New Zealand removes a key requirement for Indian visa applicants

International students and skilled migrants from India and eight other countries will benefit from a streamlined immigration process in New Zealand, as Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has expanded its List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment (LQEA). The updated list, effective from June 23, 2025, recognises specific foreign qualifications without requiring an International Qualification Assessment (IQA).

Starting this month, qualifications from India, France, Germany, Italy, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Sweden, and Switzerland will be newly included on the list. This means degree holders from these countries applying under key categories-including the Skilled Migrant Category, Green List, and Accredited Employer Work Visa, will no longer need to undergo an International Qualification Assessment (IQA).

In addition, New Zealand will revise existing listings for qualifications from Australia, Japan, Malaysia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States to improve consistency and clarity, as per a report by Fragomen.

What is IQA?

The IQA is a formal benchmarking process conducted by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) to determine if a foreign qualification meets the country’s academic standards. Historically, exemptions were limited to Anglosphere nations. India’s inclusion marks the first time a South Asian country has been added to the LQEA, signalling growing recognition of India's education reforms and university standards.

Indian students in New Zealand

This update also aligns with New Zealand’s broader efforts to attract more Indian students.India is the first South Asian country to be included in the LQEA, reflecting growing recognition of its higher education standards and recent reforms. This policy shift comes amid broader efforts by New Zealand to attract more Indian students. Earlier, New Zealand had launched a NZD 260,000 scholarship fund under the New Zealand Excellence Awards 2025, offering financial support of up to NZD 20,000 per student across bachelor's and master’s programmes. Post-study work rights have also been extended, allowing international graduates, including Indians, to stay for up to three years and gain employment experience.

India is among the top four source countries for international students in New Zealand, with over 22,000 Indian students enrolled in recent years. The number of first-time Indian student visas saw a 63% increase in 2019 and continues to grow as Indian students increasingly look beyond traditional destinations. Factors like lower visa fees, affordable living costs, clear migration pathways, and New Zealand's targeted outreach are making the country an attractive choice. With this latest move to exempt Indian qualifications from assessment, New Zealand is positioning itself as a more accessible and welcoming destination for Indian talent.