As part of its efforts to update the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment (LQEA) and streamline immigration pathways, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has announced that degrees from India, France, Germany, Italy, Sri Lanka, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, and Switzerland will now be exempt from assessment.
While this eases the application process for applicants from the newly added countries under pathways like the Skilled Migrant Category, Green List, or Accredited Employer Work Visa, only specific qualifications and institutions from these countries would qualify for exemption.
“In addition, updates will be made to Australia, Japan, Malaysia, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States of America for consistency and clarity,” read the official announcement by INZ.
An IQA can take weeks, sometimes even months, and costs several hundred dollars. It’s often one of the pain points for migrants
Arunima Dhingra, Aims Global Immigration
According to immigration consultants, New Zealand’s move offers “real, tangible benefits” such as reduced red tape, lower upfront costs, and quicker processing times, which are advantages typically lost during the International Qualification Assessment (IQA) process.
“An IQA can take weeks, sometimes even months, and costs several hundred dollars. It’s often one of the pain points for migrants — and something that can sway people toward other destinations that don’t have this extra layer. So this change is not only practical, it’s timely,” Arunima Dhingra, chief executive and founder of Auckland-based Aims Global Immigration told The PIE News.
“What’s even more frustrating is when the IQA outcome doesn’t match what immigration expects — especially when the employer is already satisfied with the qualification,” she added. “Over the years, we’ve seen so many strong applicants lose time, money, and motivation over this step.”
As international enrolments in New Zealand surge, up 24% year-on-year and 6% above 2023 levels, the move to introduce the exemptions for key student markets like India, Sri Lanka, and South Korea is being seen as a major effort to sustain this strong rebound.
“From a student’s perspective, one has to first complete the IQA process and then make an application with the education provider for the intended course of study,” stated Kajal Bhimani, country manager – India, Look Education New Zealand.
“So overall, the IQA process adds another 2-3 months of time taken for a student in addition to the time taken to avail the offer and submit the visa application. Due to the duration of the entire process, most of the times the student would miss out on the intake he/she would have chosen and had to defer it.”
India is expected to emerge as a key beneficiary of the new exemptions, coinciding with New Zealand’s attempts to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.
In March this year, New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon visited India to explore cooperation across trade, defence, agriculture, and most notably, education, amid ongoing trade negotiations between the two countries.
In addition to encouraging more Indian students to study in New Zealand, reflected in a rise in visa approval rates this year, Luxon also announced a partial scholarship package worth NZ$260,000 under the 2025 New Zealand Excellence Awards.
This comes on top of major New Zealand universities already offering scholarships and fee discounts to Indian and South Asian students.
“National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has contributed to New Zealand’s increasing confidence in India as a partner in education as it is promoting internationalisation and fostering greater collaboration opportunities,” stated Bhimani.
“Practical and skill-based learning by New Zealand is being adopted by other countries including India and relates with New Zealand’s outlook on education and employability.”
According to Vijeta Kanwar, director of operations, New Zealand Gateway and former immigration manager with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, the updated LQEA is a “positive step forward” in strengthening the already growing partnership between India and New Zealand.
“Since the beginning of my time with Immigration New Zealand 22 years ago, and its conclusion about five years back, I have witnessed the immense efforts being made by the New Zealand Incorporation, including MFAT, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), and Education New Zealand (ENZ), towards boosting collaboration between Indian institutions/industry and New Zealand,” stated Kanwar.
“We are seeing the steady fruition of this commitment and these efforts, as trade between the two countries is slowly but surely growing.”
Moreover, the Indian community is seen as among the most influential in New Zealand, with PM Luxon describing Indians as the “third-largest ethnic group in New Zealand” and India as the country’s “largest source of skilled migrants” during his recent visit to the country.
“The Indian community here (in New Zealand) is well-established and contributes hugely — not just economically, but socially and culturally. So making it easier for qualified individuals from India to come here just makes sense,” stated Dhingra.
Despite easing requirements for international students, through updates to post-study work visas and scholarships enhancing New Zealand’s strong reputation as a prospective destination, the government has previously flagged “unsustainable” immigration levels in the island country.
Low-skilled applicants would now have to meet English-language criteria and can stay for up to three years in the country, reduced from the previous five.
Moreover, trade talks between India and New Zealand are expected to steer clear of any immigration relaxations, which New Zealand’s foreign affairs minister Winston Peters described as an “unnecessary incentive” in an interview with RNZ.
