Search
Showing 10 of 1890 results for how to register international groups
-
Update from Immigration New Zealand
New Immigration New Zealand website now live
The new Immigration New Zealand (INZ) website is now live, with clearer information and guidance to help INZ customers navigate their immigration journey more easily.
The new visual design and structure makes it easier for customers to know what the visa process means for them and how to apply for a visa and comply with their visa conditions.
Visit the new INZ website.Apply early to get ahead of the student visa peak
Applying for a student visa at least three months before intended travel date gives students the best chance to have a decision made in time for their study.
The processing of student visas is a priority for INZ, particularly as it gets closer to peak times.
Immigration New Zealand is in the mid-year student visa processing peak, which is between May and August each year.
Applications take longer to be decided during this peak period, so it is important that students apply early if they want to come to New Zealand to study.
Wait times for international student visa applications are published in our visa wait times section.
Help us process applications faster
To help INZ process applications quicker and avoid unnecessary delays, students should provide full and complete applications, including all necessary documentation.
Students can use our student visa information sheets to make sure their application has all the information and documentation required.
Student visa information sheet – first-time international students
Student visa information sheet – continuing international students
If students apply late, their application may not be processed in time for their study in New Zealand.
Due to the high volume of visa applications expected, we will not contact students if documents are missing from their application. If the missing information is key to the assessment, then the application may be declined.
Student visas moving to enhanced Immigration Online
From 18 August 2025, international student visa applications are moving to Immigration New Zealand’s enhanced Immigration Online system.
The aim is a simpler, faster and more user-friendly visa application process to reduce waiting times, provide clear communication on application statuses, and increase self-service capabilities so everyone feels more informed and better supported.
How applications during this transition will be managed
As we are in a peak period for student visa applications, we encourage applicants to submit applications when they are ready, and at least 3 months ahead of the intended travel date to help avoid delays that may impact them starting their study on time.
There are some important things applicants need to know if they are submitting an international student visa application around August 2025.
If applicants start a new draft application on or before 17 August, they will be applying in our current system. They will need to submit the application by 17 September, otherwise the draft application will expire.
If they start an application on or after 18 August, they will be automatically directed to our new system.
Please read our news item for more detailed information on the visas affected and the transition process.
-
Latest levy data released
As many expected, the 2012 figures confirm a decline in international student enrolments since 2011. Although enrolment numbers fell by 6 percent (5,665), the report also shows that tuition fees from international education increased by $13.4 million, up 2 percent.
While these are the headline numbers of the report, a more complete picture is revealed by looking at the report in more detail. For instance, while there has been a 5,665 decrease in enrolments, certain sectors have been impacted more than others. Private Training Enterprises (PTEs), mainly non-funded, experienced a drop in enrolments of 5,102. However, Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs) saw a 4 percent increase in enrolments, although the numbers, 434, are modest.
Canterbury is suffering reduced student enrolments due to the earthquakes, an important factor in explaining the national numbers. There were 2,979 fewer students – a 31 percent drop – enrolled with Canterbury education providers in 2012.
The ongoing effects of the rising New Zealand dollar are also hurting the industry, and it is important to note that other providers of international education are experiencing similar trends. Australia, for example, has experienced a similar decline in international student enrolments, with their numbers down by 7 percent in 2012.
We need to improve our understanding of what factors drive student choices in our key markets. To this end, much of Education New Zealand’s current work is focused on how students and their families decide on where to undertake their course of study, and the factors that influence their decision.
This research will allow Education New Zealand to provide you, the industry, with detailed information that is current and relevant. We can then work together to develop programmes and initiatives to increase the demand for what New Zealand has to offer.
There is much work to be done. A willingness to take a different approach is essential if we are to grow our industry.
We will provide more analysis of the data in next week’s edition of our e-news, International Education News. Some of the key information from the report is included below.
