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On 18 August 2025, international student visa applications moved to Immigration New Zealand’s enhanced Immigration Online system.
We have redesigned the student visa application process to make it more efficient and effective for everyone. Within the form, applicants will be supported with guidance to ensure they know what we are asking them and have easy access to information to help them answer the questions accurately.
The new application form is dynamic which means applicants will only need to answer questions relevant to their specific situation. The form itself may take slightly longer to complete than the previous form as there are more questions and evidence prompts. However, by collecting the additional information up front, rather than having to contact the applicant and request it, we expect them to receive decisions on their visa applications faster. Applicants will also receive email notifications and real-time status updates within their dashboard, giving applicants and their advisers more visibility of the applications progress and clarity around any action they need to take.
As part of the work to transition international student visas to enhanced Immigration Online, we are removing paper-based applications for the following visa types:
- English Language Student Visa
- Exchange Student Visa
- Fee Paying Student Visa
- Pathway Student Visa
- NZ Government Scholarship Student Visa
- Foreign Government Supported Student Visa.
From 18 September 2025 onwards you must apply for these visas using our online application form. If you need help completing your online application, check the Applying online page or give our Customer Service Centre a call.
Transition period
From 18 August 2025, new applications are being automatically directed to the new application form.
All applications submitted on the old application form on or before 17 August 2025 are being processed. If you have a draft application on the old application form, 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 2025, all remaining draft applications on the old form will be deleted, you will have to start a new application on the new form.
You can access your application in our old system here:
Student visa reporting
With the transition to enhanced Immigration Online we are taking the opportunity to design reporting that makes the most of the way we capture information on our new application form. Completing the work on our reporting will not impact our ability to process student visa applications.
While we are working on reporting for applications submitted in the new system, our existing reporting will continue. However, it will only include information on visa applications submitted through the original Immigration Online application system.
We acknowledge that for a short time this means our website timeliness reporting will not contain information for all applications we are processing and it will take us some time to design, build and test the new reporting functionality. However, work is progressing well, and we are confident our enhanced reporting will be up and running in time for the student visa application summer peak that runs from October to the end of February.
You can find student visa reporting here:
Student visa peak
We are heading into a peak period for student visa applications.
You should aim to apply 3 months ahead of your intended travel date as this will help to avoid delays that may impact your ability to start studying.
When we receive applications from students offshore who are applying for their visas very early, for example 6 months or more ahead of their study period, we may Approve in Principle (AIP), subject to confirmation of funds and confirmation of study being provided to us at a date closer to the student’s travel period.
Our Future Services programme
This is the first transition completed by the Our Future Services programme, a 7-year work programme that will move all visa applications and processing onto our enhanced Immigration Online system.
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 and the other workstreams under the programme you can visit the Our Future Services page.
