a genuine, complete file matters.
INZ shows 80% of Fee Paying Student Visa applications decided within 5 weeks. It advises applying at least 3 months before your course and does not prioritise late applications.
Yes, if your visa conditions allow it: up to 25 hours a week during term and full-time in scheduled holidays.
You can apply for a Post Study Work Visa of up to 3 years, depending on your qualification, within 3 months of your student visa ending. The fee is from NZD 1,670.
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