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October update from Immigration New Zealand
Update on student visa processing*
Since the borders reopened on 1 August 2022, we have received 7,710 student visa applications from international students outside New Zealand. We have decided 4,885 of these applications with over half of these decisions being made in less than 4 weeks and 95% being made within 7 weeks.
*Figures current as at 17 October 2022.
Submit your student visa application for early 2023 study now
Thank you to everyone who has followed our guidance around waiting to submit applications for a student visa for 2023 study. We now encourage students who are intending to begin their studies in New Zealand in early 2023 (up to the end of March) to submit their applications. If you have all your documents ready (including your offer of place and up to date financial evidence) then apply now to give enough time for your application to be processed before your intended travel date. Follow the checklists on the INZ website Student visa information | Immigration New Zealand for guidance on what to provide with your application.
Sending your passport to INZ
We have changed the rules for when you need to send us your passport. Now, if you are applying for a student visa you only need to send us a high-quality scan of your passport, you will not usually need to send your actual passport to be scanned at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) or an Immigration New Zealand office. This is a temporary measure to help with visa processing. Please note applicants may still receive an automated letter asking for a passport to be submitted. This is not required. We are updating the letter to address this issue.
More information: Sending your passport | Immigration New Zealand
Post-study work visa eligibility
Changes have been made to the Post-Study Work Visa eligibility requirements and visa conditions, to reflect the government decisions announced on 11 May 2022. For more information check the INZ website: New Post Study Work Visa requirements announced | Immigration New Zealand
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INZ student visa update: July 2024
Visa processing update (as at 10 July 2024).
Since January 2024, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has received 24,541 student visa applications from international students outside of New Zealand. INZ have completed 20,369 of these applications, with 15,242 approved.
Recent processing times for international student visa applications are published on the INZ website and are updated by month: Visa processing times for international students
Work rights available for more partners of students
In June, the Government expanded the eligibility for work visas for partners of some students studying towards a Green List occupation.
People can now apply for a Partner of Student Work Visa, with open work rights, if their partner is studying a specified level 7 or 8 bachelor’s or bachelor’s (honours) degree that will lead directly to professional registration required for a Green List role.
This relates to Green List roles where occupational registration, rather than qualification requirements, are specified, such as nurses, doctors, and teachers.
For people granted a Partner of Student Work Visa, any school-aged dependents they have will be considered domestic students for tuition fee purposes and can apply for a Dependent Child Student Visa.
End of year student visa peak – Apply early!
The processing of international student visas is a key focus for INZ, particularly as we get closer to the end of the year.
INZ receives the highest volumes of student visa applications between October and March. Applications generally take longer to be decided during this peak period, so it is important that anyone who is wanting to come to New Zealand to study next year applies early. It is recommended students apply three months before their intended travel date to give them the best chance of having their application decided in time.
There are a few things applicants can do to make sure their application is able to be processed as quickly as possible. These include:
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Check out INZ’s student visa information sheet on the INZ website to make sure a good quality application is submitted that includes all the evidence and supporting documents we need to decide the application. INZ will not be contacting applicants to ask for more information during the peak processing period, so it is important that everything is included from the start.
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Applicants must demonstrate that they can comfortably afford to study in New Zealand. New Zealand has a thorough funds assessment and INZ looks for genuine sources of funds that are credible and can be verified. If INZ cannot verify funds or is not satisfied that any verification would be genuine, then the application will be declined.
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INZ is seeing decline rates for international student visas increasing for many markets due to the increase in applications that cannot meet immigration requirements, so make sure the requirements are fully understood before submitting an application.
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2016 Code of Practice resources now available
A key piece of the collateral is a special PDF that has been designed to make the Code of Practice more accessible to the sector – specifically signatories, agents, international students and their families, and relevant agencies.
Alongside this, NZQA has created a brochure that summarises the Code and provides important information for international students (at both a secondary and tertiary level), and their families and caregivers.
The pdfs and brochure are available in English as well as Arabic, German, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, simplified Chinese, Spanish, Thai and Vietnamese.
After widespread consultation across the sector, NZQA has also developed a Code of Practice toolbox, with the intention of helping signatories meet their obligations. The toolbox includes examples of good practice collected from around the sector that can be tailored and applied to different organisations.
