Indian applicants for New Zealand visas are now waiting nearly twice as long for decisions as Chinese applicants, highlighting growing processing disparities and mounting frustration among students and immigration advisers.
Latest figures from Immigration New Zealand show applications from India processed between 1 January and 21 April took an average of 30 working days, compared with 16 working days for applicants from China during the same period.
The data also shows processing times for Indian applicants have increased significantly, up from an average of 19 working days in 2025.
Officials say rising application volumes and case complexity are key drivers behind the delays.
“Processing times vary by country due to application volumes and complexity,” Immigration New Zealand visa director Celia Coombes told RNZ.
She noted that applications received in 2026 were up 11 per cent compared with the previous year, adding pressure on processing systems.
While approvals for Indian student visas have improved in recent years, applicants continue to face stricter scrutiny and longer wait times compared to other major source countries.
In 2024, nearly half of Indian student visa applications were declined in the first quarter, though approval rates improved in 2025 to around 75 per cent. In the latest reporting period, decline rates have fallen further to 21.5 per cent.
However, immigration advisers say delays remain a major concern.
Industry groups have also raised concerns about inconsistent decision-making and excessive scrutiny of financial documentation, particularly for applicants from certain regions of India.
Education representatives also warned that delays were affecting New Zealand’s competitiveness as a study destination, as students consider alternatives in Europe and elsewhere.
Immigration New Zealand has defended its processes, saying India remains a key market but that financial verification can be complex and in some cases fraud has been identified.
Officials have urged students to apply at least three months before intended travel to avoid delays.
Despite rising demand, processing times and scrutiny levels continue to fuel debate over fairness, efficiency, and consistency in New Zealand’s student visa system.
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