Kind regards,
Grant McPherson
Chief Executive Education New Zealand
Enrolments: There was a 6% drop (from 98,660 to 92,995 in international student enrolments) in 2012. The main results were:
-
Schools (down 3%), universities (down 2%), funded PTEs (down 6%), non-funded PTEs (down 13%)
-
Canterbury numbers down 31% (a reduction of 2,979)
-
Chinese enrolments up 5% (now 27% of all international students)
-
Japan (number 4 market in 2012) enrolments up 3%
-
Saudi Arabia (number 5 market) down 26%
-
South Korea (number 3 market) down 19%
-
India has overtaken South Korea as our second biggest source of students
-
ITP enrolments up 4%
Tuition fees: There has been an overall $13.4 million (2%) rise in international education tuition fees in 2012, but the results varied according to sector:
-
Universities (up 6%), ITPs (up 5%) and funded PTEs (up 7%)
-
Schools (down 19%) and non-funded PTEs (down 9%)
-
-
Around the world in five
CHINA
China’s push to expand vocational education
The Chinese government has allocated NZ$21.88 billion to expand China’s vocational training to a new system that will see graduates emerge with qualifications in high-priority areas.
GLOBAL
Universities ride eSports wave for a stake in its future
Eleven global universities have founded the University eSports International Initiative (UeII) to collaborate on a range of eSports projects, including research, tournaments and governance.
GLOBAL
Why is it so difficult for international students to work in their host countries?
Policymakers see the benefit of retaining highly skilled international students but opinions differ on the best way to do so, with frustrating results for graduates.
TURKEY
International students flocking to Turkey for higher education
Thanks to major investments in education, regulatory amendments and government encouragement of student integration, Turkey now hosts one percent of the world’s international student population.
UNITED KINGDOM
GoXchange student app launched
A new app seeks to support international students by connecting them with peers at the same study destination.
-
Around the world in five
China
China’s Ministry of Education has approved a slew of new transnational educational partnerships, as the country aims to grow its TNE enrolments from 800,000 to eight million.
Global
Students around the world are more confident about career prospects but are increasingly concerned about a range of other issues, including student diversity and their quality of life, according to the latest Global Student Satisfaction (GSS) Report 2025.
United Kingdom
According to a new report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for International Students, International students contribute more than £41.9 billion annually to the UK economy, with their impact felt in local communities.
Australia
The Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success (ACSES) has released a new report calling for a complete shift in how Australia’s higher education system addresses equity and access issues.
United States of America
An estimated 30% to 40% fewer international students are expected on American college campuses in the fall of 2025, compared with trends in the 2024-2025 academic year, according to NAFSA: Association of International Educators.
-
Education New Zealand targets $4.4 billion by 2027
Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) today announced its plan to grow the international education sector over the next three years. The strategy, which aims to build the economic contribution of international education to $4.4 billion by 2027, focuses on growing and diversifying the number of international students studying in New Zealand.
“International education has made a good start to its recovery with more than 69,000 enrolments in the first full academic year since borders reopened and universities returning to 86% of pre-pandemic numbers,” said ENZ Acting Chief Executive Dr Linda Sissons today.
“The government has a goal of doubling the value of export earnings in ten years and international education has its part to play.”
“In the first year of the strategy the focus is putting additional investment into markets we have identified with growth potential. These include India, Viet Nam, and the Philippines, and some specific sectors within markets like Japan and Thailand. We need to start now to grow awareness of New Zealand in these markets if we are to achieve our growth targets. Moving forward, we will continue to seek growth through diversifying markets while maintaining our strength in traditional markets such as China and India.”
“As a small agency with a finite budget, ENZ needs to be very smart and maximise every opportunity for New Zealand,” said Dr Sissons. “We look to use the potential of Scale, Impact, and Leverage as the measuring rods for everything we do, as we commit to the Government’s Export Double goal”.
The strategy is the result of extensive consultation with the international education sectors, partner Government agencies and comes on the back of a productive 12 months for Education New Zealand.
