Proof of Funds for a Visa Application: What You Must Show

Proof of funds is evidence that you have enough money to support yourself during your stay in the destination country, and in the New Zealand context it is a standard requirement for most temporary visa applications. The exact amount you must show depends on the visa type and your country of origin, and Immigration New Zealand sets the figure for each scheme. You cannot rely on a general estimate: you must check the specific requirements for the visa you are applying for, because the amount is stated in the official country-specific instructions. This page explains what proof of funds means, which documents are accepted, and how to check the exact figure for your situation.

What proof of funds actually means

Proof of funds is documentary evidence that you have access to a specified amount of money to cover your costs while you are in New Zealand. It is not a statement of intent; it is a verifiable record that the funds exist and belong to you. Immigration New Zealand uses this evidence to assess whether you can support yourself without needing to work illegally or rely on public funds.

For working holiday visas, the requirement is explicit: each country’s visa requirements state how much money you need to bring with you. The amount is not uniform across all countries — it varies by scheme. You must read the requirements for your specific country’s working holiday agreement to find the figure that applies to you.

For other temporary visas, the financial evidence requirement is set out in the visa-specific instructions. There is no single “proof of funds” amount that covers all visas, so you cannot assume that a figure that was sufficient for one visa will be sufficient for another.

Which documents count as proof of funds

Immigration New Zealand does not publish a single closed list of acceptable documents in the official guidance. What matters is that the evidence is verifiable and shows you have the money. In practice, the following are commonly accepted, but you must confirm the current requirements on the official page for your visa type:

• Bank statements showing your name and account balance over a recent period
• Evidence of a fixed deposit or term deposit in your name
• A letter from your bank confirming your balance and account history
• Evidence of a sponsor’s funds if a sponsor is supporting you

You need to check the specific visa page for the exact document requirements. For example, the working holiday visa page states that you need to have a return ticket or be able to pay for one, and that you must be coming mainly to holiday — work or study should be secondary intentions. The financial evidence must support that intention.

How much money you need to show

The amount you must prove is set per visa scheme, and it is not a universal figure. For working holiday visas, the amount is stated in each country’s visa requirements. For example, the page for who can apply for a working holiday visa says the visa requirements for each country will tell you how much money you need to bring with you. It does not give a single number, because the figure differs between countries.

For other temporary visas, such as visitor visas, the financial requirement is not stated as a fixed sum on the general pages. You must check the specific visa instructions for the amount you need to show.

The table below summarises what the official guidance states about financial evidence for different visa types.

Visa type	Financial evidence requirement	Where to check the amount
Working holiday visa	Amount stated per country; you must bring it with you	Your country’s working holiday visa requirements
Visitor visa	Must have return/onward travel or enough money to buy a ticket, unless visa states otherwise	Your visa conditions and the visitor visa instructions
Student visa	Must have return/onward travel or enough money to buy a ticket, unless visa states otherwise	Your visa conditions and the student visa instructions
Accredited Employer Work Visa	Not stated on the general work visa page	The AEWV specific instructions

Note that the official guidance does not give a dollar figure for any visa type. You must go to the official page for your specific visa and country to find the exact amount.

Proof of funds for working holiday visas

Working holiday visas are the clearest example of a country-specific funds requirement. The official guidance states that the visa requirements for each country will tell you how much money you need to bring with you. This means the amount is not the same for every applicant — it depends on your nationality.

You also need to show that you have a return ticket or can afford one. This is separate from the funds requirement for living costs. The official guidance states that on a working holiday visa you need to have a return ticket, or be able to pay for one, and be coming mainly to holiday.

If you cannot show sufficient funds, your application may be declined. The official guidance does not state a specific refusal threshold, but the requirement is explicit: you must meet the financial criteria for your country’s scheme.

Proof of funds for visitor and student visas

For visitor visas, the financial requirement is tied to your ability to leave New Zealand. The official guidance states that unless your visa states ‘Return/onward travel not required’, you must have a ticket to leave New Zealand, enough money to buy a ticket out of New Zealand, or an acceptable sponsor who can pay for your ticket.

This is a different kind of proof of funds from the working holiday requirement. For visitor visas, the evidence is primarily about your ability to depart, not necessarily about a fixed sum for living costs. However, you should still expect to show that you can support yourself during your stay, and the exact requirement is set out in your visa conditions.

Student visas have the same return/onward travel condition. The official guidance states that unless your visa states ‘Return/onward travel not required’, you must have a ticket to leave New Zealand, enough money to buy a ticket, or an acceptable sponsor.

Proof of funds for work visas

For work visas, the financial evidence requirement is not stated on the general work visa page in the official guidance. The page lists the types of work visas available, including the Accredited Employer Work Visa, country-specific work visas, and partner work visas, but it does not specify a funds amount for any of them.

This means you must check the specific instructions for the work visa you are applying for. Some work visas require a job offer, and the employer may be involved in the application process. For example, the Accredited Employer Work Visa requires a job offer from an accredited employer, and the employer must send you a link to the online application form. The financial evidence requirement, if any, is set out in that visa’s specific instructions.

What to do next and what to verify

Your first step is to identify the exact visa you are applying for and locate its official page on the Immigration New Zealand website. Do not rely on a general figure from another visa type or from a third-party source.

Second, read the country-specific requirements if you are applying for a working holiday visa. The page for who can apply for a working holiday visa states that the visa requirements for each country will tell you how old you have to be, how long you can stay, how much money you need to bring with you, and any specific criteria and conditions.

Third, check your visa conditions once your visa is granted. The official guidance states that you can find your visa conditions in your eVisa, in the letter you received, or online using the Visa Verification Service. Your conditions will tell you whether you have a return/onward travel requirement and what travel conditions apply.

Finally, if you are already in New Zealand and need to change your visa conditions, you must apply for a variation of conditions. The official guidance states that changing the conditions of your visa will not change its expiry date, and if you want to stay longer you must apply for a new visa.

Verify the exact funds amount on the official Immigration New Zealand page for your visa type and country. The official guidance does not provide a universal figure, and any number you find elsewhere must be checked against the official source before you rely on it.