These resources are available here on the NZQA website.
The Code of Practice toolbox can also be found on the NZQA website. It will develop over time, reflecting the material submitted by the sector.
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Reconnecting New Zealanders to the world
Where does international education fit in?
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced a plan to reconnect New Zealanders to the world in 2022.
This framework is based on being able to maintain the elimination strategy, alongside a high coverage of vaccination, strong confidence in our system and a phased approach to opening the border.
Read the Prime Minister’s announcement in full | Reconnecting New Zealand to the world on Unite Against COVID-19 site
The key points of this plan are:
- To continue to speed up New Zealand’s vaccination rollout, and move to six weeks between doses so that more New Zealanders have immunity sooner.
- Phased approach to reopening border in the second half of 2021, and set up of new testing and vaccine checking systems at the border.
- Move to new, risk-based border settings that will establish low, medium and high-risk pathways into the country.
New Zealand’s ability to reconnect with the world depends on these factors being successful.
At this early stage, we can’t provide detail or any degree of certainty for students looking to apply for study in or book travel to New Zealand.
Many New Zealand institutions are now offering new ways to study. If you’re wondering which study option might be right for you, visit Study With New Zealand New Ways of Learning.
We suggest that agents, students and their families wait until policy announcements are made before booking any travel to study in New Zealand. We could expect to see more clarity on this later in the year.
FAQs
When will New Zealand open up to the world?
Work continues on developing the requirements for a phased approach to Reconnecting New Zealanders to the rest of the world in 2022. We could expect to see more clarity on this later in 2021.
Read more about the next steps to reconnecting New Zealanders to the world.
What do we know about timeframes for international students returning to New Zealand?
While we are pleased to note that a number of international students have been able to return to New Zealand under the current class exceptions, we aren’t able to provide exact timeframes for a large-scale return for international students and providers.
Managing our border doesn’t mean conditions will stay exactly as they are now, but it does mean that there are likely to be restrictions and requirements in place until at least December 2022.
Can students apply for semester 1 2022 study?
We would currently advise students not to plan for study in New Zealand for semester 1, 2022.
Please note offshore temporary visa application lodgements are currently suspended till February 2022 and this may be extended.
International student class exceptions are a key priority for the Government, but we can’t predict timing on when a further cohort might be announced, or what MIQ capacity may look like at the time.
Will the phased border approach outlined in the Reconnecting New Zealanders to the World announcements affect the temporary suspension of offshore visa application lodgements?
The Government continues work on developing the requirements for a phased approach to Reconnecting New Zealanders to the rest of the world in 2022. As such, no decisions have been made yet on how the border plan might affect offshore visa application lodgements.
What is the Government’s position generally regarding international education?
Despite the severity and complexity of the COVID-19 pandemic, and our ongoing commitment to its elimination strategy, the New Zealand Government remains committed to a thriving international education sector.
In a recent meeting with the international education sector, the Minister of Education highlighted the New Zealand Government’s support for the continued safe return of international students to New Zealand, when the time is right.
How does the border approach affect the students coming into New Zealand under the border exception classes?
It doesn’t. Existing processes for students to enter the country under existing border exception classes (the 250 PhD and postgraduate cohort and the 1000 bachelor's degree and above cohort) will remain in place.
How will New Zealand determine which countries are low, medium or high-risk?
The government is currently working through how it will determine this.
How will the phased border approach affect Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ)?
Vaccinated travellers from low-risk countries will not be required to go through managed isolation facilities.
Vaccinated travellers from medium-risk countries will have modified isolation requirements, the details of which are still to be worked through.
Unvaccinated travellers and all travellers from high-risk countries will need to undergo 14 days in MIQ.
Read more on the next steps of reconnecting New Zealanders to the world
Would lockdowns in New Zealand affect the timing of the phased border approach?
The New Zealand Government is committed to the elimination strategy and the successful rollout of vaccines. New Zealand’s border approach depends on our ability to stamp out clusters of COVID-19 as they arise, so there is some possibility that further lockdowns may delay the border approach.
Will international students in New Zealand continue to receive free COVID-19 healthcare?
Yes. Vaccines are available to everyone in New Zealand (12 years and over) free of charge. This includes international students.
Read more about the COVID-19 vaccine rollout on the Ministry of Health website.
