Guide · Health & insurance
Comparing student and visitor insurance.
Insurance is a condition on many student, work and visitor visas, not optional extra cover. The conditions that apply to any particular visa are printed on the visa itself and published on immigration.govt.nz. Here are five providers commonly accepted in New Zealand, with what each one publishes on price and cover. Information, not a recommendation of one over another.
When insurance is a visa condition
Most student visas, and many work and visitor visas, require proof of insurance before Immigration New Zealand will grant them.
For international students, cover has to meet the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021, the standard your institution and Immigration New Zealand check your policy against. Not every travel insurance policy qualifies. Check with your institution's international office before buying, since they usually keep a short list of policies they'll accept.
The five compared
Annual premiums for a single adult on a standard student plan, before any age, duration or pre-existing-condition loading. Real quotes vary; always get a live quote for your own age, course length and country of origin before buying.
| Provider | Backed by | Indicative price (NZ$/yr) | Notable cover |
|---|---|---|---|
| StudentSafe | Allianz; designed with NZ universities | $899 | A common default policy at some universities, check whether your own institution auto-enrols you and how to opt out |
| OrbitProtect | nib NZ (acquired 2022) | $669–786 | OrbitProtect's published wording describes unlimited medical cover and a nil medical-claim excess on some tiers. Sold as Lite and Prime; read the policy wording for exclusions |
| Southern Cross | Southern Cross Travel Insurance | quote-based | Priced per month then at a daily rate, so a quote for your exact dates is the only usable figure |
| Uni-Care | Uni-Care Ltd (NZ-based specialist) | from $724 | NZ Student Plan and NZ Visitor Plan both separately Code-compliant |
| nib | nib NZ | quote-based | General health and travel plans alongside its OrbitProtect brand; pricing depends on the plan selected, so get a direct quote to compare |
What to check before you buy
- Check your institution's accepted list first. Some universities auto-enrol you into StudentSafe and charge it to your fees unless you actively opt out with proof of an alternative policy.
- The excess matters as much as the premium. A cheaper annual price can come with a higher excess per claim. The policy document is where the comparable number sits.
- Requirements can differ between an initial visa and an extension. Immigration New Zealand publishes the conditions that apply to each visa type on immigration.govt.nz.
- Pre-existing conditions are usually excluded by default across all five providers, with cover sometimes available for an extra premium. An undisclosed pre-existing condition is a common ground for a claim being declined.
What ACC does and doesn't cover
New Zealand's Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) covers treatment for accidental injury for anyone in the country, regardless of visa status or fault. It does not cover illness, and it does not cover medical evacuation, so it is not a substitute for the insurance above, only a supplement to it. Check the current scope at acc.co.nz.