Immigration New Zealand claims they are currently in a peak period for student visa applications. (Representative image)
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A few weeks after the New Zealand government announced its plans to double its international education market by 2034, the Christopher Luxon-led government has moved the international student visa applications to Immigration New Zealand’s enhanced Immigration Online system.
While groups of visa products are transitioning to the new system one by one, international student visas were the first transition completed by the Our Future Services programme. Through this new platform, Immigration New Zealand aims on bringing an improved customer experience, ensuring that the process is easy to understand, interested students can easily understand what is expected from them.
This change is being implemented for the following types of visas: English Language Student Visa, Exchange Student Visa, Fee Paying Student Visa, Pathway Student Visa, NZ Government Scholarship Student Visa, Foreign Government Supported Student Visa.
Applicants should also note that all applications that were submitted on the old application form on or before 17 August will be processed. One does not need to resubmit the application if they have already applied. The applicants will have access to their application to upload documents and respond to Immigration New Zealand requests until the application is decided and the decision communicated.
If there is a draft application on the old application form that hasn’t been submitted, applicants have until September 17, 2025 to complete and submit it, or start a new application on the new application form. After September 17, all remaining draft applications on the old form will be deleted and the platform will no longer accept paper applications. Applicants will have to start a new application on the new form.
Immigration New Zealand also cautioned interested applicants that they should aim to apply three months ahead of the intended travel date as this will help to avoid delays that may impact the ability to start studying. This warning has been issued as Immigration New Zealand claims they are currently in a peak period for student visa applications.
“Immigration New Zealand’s ambition is to provide a trusted, world class immigration service to all our customers and staff. We recently commenced Our Future Services, a long-term work programme building on work already done to move us towards that goal,” Immigration New Zealand stated.
‘Over the course of the 7-year Our Future Services programme, we will move all visa applications and processing onto our enhanced Immigration Online system, also known as ADEPT. We have already moved several visa products to the new system since it was first introduced in 2021, including Visitor Visa, Accredited Employer Work Visa and Permanent Resident Visa,” the government organisation added. “Customers and staff are at the heart of the Our Future Services programme. We are aiming to deliver a simpler, faster and more user-friendly visa application process to reduce waiting times, provide clear communication on application status and increase self-service capabilities so everyone feels more informed and better supported.”