New Zealand improves student visa processing

New Zealand improves student visa processing.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has improved the process for deciding student visa applications by giving their staff more efficient assessment tools and letter templates. This means that INZ can process student visa applications faster, and let applicants know the outcome of their application sooner.

New Zealand has seen a 20% increase in student visa applications compared to the peak period in 2022-23, and are also anticipating high volumes of student visa applications up to March 2024, as students who are already in New Zealand apply for second or subsequent visas.

To address this, INZ has increased the number of staff processing these applications, and provided them with better tools and letter templates, leading to clearer and more consistent communication in decision letters.

While managing this higher volume, INZ has also seen an increase in complex applications needing more time.

INZ regularly updates student visa information sheets on the INZ website with information to support international students with their visa application.

In 2022, 8,810 Indian students had applied for New Zealand student visa of which 5,074 were approved, totalling 58% of the total applications. 3,823 (40% of the total) applications by Indian students were declined.

Every year approximately 90,000 international students go to New Zealand for further studies. Recent studies have shown a 28% growth in the number of Indian students enrolled in New Zealand. The students from India had the highest rate of transition to work (72%).