What documents are required to prove financial funds for the New Zealand student visa, and how long should the funds be shown in the bank?
For a New Zealand student visa, you need bank statements covering the last 3-6 months, signed and stamped by your bank, no older than 7 days at submission. You must show NZD 20,000 for living costs plus full tuition fees and NZD 2,000 for travel.
For a NZ student visa, you need bank statements covering the last 3-6 months (6 months strongly recommended), plus proof of source of funds. Statements must be no older than 7 days at the time you submit your application and must be physically signed and stamped by an authorized bank representative - screenshots or online printouts are rejected.
Acceptable Proof of Funds Documents
Document Type | Key Requirement |
|---|---|
Savings / Current account statements | 3-6 months continuous history, bank-signed and stamped |
Fixed Deposits (FDs) | At least 3 months old and fully breakable/liquidable |
Education loan sanction letter | From a nationalised or reputable bank, with disbursement schedule |
PPF / EPF (Provident Funds) | Must be verifiable and withdrawable |
Scholarship award letter | Must clearly state what tuition and living costs are covered |
Mandatory secondary documents (source of funds proof):
Salaried sponsors: salary certificates, employer verification letter, last 3 months' pay slips.
Business owners: registration documents and company financials, ITR for last 1-2 years from you or your sponsor.
If sponsored by family: complete INZ Form 1014 (Financial Undertaking for a Student) or INZ Form 1025 (Sponsorship for Temporary Entry).
How Much You Need to Show
Expense Type | Courses 12+ Months | Courses Under 12 Months |
|---|---|---|
Living costs | NZD 20,000/year | NZD 1,667/month |
Outward travel | NZD 2,000 (or pre-paid return ticket) | NZD 2,000 |
Tuition fees | Year 1 fully paid or funds to pay it | Full course amount |
My Advice
The document freshness rule catches a lot of students off guard - I've seen applications get delayed simply because the bank statement was printed 10 days before submission instead of within the 7-day window. Print your final statement as close to your application date as possible. Also, if you're using an FD as part of your proof, make sure it's been in place for at least 3 months and the certificate clearly shows it's breakable. A fresh FD opened specifically for the visa is one of the first things INZ flags.
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