New Zealand will no longer accept paper applications from foreign students for issuing study visas.

On August 18, 2025, foreign student visa applications were transferred to Immigration New Zealand’s upgraded Immigration Online system, also known as ADEPT. If you are applying for an international student visa, there are a few things you should know.

New Zealand Student Visas

From 18 September 2025, New Zealand will no longer accept paper applications for English Language Student Visa, Exchange Student Visa, Fee Paying Student Visa, Pathway Student Visa, NZ Government Scholarship Student Visa and Foreign Government Supported Student Visa.

All applications for these visas from 18 September must be submitted online.

Online Filing Deadline

From 18 August, students will be automatically directed to the new application form if they are applying for any of these visas.

All applications that were submitted on the old application form on or before 17 August will be processed. You do not need to resubmit your application if you have already applied. You will have access to your application to upload documents and respond to Immigration New Zealand requests until the application is decided and the decision is communicated to the students.   

If you have a draft application on the old application form that you have not yet submitted, you have until 17 September 2025 to complete and submit it, or you can choose to start a new application on the new application form. 

After 17 September, all remaining draft applications on the old form will be deleted and we will no longer be accepting paper applications. You will have to start a new application on the new form. Further related family visa products will be transitioned to the new system alongside other products over the next year.

Working Hours

International students in New Zealand will soon have longer working hours, according to an announcement. In November 2025, in-study work rights for international students in New Zealand will be increased from 20 to 25 hours per week for eligible student visa holders, and in-study work rights will be extended to all tertiary students participating in approved exchange or Study Abroad programmes, including one-semester programs.

Student enrolments in New Zealand are steadily rising to pre-pandemic levels, with 2024 enrolments of 83,425, which is 72 percent of 2019 total of 115,705.

Recently, New Zealand announced that degrees from India, France, Germany, Italy, Sri Lanka, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, and Switzerland will be free from assessment.