3 days ago
New Zealand student visa process goes fully digital amid peak demand
New Zealand has transitioned its student visa applications to a fully digital format through Immigration New Zealand's enhanced Immigration Online system. The move comes shortly after Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's government outlined its ambition to double the country's international education market by visas are the first category to be completely shifted under the government's long-term 'Our Future Services' programme, which seeks to modernise visa processing and improve user change covers multiple visa types, including Fee Paying Student Visa, Pathway Visa, English Language Visa, Exchange Visa, NZ Government Scholarship Visa, and Foreign Government-Supported Student Visa.
'Our ambition is to provide a trusted, world-class immigration service. Customers and staff are at the heart of our future services, ensuring a simpler, faster, and more transparent visa experience,' Immigration New Zealand said in a to Immigration New Zealand (INZ), applicants who submitted forms on the older system before August 17, 2025, will still be processed through that platform and won't need to reapply. However, draft applications left incomplete in the old system must be submitted by September 17, 2025. After this date, the old forms will be deleted, and only the new online system will be operational. Paper-based applications will no longer be has also advised students to apply at least three months before their intended travel date, given the ongoing peak period for visa applications, to minimise delays that could impact study transition to Immigration Online is part of a seven-year roadmap under the Our Future Services initiative, designed to eventually move all visa categories, including Visitor, Work, and Permanent Residency visas, into one integrated platform. The government says the system will reduce waiting times, increase transparency, and make the process more self-service-friendly.- Ends
