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From 18 August 2025, international student visa applications are moving to Immigration New Zealand’s enhanced Immigration Online system. If you are applying for an international student visa in this timeframe, there are some important things you need to know about how we will manage applications over this transition.
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.
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.
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.
Student visa changes from 18 August
Groups of visa products are transitioning to the new system one by one. International Student Visas will be the first transition completed by the Our Future Services programme.
Our approach to this design focuses on an improved customer experience, ensuring that the process is easy to understand, and you know what is expected of you.
Here is what you need to know:
- From 18 August, you will be automatically directed to the new application form if you are applying for one of the following student visa types:
- English language studies
- Exchange Student Visa
- Fee Paying Student Visa
- Pathway Student Visa
- NZ Government Scholarship Student Visa
- Foreign Government Supported Student Visa
- All applications submitted on the old application form on or before 17 August will be processed. You will 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 communicated to you.
- If you have a draft application on the old application form that is not submitted by 17 August, 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 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.
Student visa peak
As we are currently in a peak period for student visa applications, we ask that you do not wait for the new application form to submit your student visa application.
You should still aim to apply 3 months ahead of your intended travel date regardless of the change in our forms. Applying 3 months before your intended travel date will help to avoid delays that may impact your ability to start studying.
More information about changes to our application systems
Our approach to paper-based applications is still being confirmed, the status-quo will remain until we communicate otherwise.
As we get closer to the change date, we will provide more information including updating our information sheets and checklists and ensuring those who support students to apply for visas have all the information they need to continue providing their services.
If you would like to know more about the Our Future Services programme, including when other visa types are likely to move to the new system, you can visit the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Our Future Services page.
Our Future Services — Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