All publicly funded COVID-19 related care – including testing, treatment and vaccinations – is provided to anyone who needs it, free of charge.
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International student FAQs
The newly-launched FAQs cover study choices, applications, accommodation and finance, as well as questions on living, working and travelling in New Zealand. The content is timely, verified and sorted by categories.
Lucia Alarcon, ENZ’s International Digital Project Manager, said reviewing the FAQs involved listening closely to the international student audience and finding out what they most wanted to know.
“The updated questions were based on ENZ’s common student inquiries, and on the most searched-for questions in search engines and on the online Q&A site Quora,” she said.
“We’ve also added links from the answers to other parts of the website, encouraging students to further explore the wealth of useful content we have about studying in New Zealand.”
The FAQ content has been updated, expanded and fully optimised for internet search to ensure it ranks highly in search engine results. The How to Apply section of the website also links to the FAQs to give the page more visibility to interested students.
Lucia expects the expanded FAQs will be a valuable tool not only to support student inquiries but to drive the number of student referrals to institutions.
“It’s all part of our ongoing review of SiNZ to make it more relevant, helpful and outcome-driven,” she said.
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Around the world in five
BRAZIL
Brazil unveils new HE internationalisation scheme
Brazil is replacing the Sciences without Borders (CSF) initiative with a new international mobility financing regime, aiming to enhance bilateral relationships with overseas partners. The new fund will be targeted towards postgraduate students and early career researchers looking to develop research abroad. While the CSF was managed at a federal level, the new scheme gives more autonomy to universities, requiring them to form an internationalisation strategy with international partners.
GLOBAL
Is fear of unqualified leads holding back your school website?
If universities optimised their websites, most could multiply the number of enquiries captured by up to 400%. Achieving this result requires just a few simple tweaks that make it easier for visitors to register their interest, such as decreasing the number of questions on a web form, segmenting by readiness (the distinction between “Keep me updated” forms and “Talk to me” forms) and using more student testimonials and videos.
UK
74% of public value international students when economic worth revealed
New research has found that people’s attitudes towards international students change when learning of their economic contribution and the jobs they generate. In a recent survey, only 12% of respondents wanted to see more international students in the country, but this doubled to 24% when they learned of the economic gains. Similarly, the 20% who wanted to see less international students in the country dropped to 13% when told of the economic value of international students.
FRANCE
French tech: A hot spot for entrepreneurs, 15 years in the making
Watch out Silicon Valley – the tech scene in France is gaining massive traction. Students from France’s world-leading business schools are now choosing tech over other job options, with one third of French students stating they would like to either found or join a start-up. The French talent pool is also impressive: Paris has over 134,000 professional developers, the second highest in Europe behind London, and 43% possess an MSc in Computer Science.
SOUTH KOREA
South Korean teens top in maths and science, but lack interest
South Korean students are excelling in science and mathematics, but the way the subjects are taught is not kindling interest in the students, a new report reveals. While South Korea placed fifth worldwide in the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2015 science test, and first for maths, they ranked 26th and 28th (out of 35) in terms of interest. Professor Lee Joo-ho of the Korea Development Institute (KDI) says the disparity can be traced to the “learning by rote” method in the nation’s schools.
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Think New with FutureLearn
Quicklinks
About the campaign
Campaign messaging
Tips for promoting the campaign
Check out the Brand Lab to download and use campaign assets
About the campaign
Objectives
- Test an online-focused audience’s appetite for courses delivered under an NZ country brand
- Explore sector capability and willingness for generating and promoting online courses
- Test, understand and validate ENZ's role in the online education space
- Maintaining awareness of the NZ Education brand and NZ as an education destination in target markets
FutureLearn platform and courses
- New Zealand’s offerings include short courses from leading universities, English language schools, vocational PTEs, Institutes of Technology, and edtech educators including virtual reality developers and game designers.
- These not for credit courses are on average 6-8 hours long from providers across the sector.
- FutureLearn is a global online education platform jointly owned by the UK’s Open University and The SEEK Group with an existing community of approximately 15 million learners globally.
- These courses are available to learners (including teachers and educators) all over the world, including here in New Zealand.
FutureLearn is actively promoting this campaign in the following prototype markets:
- Thailand, Japan, Korea, China, India, Brazil, Indonesia, USA, Vietnam, Germany, UK, Colombia
In addition, ENZ will be promoting this opportunity to its global learner database, and through other owned channels, including website and social media.
