Growing international education in New Zealand
The Government’s International Education Going for Growth plan aims to strengthen and expand New Zealand’s international education sector. Learn more about Going for Growth and statistics on student visa application numbers.
International Education Going for Growth Plan
International education is a key component of growing New Zealand’s economy. The International Education Going for Growth Plan outlines short, medium, and long-term actions to support sustainable growth, and ensure New Zealand is an attractive destination for international students.
Government announces International Education Going for Growth Plan — Education NZ
Immigration New Zealand plays a critical role in supporting this by ensuring visa settings enable students to study, work, and succeed in New Zealand.
A range of immigration changes were introduced in November 2025 to improve the experience and support growth, while protecting the integrity and sustainability of the immigration system.
Upcoming changes to student visa work rights
Additional changes will be implemented on 16 November 2026 to strengthen post-study pathways and support the long-term growth of international education.
New and updated post-study work visa options
Student visa application statistics
There are more international students studying in New Zealand in 2026 than at the same time in 2025.
Between 1 January and 30 September 2026, we received 36,630 international student visa applications compared to 50,565 for the same period in 2025.
The total number of international students in New Zealand has continued to grow. There are currently around 63,000 people with a valid international student visa, 6,000 more than in September 2025.
Top 5 nationalities submitting applications to study in New Zealand (1 January 2026 to 30 September 2026)
| Nationality | Submitted | Decided | Approval rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| China |
15,915 |
14,769 |
95.5% |
| India |
13,895 |
12,279 |
64.1% |
| Bangladesh |
4,233 |
4,000 |
32.8% |
| Nepal |
4,014 |
3,662 |
73.4% |
| Sri Lanka |
2,095 |
1,930 |
80.9% |
Student visa applications by calendar year
| Calendar year | Submitted | Decided* | Approved | Approval rate | Declined | Declined rate | Withdrawn | Average processing time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 61,582 | 58,881 | 49,363 | 83.8% | 8,736 | 14.8% | 782 | 18 working days |
| 2024 | 72,231 | 69,171 | 56,424 | 81.6% | 12,029 | 17.4% | 718 | 18 working days |
| 2025 | 71,030 | 68,007 | 59,935 | 88.1% | 7,341 | 10.8% | 731 | 12 working days |
|
2026 to 30 September 2026 |
62,630 |
65,837 |
53,169 |
80.8% |
11,523 |
17.5% |
1,145 |
18 working days |
*Decided includes those submitted at any time prior to the decision period, and not necessarily those submitted within the same calendar year.