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Student visa for New Zealand, for students from French Polynesia
A visa is normally needed
As a citizen of French Polynesia you will normally need a student visa or residence permit for New Zealand before your course starts. Some nationalities may enter New Zealand without a visa and apply for the residence permit there instead; check the official page below for the rule that applies to your passport.
The numbers
- Money you must show
- NZD 20,000 for each year of study
- Visa fee
- From NZD 850
- Work while you study
- 25 hours a week in term, full-time in scheduled holidays
- Stay after you graduate
- Post-Study Work Visa of up to 3 years
NZD 1,667 a month for courses under a year. This is in addition to tuition, which you must also show you can pay.
Immigration New Zealand, checked 2026-09-24
The exact fee depends on your nationality and where you apply.
Immigration New Zealand, checked 2026-09-24
Raised from 20 hours on 3 November 2025. Only if your course qualifies for work rights.
Immigration New Zealand, checked 2026-09-24
Open work rights for level 7 degree graduates and above. Fee from NZD 1,670. Apply no later than 3 months after your student visa expires.
Immigration New Zealand, checked 2026-09-24
The visa
You need a Fee Paying Student Visa. You apply online with an offer of place from an approved provider, evidence that you can pay the tuition (or that it is paid), and evidence of living funds. The visa can be granted for up to four years.
The fee: from NZD 850, depending on your nationality and where you apply.
The money: NZD 20,000 for each year of study, or NZD 1,667 a month for courses shorter than a year. This is separate from tuition. Acceptable evidence includes bank statements, a scholarship, or a sponsor's financial undertaking. The funds must be genuinely available to you, and Immigration New Zealand can ask where they came from.
Processing time: Immigration New Zealand reports that 80% of applications are decided within 8 weeks. Apply as soon as you have your offer and the funds in place, and before you book flights.
Where to apply
At the embassy or consulate of New Zealand that covers French Polynesia, or through the visa application centre it names. Book early: in the busiest months appointments can be weeks away. Apply only through the official website; nobody can sell you a faster place in the queue.
Official pages: immigration.govt.nz · immigration.govt.nz · immigration.govt.nz · immigration.govt.nz · auckland.ac.nz · auckland.ac.nz. Checked 2026-09-24. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you apply.
Scholarships open to students from French Polynesia in New Zealand
Questions students ask
Do students from French Polynesia need a visa to study in New Zealand?
As a citizen of French Polynesia you will normally need a student visa or residence permit for New Zealand before your course starts. Some nationalities may enter New Zealand without a visa and apply for the residence permit there instead; check the official page below for the rule that applies to your passport.
How much money do I need to show for a New Zealand student visa?
NZD 20,000 for each year of study. NZD 1,667 a month for courses under a year. This is in addition to tuition, which you must also show you can pay. (source: Immigration New Zealand, checked 2026-09-24).
Can I work while I study in New Zealand?
25 hours a week in term, full-time in scheduled holidays.
This page is general information from official sources, not immigration advice. For a decision about your own case, the official source or a regulated adviser is where that belongs.
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