Campaign messaging
By joining forces and sharing the same message, we can tell a stronger, more consistent story about the FutureLearn prototype, and the opportunity it represents.
The Campaign’s place in the wider strategy for international education
- ENZ is leading a programme of work that focuses on the diversification of international education products and services. It forms part of the Government’s Recovery Plan for International Education, under the “Transforming to a More Sustainable Future State” workstream.
- The New Zealand International Education Strategy, 2018 is clear in its goals for achieving a thriving and globally connected New Zealand through world-class international education.
- Goal 2 of the Strategy is Sustainable Growth - the international education sector flourishes through diversification of markets, people flows and innovative products and services.
Talking points for providers
- We are proud to be part of ENZ’s new pilot, launched with FutureLearn.
- This initiative will showcase a selection of taster courses from New Zealand providers to worldwide online learners, under the national Think New brand umbrella.
- The 12-month initiative launched 8 June and is part ENZ’s Diversifying Products and Services programme of work.
- By taking part, we are supporting the Government’s Recovery Plan for International Education.
Provider participation benefits
These messages are useful when talking about the campaign to other staff in your organisation- This initiative is an opportunity to further raise our profile to a global audience, benefiting from the exposure generated by FutureLearn and the ENZ-funded global campaign.
- We’re able to test a new recruitment and distribution channel at little cost.
- As providers, we receive notification of any further interest generated by these online courses, which could lead to further study opportunities – either online (on FutureLearn or elsewhere), or onshore when current border restrictions sufficiently ease.
- As part of the process FutureLearn worked alongside providers like us, supporting us while we created (or optimised) content for the platform.
- Standard membership fees are being waived by FutureLearn for this prototype.
- ENZ is also funding a global campaign via FutureLearn to promote the prototype.
More about FutureLearn
- FutureLearn offer courses from around 250 providers from around the world. These courses range from tasters to full online degrees.
- 15 million learners use the platform. Many (27%) users are UK-based but increasing numbers of learners across the globe are accessing FutureLearn.
Tips for promoting the campaign
By aligning our marketing activity, ENZ and providers can tell clear and consistent message about the online study courses available with FutureLearn and providers. Here are some tips to start promoting your FutureLearn courses on your channels:
Tip 1: Use the digital assets available in your promotions:
There are plenty of campaign assets designed with campaign messaging available for you to use now on The Brand Lab. Assets have been specifically created to use across websites, emails, social channels & other digital advertising.
Check out The Brand Lab to download and use images, animated tiles, email signatures, an editable ad template where you can feature your own logo and much more!
Tip 2: Share our FutureLearn & Online Learning blogs
We’ve created a blog for a learner audience to promote starting a New Zealand education online, through the FutureLearn product. Check out the blog here and share on your own social channels or website.
We also have supporting blog content written by students for learners thinking about online learning. You can also share this blog, and link to FutureLearn’s Study with New Zealand Online page
Tip 3: Follow and share FutureLearn’s posts on Study in New Zealand Facebook & Instagram channels
ENZ will be posting about New Zealand online study options on our Facebook and Instagram channels. You can easily share & repost this content on your own social channels to reach your own audience. This Facebook post is ready to share now.
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Spring has sprung so let’s refresh your Study in New Zealand profile
Euan Howden, ENZ’s Student Attraction Director, says an institution’s SiNZ profile is an important digital flag that ENZ can help promote through its digital work programme.
“Think of your SiNZ profile as the digital shop front that links to your own website. For many schools, and especially smaller providers, this profile is a key way that a prospective student can find you through ENZ’s marketing efforts.
“We want to make your profile as good as we can. Over the next few months, ENZ will be undertaking a scan of all profiles and where needed we’ll refresh a profile so it’s ready for the new year.
“We’ll start by looking to see where a profile hasn’t been updated for quite a while or where key information isn’t included. We’ll then refresh profiles with information from your own website and check in with you to ensure you are on board. We’ll also check that we have the correct administrator details so that you can update it in the future.”
Want to refresh your own profile? Have questions? Email info@studyinnewzealand.govt.nz and we’ll be in touch.
