Proof of financial means for a visa: what you must show

Proof of financial means is a standard requirement across most temporary visa categories, but what you must actually show depends on the visa you are applying for. For New Zealand, the evidence you need is set out in the conditions of the visa and the specific requirements for your country’s scheme. You must be able to demonstrate that you have enough money to cover your stay and your departure, and in some cases that you have a return ticket or can pay for one. The exact amounts are not published in a single table; you must check the official page for your visa type and your country of citizenship.

What financial evidence is required for a visitor visa

Visitor visas come with conditions that include a requirement about return or onward travel. Unless your visa states ‘Return/onward travel not required’, you must have one of the following:

• a ticket to leave New Zealand to an approved destination
• enough money to buy a ticket out of New Zealand, or
• an acceptable sponsor who can pay for your ticket out of New Zealand.

This is not the same as proving you have funds for your daily costs. The condition is specifically about being able to leave the country. If you cannot show a ticket or the means to buy one, and you do not have a sponsor, your application may be refused or you may be given a different visa at the border.

You can find your exact conditions in your eVisa, on the visa label in your passport if you have one, in the letter you received when the visa was granted, or online using the Visa Verification Service. If you arrived with an NZeTA, your conditions depend on the visa you were given at the border.

Financial evidence for a student visa

Student visas also carry conditions about return or onward travel. The same three options apply: a ticket, enough money to buy one, or an acceptable sponsor. The conditions are listed on your eVisa, in the letter you were sent, or through the Visa Verification Service.

Student visa conditions also cover work. Some student visas do not allow work at all. If your visa allows work, you must work only under the conditions specified, which can include how many hours per week and when you can work. This matters for financial planning: you cannot assume you will be able to work to support yourself unless your visa conditions explicitly allow it.

Since 3 November 2025, the work hours allowed on student visas increased from 20 to 25 hours a week. If your student visa was granted before that date and allows 20 hours of part-time work per week, you can apply for a variation of conditions to increase your allowed hours to 25. This is a change to your work conditions, not to your visa expiry date, and it does not change the financial evidence you needed at application.

Financial evidence for a working holiday visa

Working holiday visas have a specific financial requirement that is set per country. The visa requirements for each country will tell you how much money you need to bring with you. There is no single figure for all applicants; the amount varies by scheme.

You also need to have a return ticket, or be able to pay for one. This is stated as a condition of the visa. In addition, you must be coming mainly to holiday — work or study should be secondary intentions. This means your financial evidence should support a holiday, not a plan to work for most of your stay.

The length of stay also varies. Most working holiday visas allow up to 12 months, but Canada allows up to 23 months and the United Kingdom allows up to 36 months. The longer your stay, the more you may need to show in funds, but the exact amount is still set by your country’s scheme.

How to check the exact amount you must show

Because the required amount is not published in a single place, you need to check the official page for your specific visa. For working holiday visas, the page for your country’s scheme lists the money you need to bring. For visitor and student visas, the conditions on your visa or the application instructions will state what is required.

If you are applying from within New Zealand, additional evidence may be needed. If you apply for a working holiday visa while in New Zealand, you may need to provide a medical certificate. If you plan to stay in New Zealand for more than 12 months, including time on other visas, you must have a chest X-ray and a general medical examination. These are separate from financial evidence but are part of the same application.

What to do next

Before you apply, check the official Immigration New Zealand page for your visa type and your country of citizenship. Confirm the exact amount you must show, whether a return ticket is required, and whether a sponsor is acceptable. Prepare evidence that is current and in your name, and keep it ready to upload when you apply online.

If you are already in New Zealand and your visa is about to expire, you cannot extend it. You must apply for another temporary visa before your current one expires, and you should apply at least one month before the expiry date. If you are waiting for a decision and your current visa expires, Immigration New Zealand will normally issue an Interim Visa so you can stay lawfully. The conditions on an Interim Visa depend on the visa you previously had and the new visa you applied for.

Verify the financial requirements on the official page for your visa before you submit. The amounts and conditions can differ by country and can change.