In the past 12 months Education New Zealand student attraction activities have delivered:
-
More than two million visits to the Study with New Zealand website
-
Added more than 69,000 prospective students to its database
-
More than 22,000 individuals have made enquiries to providers regarding study
-
Our business-to-business activities targeting education agents delivered 33 webinars to over 1,800 participants
-
18 in-country events delivered in five countries (Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, China)
-
The New Zealand International Education Conference KI TUA 2023 to 599 delegates
-
50 new indigenous to indigenous networks and partnerships
-
Sector satisfaction with ENZ topped 77%
ENZ’s offshore team provides significant support to overseas visits by representatives of the international education sector and the New Zealand government, building and deepening relationships said Dr Sissons. In 2024 this included a visit by representatives of all New Zealand Universities to India in February, and ENZ supporting the education component of the Prime Ministerial Trade Missions to Southeast Asia and Japan.
The agency also supports education visits to New Zealand. Very recently this included the visit of Chinese Premier Li Qiang, which included China’s Education Minister Huai Jinpeng.
It was the second visit by Minister Huai to New Zealand in ten months, and highlighted the strong momentum our bilateral education relationship. In 2023 ENZ also delivered the Prime Minister’s Scholarships to Asia and Latin America (PMSA/LA) which sees New Zealanders travel internationally for learning experiences and administers the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship programme for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). The Manaaki Scholarships offers scholarships to eligible citizens from developing countries to study at a New Zealand education institution or university or at a Pacific university.
In 2023 these important programmes have awarded:
-
118 individual PMSA/LA scholarships
-
20 group PMSA/LA scholarships
-
NZIEC KI TUA 2023 delivered with 599 delegates
-
861 Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships awarded
“I am very pleased and proud of the results the team at Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao has delivered alongside the sector. We have more to do,” said Dr Sissons.
For further information:Justin Barnett | Director of Communications, Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao
+64 21 875 132
About Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) https://www.enz.govt.nz/
ENZ is the government agency dedicated to helping Aotearoa New Zealand realise the social, cultural, and economic benefits of international education. Our role is to promote New Zealand as a high-quality education destination offering excellent education and student experiences and to encourage New Zealand students to study overseas.
With approximately 105 staff in 16 locations around the world, ENZ works closely with New Zealand’s diverse education sector which includes schools, English language providers, Private Training Establishments, Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (Te Pūkenga), and universities. Internationally, we work with a range of education stakeholders, including government agencies and education providers to identify and encourage sustainable growth opportunities for New Zealand’s education sector.
-
-
From the CE: New Zealand education promotion continues at pace
I can assure you I have never seen as much interest in New Zealand as an education destination. Despite the challenges we’re all aware of and the activities of our competitor countries, the New Zealand education offering remains attractive. We all must continue to tell the New Zealand education story.
On Friday 17 March, Minister of Education Jan Tinetti announced new appointments to our Board. I want to acknowledge outgoing Board Chair, Steve Maharey, and welcome Tracey Bridges to the role. Steve has been a stalwart and tireless advocate for international education, both in the community and the corridors of power for over 30 years. In his time as our Chair, he has seen and contributed to enormous change within the sector and ENZ. Personally, I have appreciated his deep understanding, straight talking and clear direction.
Tracey Bridges has knowledge of regional economic development, expertise in strategy, risk and reputation management, and in social marketing. She is Chair of the Wellington Economic Development Agency Limited (WellingtonNZ), co-founder of The Good Registry and sits on the Boards of Sky Stadium, Whānau Āwhina Plunket, the Wellfed NZ Trust and the Digital Media Trust.
Tracey is joined by Dr Therese Arseneau. Dr Arseneau also has knowledge of economic development including international education’s contribution to regional economic development, and governance experience in the tertiary sector at the Ara Institute and the Open Polytechnic. She previously chaired Regenerate Christchurch and Enterprise North Canterbury.
We all know that the contribution of international education is far broader than just the direct and immediate economic impact of the students that come to New Zealand. For the first time, ENZ along with EY have sought to quantify the extent and the value of these wider benefits.
