09/10/2026
🇳🇿 New Zealand wants to grow its international education sector. But are our student visa outcomes aligned with that ambition?
In my latest opinion piece published by Indian Newslink, I examine the growing concerns surrounding student visa outcomes for Indian applicants and what these trends could mean for New Zealand’s international education ambitions.
📊 With the student visa approval rate for Indian offshore applicants reportedly falling to 49.3% in 2026, important questions need to be asked.
Are we doing enough to provide genuine students with confidence in the visa assessment process?
While robust immigration checks are essential, transparency, consistency and procedural fairness must remain at the heart of every visa decision.
New Zealand cannot aspire to become a leading international education destination while overlooking the concerns of prospective students, their families and education providers.
As a Licensed Immigration Adviser, I believe this conversation deserves serious attention from policymakers, Immigration New Zealand and the wider education sector.
📖 Read my full opinion piece in Indian Newslink:
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Visa Outcomes betray international education ambitions