Published: 15.10.2026

• 2026-10-15New Zealand sees a sharp rise in student visa refusals

  From July to September, Immigration New Zealand declined 70% of applications from Bangladesh and 39% from India. The overall refusal rate for full-fee student visas rose to 34%, up from 13% in the 2025–26 financial year, amid fraud detection and targeted assurance checks of some master’s-level applications.

• 2026-09-10NZ First proposes tighter residence, citizenship and visa rules

  New Zealand First unveiled an election platform that includes a possible referendum on capping resident visas at 20,000 per year, longer qualification periods for permanent residence and citizenship, and a 10-year stand-down from benefits for non-citizens. Other proposals concern student visa holders, asylum seekers and overstayers.