Research commissioned by ENZ that will be released before the end of March found that international education is not only a significant contributor to the New Zealand economy but also that international students living and working in the country bring in a raft of social, cultural, and international benefits. It goes on to explore the extent of the indirect longer-term contribution to New Zealand’s GDP from the small proportion of international students that remain in New Zealand on completion of their studies. The research also quantifies the impact of the pandemic.
Look out for the formal release and when it is available I urge you to download the report from Intellilab.
To complete your international education-related reading list, our Briefing to the Incoming Minister, Minister Tinetti is now available here on the ENZ website. The BIM, as it is known, is prepared when new Ministers are appointed to portfolios.
He maurea kai whiria! – Ignore small matters and direct effort toward important projects!
Ngā mihi nui,
Grant McPherson
-
Around the world in five
JAPAN
International students fall behind in job hunt
Despite efforts to encourage Japanese companies to globalise, language issues and mismatches between students and employers mean few job offers are made to international students.
TAIWAN
Government to boost post-study work rights
The Taiwan government is looking to lower restrictions for international students to remain after graduation and access work rights in a move to bolster the country’s professional workforce.
GLOBAL
For international students, shifting choices of where to study
What do falling or stagnating international student enrolments in the US and UK mean for international student mobility around the world?
AMERICAS
Crossing borders: How 10 universities are forging new ties in the Americas
Institutional collaborations are enabling 10 universities across the Americas to work together on common issues such as lack of technological innovation, climate change and public health issues.
GERMANY
Germany seeks solutions for lack of teachers in schools
An "education emergency" looms in Germany as schools struggle with a shortage of nearly 40,000 teachers due to a population increase and hurdles to get into teacher training programmes.
-
Summer in NZ
The student retention workstream, a key focus of the Government’s Recovery Plan for international education, has delivered new resources, partnerships and online activity to support international students (and providers) over summer.
Alongside the Summer in NZ initiative, ENZ has been facilitating Instagram Live sessions on social media focused on the themes of wellbeing, employability, skill development and keeping students connected with one-another. For the schedule, visit the Summer in NZ page on the ENZ website, and watch on the StudyinNewZealand Instagram account (@studyinnewzealand). Further sessions will continue over summer.
A Tencent livestream with the theme of how to spend your summer in New Zealand was hosted by students on the NauMai NZ WeChat mini programme. Another two upcoming livestreams in the new year will feature how Chinese students are spending their summer and celebrating Chinese New Year in New Zealand.
ENZ has also partnered with LinkedIn and secured a number of LinkedIn Learning licences. We are now offering these to international students, via providers, free of charge to use over the summer period. This platform is used by education providers across the world to complement their existing courses.
ENZ has also been working with AFS New Zealand to deliver the Global Competence Certificate. The first course facilitated by Massey University began at the end of November. The next course begins 1 March – find out more and sign up here: https://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/about-massey/events/afs-nz-global-competence-certificate/afs-nz-global-competence-certificate_home.cfm
New NauMai NZ pages, developed in conjunction with providers and regional networks, have been added to NauMai NZ (under Summer in NZ), providing advice and information on activities and opportunities to engage and connect students over summer. Students whose programmes are finishing this year are also being encouraged to consider further programmes of study in New Zealand.
The Your Great Kiwi Summer Fair was held at the end of October. The audience was highly engaged, with initial feedback reporting that the fair was a useful source of information. Feedback will help inform future events with international students in New Zealand.
Since the fair, Northland Inc and Study Auckland have launched BeKiwi, a one-stop digital platform for international students looking for travel and volunteering experiences in the Northland and Auckland regions.
We understand this summer will be a very different one for many international students. We thank you for your support and encourage you to continuing sharing this information and these resources with them, as we stand together with our international students to make the most of their time here.
-
International students welcomed at Waitangi
One such welcome to acknowledge and celebrate students from around the world took place on the Waitangi Treaty Grounds on 10 August 2022.
Study Northland organised a wonderful half day programme to welcome 70 international students currently studying at Whangarei Girls High, NorthTec, Kerikeri High School and Springbank School. This included a pōwhiri, cultural performance, and a ceremony in which each student was presented with Tū Ngātahi pins and welcome certificates. They then had the opportunity to explore the history and relevance of the Treaty Grounds, and the morning ended with fish and chips in the sunshine.
