New Zealand eases student visa rules for Indians

In a major relief for Indian students and professionals, New Zealand has officially added India to its ‘List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment (LQEA)’, effective June 23, 2025. The move will significantly streamline the visa process for thousands of Indian applicants seeking to study, work, or migrate to New Zealand.

Under the new framework, applicants holding degrees from recognised Indian universities will no longer be required to undergo the International Qualifications Assessment (IQA) by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). The exemption applies across key visa categories, including:

• Skilled Migrant Category (SMC)
• Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
• Post-Study Work Visa
• Green List occupations (such as engineering, IT, and healthcare roles)

This change is expected to reduce visa processing times and eliminate the need for IQA assessments, which previously added 8–12 weeks of delay and cost approximately NZD 746 per application.

According to Immigration New Zealand (INZ), the update reflects a growing recognition of the quality of Indian higher education and aims to create a faster, more efficient immigration process. India now joins a select group of countries including Germany, France, Singapore, and South Korea whose qualifications are recognised without additional assessment.

The move comes amid a surge in Indian student enrollments in New Zealand, which grew 34% year-on-year, reaching over 10,600 students by mid-2024. It is expected to boost educational and workforce mobility, while enhancing New Zealand’s attractiveness as a destination for skilled migrants and international students.

Stakeholders in both countries have welcomed the decision, calling it a “pragmatic and progressive step” toward strengthening bilateral ties and reducing procedural barriers for high-potential applicants.