The development is part of an ongoing push to streamline visa processing, after the introduction of online student visa applications last August.

“Immigration ONLINE makes the whole visa process easier and faster, and further supports some of our key export industries such export education”

At present, 60% of visas by volume can be made online – a figure the government is aiming to raise to 80% through the new initiatives.

Passport-free eVisas for students from around 60 visa waiver countries including Australia, Canada, Japan and South Korea will also be introduced later this year.

Under the new system, any overseas, licensed agent listed on the Immigration Advisers Authority website may lodge a student visa application, along with some exemptions such as lawyers.

The ‘apply on behalf’ option will be available for most students, with the exception of those who are unable to apply online, such as students who must travel with a guardian.

In this year’s budget, New Zealand’s government allocated a further NZ$28.4m to boost the capacity of online visa processing.

The additional funding will help improve technology to extend immigration online including the new services, which Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse said will support New Zealand’s international education industry by making visa processing more accessible for international students.

“Immigration ONLINE makes the whole visa process easier and faster, and further supports some of our key export industries such as tourism and export education which have already benefitted from more visitors and international students,” he commented.

Immigration New Zealand has published a statement in response to concerns that the service may be used by unlicensed third parties.

The statement, circulated to a “wide group of employers and education providers”, clarifies that “you can complete an applicant’s form under their direction, but you can’t use your knowledge or experience to give them advice about any immigration matter”.

“Only licensed immigration advisers or a specified list of exempt advisers, such as lawyers, are allowed to provide immigration advice,” it states.

Online visa applications were also rolled out to work and visitor visas this week.