Students outside Te Wharenui at Waitangi
Tū Ngātahi is a te reo Māori phrase calling us to ‘stand together’. Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao developed this programme as a demonstration of welcome and support to international students, a celebration of the connection between cultures, and a recognition of the friendship and learning we share. The welcome at the Treaty Grounds was an ideal opportunity for the spirit and concept of Tū Ngātahi to be brought to life.
Ross Crossan (centre), ENZ’s Student Experience Manager, presented the students with Tū Ngātahi pins as part of the Waitangi welcome
Students were excited to be in New Zealand, some for the first time and some returning after heading back home during the pandemic.
Several of the recently arrived students at Whangarei Girls shared their first impressions with us. Fish and chips are certainly a hit, as is the chance to play badminton, volleyball, and other sports with friends. A few students mentioned the different school hours here. They also commented that just a little bit more time might be needed to get used to the weather!
Fish and chips were a highlight at Waitangi
Arisara Pungpho, from Thailand, is attending Springbank School. She has been coming to New Zealand for many years with her family. Arisara is here for six months, and says she most enjoys New Zealand’s environment, and its tranquillity and peacefulness.
“Most places in Thailand compared to New Zealand are very fast, very busy, and very lively,” Arisara says. “I also feel New Zealand is more inclusive of many cultures, which is not what I have experienced in other countries around the world.”
Springbank School students, including Arisara Pungpho (4th from left) and Elisabeth Ringel (3rd from left) enjoyed the cultural demonstration at Waitangi
Elisabeth Ringel particularly appreciated the warm welcome she received when she travelled here from Germany in July for a year.
“When I arrived in Auckland, I was surprised how friendly and welcoming everybody was, and how the brother of the Principal of Springbank School, with his family, drove me to my host family in Kerikeri – because my Auckland to Kerikeri flight was cancelled,” Elisabeth says.
With borders now open again, this is a significant moment for our international education sector, and we all look forward to welcoming more students to our institutions and communities over the coming months.
#TūNgātahi
Recent welcome events around the country
International students met with Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel
International students being welcomed to Lincoln University
Wellington International Students' Association ran an event for over 140 international students from eight countries over the course of two days
-
ISANA - Enhancing international student experiences
The ISANA New Zealand Annual Conference held at AUT University in Tāmaki Makaurau last month provided the perfect forum to address the challenges of strengthening capability and ensuring sustainability as the sector addresses ways in which to grow international education.
A key feature of the conference was the presentation of a new online ‘Capability Toolkit’ - a collaboration between ISANA NZ and Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ). Developed as a resource for education practitioners, the toolkit presents strategies, tools, tips, guidelines, case studies, scenarios and more to assist with every facet of engagement with international learners.
ENZ’s General Manager Sector Services, Sahinde Pala, said that the conference provided a great opportunity to reconnect face-to-face with professional colleagues.
“We all enjoyed the opportunity to exchange experiences and hear from frontline practitioners how the rebuild of the sector is going from their perspective. It was a great opportunity to connect with those relatively new to the sector and let them know the role of ENZ and the resources available to assist them in their role.”
“It was also encouraging to see our industry coming together to collectively focus on improving our services for students. The Capability Toolkit is an important, practical resource that will assist education practitioners provide even better support for our international learners.”
The Capability Toolkit provides links to resources in the following areas:
- Wraparound tailored support for international students
- Critical incident management for international students
- Innovative leadership in international education
- Intercultural competence in educational contexts
- Student experience information for agents.
ENZ is continuing to work with ISANA to further develop the Capability Toolkit and other content will be added over time. In the meantime, anyone who has not had a chance to look at the toolkit, can explore this further on ISANA NZ’s website here.
Vaelyn L, International Student Representative (second from left) with ENZ representatives at the ISANA conference Ross Crosson, Student Experience Manager, Sahinde Pala, General Manager Sector Services, and Faymie Li, Senior Advisor Student Experience