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Visa advice for international graduates
Catherine Albiston, Registrar of the IAA, says that any students seeking immigration advice about their options to stay in New Zealand following their studies must use an Immigration Adviser licensed by the IAA, or an exempt person such as a New Zealand lawyer.
“If students need personalised immigration help, it is important they only seek it from people who can legally give it,” says Catherine.
“Holding an immigration adviser licence means the individual has met competency standards and must be professional.”
The IAA’s register of licensed immigration advisers can be found here.
“Visa applicants need to be honest with Immigration New Zealand and declare any help received when completing a visa application form,” says Catherine.
“If applicants are not honest, the visa application may be declined and Immigration New Zealand may refuse future visa applications.”
For more information, visit the IAA’s website or email info@iaa.govt.nz.
Further visa information is available on the Immigration New Zealand website.
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Update from Immigration New Zealand
Update for international students: In-study work hours increasing from 3 November
From 3 November 2025, eligible international students will be able to work up to 25 hours per week during the semester - an increase from the current 20-hour limit. This change applies to all new student visas granted from that date, even if the application was submitted earlier.
If international students hold a student visa with a 20-hour work limit and want to take advantage of the new 25-hour allowance, they will need to apply for a variation of conditions (VOC) or a new student visa and pay the relevant fee
They can choose to apply now for the extra five hours or if their visa allows full-time work during summer vacation then they do not require the extra five hours and may choose to wait until later to apply for a variation. Some students will choose not to apply for a variation of conditions at all, and wait until their next student visa application
The process for applying for a variation of conditions depends on which system a visa was submitted through i.e. the old system or through enhanced Immigration Online.
For more information, visit Upcoming changes to student visa work rights: Immigration New Zealand
If they’re unsure which system their visa was issued in or which form to use, they can contact us for support before applying: Contact us: Immigration New Zealand
Update for international students: Changing your education provider or lowering your level of study from 3 November 2025
If a student visa holder is planning to change education provider or lower their level of study (for example, from a degree to a diploma), they’ll need to apply for a new student visa - not just a variation of conditions.
Upcoming changes to student visa work rights: Immigration New Zealand
This requirement ensures their visa accurately reflects the new study situation and complies with immigration requirements.
Before making any changes, students or their representatives should check the INZ website for guidance on how to apply for a new student visa on enhanced Immigration Online and ensure they apply in advance to avoid any disruption to their studies.
For more information, visit Study visas: Immigration New Zealand
Update for international students: Keep your visa photo filter free
We all like to look our best, but to avoid delays or declines, visa application photos must be a true, unedited likeness. That means students must abandon those filters and submit an accurate photo in order to avoid processing delays or declines.
Immigration New Zealand uses facial recognition, so filters, AI edits, or beauty enhancements interfere with identity checks. Photos must meet international biometric standards - natural skin tones, clear lighting, and no digital alterations.
Edited images including smoothing skin, changing eye size, reshaping facial features, or cropping your head onto a plain background will cause delays in processing and may lead to declined applications.
Key tips:
- Don’t use selfies - get someone to take your photo or use a professional.
- Tell photographers not to apply digital enhancements, like beauty filters or AI adjustments.
- Some photo apps or online tools may not be suitable for visa applications.
More information and examples of acceptable photos can be found on our website: Acceptable photos for a visa or NZeTA : Immigration New Zealand
Guardian visitor visa applications moving online from 3 November
From 3 November 2025, all Guardian Visitor Visa applications should be submitted on Immigration New Zealand’s enhanced Immigration Online system. This update is part of INZ’s broader digital transformation, aimed at improving the visa experience for families supporting international students.
While the information required remains the same, the application form may look a little different.
The enhanced system offers better application tracking and a more streamlined experience for applicants. Updated guidance and support materials are built into the form.
If you have an application in draft or submitted under the old application form, you will still be able to access or submit this application after 3 November 2025. We will notify you when the old application form is due to close.
For current visa holders, if your child is applying for a new student visa and you intend to apply for another Guardian Visitor Visa, both applications should be submitted through the enhanced system.
This change is particularly relevant for education providers, agents, and advisers supporting families of international students. Please share this update with your networks and encourage early preparation ahead of the transition.
Guardian Visitor Visa applications moving to enhanced Immigration Online: Immigration New Zealand
