First Step in a Major Overhaul
New Zealand now requires all student visa applications to be done online using its updated
Immigration Online system. This change is the first part of the government’s
seven-year “Our Future Services” plan, which aims to update how visas are handled and double the country’s international education sector by 2034.
The change applies to these visa types:
- Fee Paying Student Visa
- Pathway Visa
- English Language Visa
- Exchange Visa
- New Zealand Government Scholarship Visa
- Foreign Government-Supported Student Visa
Transition Timeline
- Applications sent in before August 17, 2025, using the old system will still be processed there.
- Draft applications must be finished by September 17, 2025, or they will be removed.
- Paper applications will no longer be accepted.
- Students should apply at least three months before they plan to travel to avoid delays when it is busy.
The move to online applications will soon include visitor, work, and residency visas, creating one system with shorter wait times and more options for people to do things themselves.
Rising Demand from Indian Students
India is becoming an important market for New Zealand’s universities to grow. From
January to August 2024, the number of Indian students increased
by 34%,
reaching 10,640, compared to
7,930 for all of 2023. Students from India now make up 11% of all i
nternational university students, second only to students from China.
Industry experts say that this increase is because of well-known universities, chances to work after studying, and strong relationships between the countries. According to
one immigration consultant in Delhi, the move to online systems will make New Zealand even more appealing compared to Australia, the UK, and Canada.
Backed by Global Rankings
New Zealand continues to score well in international surveys:
- 12th on Global Finance’s 2025 Happiest Countries Index
- 1st on Remote’s Global Life-Work Balance Index 2025
- 3rd on the Global Peace Index
The
University Living report also praised universities in New Zealand for being excellent academically, innovative, and for teaching skills that are useful in the real world.
Bigger Goal for 2034
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s government started its
“Going for Growth” plan in July 2025, with the goal of doubling the value of the international education sector to
NZ$7.2 billion by 2034. The plan hopes to increase the number of international students from
83,700 in 2024 to 119,000 by 2034.
For students from India, this change to a completely online visa system is a big improvement in how easy it is to access and how efficient it is. With the sector expected to grow quickly, trusted
visa consulting services in Delhi will likely be important in helping applicants navigate this new system.
