New Zealand Moves Student Visa Applications into Online System

International students applying for visas to New Zealand will now complete the process through the government’s upgraded Immigration Online system.

The change took effect in August 2025 and is the first major rollout within Immigration New Zealand’s long-term Our Future Services programme. The platform, called ADEPT, replaces older methods with a streamlined digital pathway.

The officials state the new system is improved to cut wait times and provide clearer communication.

This will also give applicants more control over their submissions. The reform comes during one of the busiest times of year for visa processing, when large numbers of students are preparing to travel.

Categories Covered

From 18 August, anyone applying for the following visa types is automatically directed to the new form:

• English Language Student Visa

• Exchange Student Visa

• Fee Paying Student Visa

• Pathway Student Visa

• New Zealand Government Scholarship Student Visa

• Foreign Government Supported Student Visa

  
  

Applications already lodged on or before 17 August through the old form will continue to be assessed in that system. Applicants can still upload documents or reply to requests until a decision is made.

Draft applications created in the older form can be submitted until 17 September 2025. Once that date passes, any unfinished drafts will be deleted. Those who miss the deadline must begin a new application using the updated form.

End of Paper Applications

From 18 September 2025, paper applications will no longer be accepted for the student visa categories listed above. All submissions must go through the enhanced online process. Immigration New Zealand has confirmed it is updating guidance for applicants as well as checklists used by education providers and licensed advisers. These resources are intended to help applicants adjust smoothly to the digital process.

Timelines to Note

• 17 August 2025: last day to submit an application using the old form

• 17 September 2025: final deadline for submitting saved drafts from the old form

• 18 September 2025: paper applications no longer accepted

  
  

Missing these dates means starting over in the new system.

Advice for Applicants

Immigration New Zealand has urged students to apply early. Officials recommend submitting a visa application three months before the intended travel date, as this reduces the chance of delays that might interfere with the beginning of study. Updated information sheets are being prepared to assist students and their supporters in using the platform effectively.

To avoid problems, applicants are encouraged to prepare documents in digital format, check that all required information is complete before submission, and make use of the official checklists. Incomplete applications risk delays or even rejection, especially during peak seasons when large numbers of visas are being handled.

The transition of student visas is the opening stage of the seven-year Our Future Services programme overseen by Immigration New Zealand and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. The plan is to transfer all visa categories to ADEPT. Visitor visas, the Accredited Employer Work Visa, and the Permanent Resident Visa have already been moved to the system since its introduction in 2021.

Family visa categories connected to students are expected to join the platform in the next year. The long-term ambition is to build a fully digital immigration service that is faster, simpler, and better equipped to handle demand.

The New Zealand student visa changes introduced in August 2025 signal the end of paper-based processes and the start of a unified digital pathway. For international students, the practical effect is a more transparent application journey and the ability to track progress online.