NZ Student Visas Go Digital: Key Info Indian Students Must Know

• Immigration New Zealand launches the ADEPT digital system for all student visas.
• Paper applications will no longer be accepted from September 18, 2025.
• Students must submit saved drafts by September 17 to avoid data loss.

International students can now submit their applications for a student visa to New Zealand through an alternate method. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) declared that its enhanced digital system, Immigration Online, referred to as ADEPT, will manage all student visa applications.

The recently introduced system, initiated this week, seeks to speed up decisions, reduce paperwork, and provide a more user-friendly experience for applicants. Starting August 18, students will be automatically sent to the revised online form when applying for visas, including the Foreign Government Supported Student Visa, Fee Paying Student Visa, English Language Student Visa, Exchange Student Visa, Pathway Student Visa, and New Zealand Government Scholarship Student Visa.

Applications submitted before August 17 through the previous platform will continue to be processed. Students with saved draft applications in the old system need to submit them by September 17, or all drafts will be erased afterward. Beginning September 18, INZ will stop accepting paper applications for student visa types.

This transition is part of the larger Our Future Services program, a 7-year program designed to integrate all visa types into one digital platform, which includes multiple visa types such as Visitor Visas, Accredited Employer Work Visas, and Permanent Resident Visas, which have all utilized the upgraded system since it was first delivered back in 2021.

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INZ stated that it aims to create a simpler, faster, and more intuitive visa application experience, while reducing waiting periods, giving applicants more clarity on the status of their applications, and enhancing self-service capabilities so that all people feel better informed and supported.

The agency also warned students that visa processing can be at its height, and recommends that they apply at least 3 months before the date they plan to travel to avoid delays. During the gradual implementation, family-related visas associated with student visas are also expected to move to the new system in the coming year.